Special Invited Talk

Advances in single-molecule sensors are revolutionizing the ability to quantify minute quantities of previously undetectable proteins in a variety of biological fluids. When combined with machine learning algorithms, these sensors may be able to identify the onset of disease before conventional practices allow. In this talk, Dr. Justin Rolando will highlight some of the recent clinical applications of single-molecule arrays (SIMOA), an ultra-sensitive protein-sensing technology. By incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), SIMOA has the potential to transform disease diagnostics. Dr. Rolando will present findings from two prospective clinical trials using SIMOA assays he and his colleagues have developed: (1) a non-invasive, salivary-based "rule out sepsis" test, demonstrated on samples from over 1,000 newborn infants, and (2) a blood test integrated with mammographic image analysis in a trial involving 600 women undergoing routine breast cancer screening. The over-arching aim of this research is to develop innovative diagnostics that can identify the earliest fingerprints of diseases, thus reducing human morbidity and mortality.