Developing Durable miRNA Biomarker Technologies for Microbial Carcinogenesis in Resource Poor Settings

Currently, more than half of the global cancer burden occurs in low-and middle-income countries, with 40% of those cancers related to infection. MicroRNA profiling has tremendous potential for the diagnosis and prognosis of a broad range of these cancers, as miRNA remains stable in many accessible sample matrices- such as blood, urine, saliva, and tissue- making them ideal biomarkers.

As Jordan Plieskatt and lab have seen in their work on NPC and CCA, while there are several multiplexing technologies for miRNA detection, Firefly BioWorks multiplex platform is uniquely suited for the detection of multiple miRNAs from crude matrices in a simultaneously large number of samples as required for cancer screening.  

This webinar will review:

• Addressing the need for rapid and accurate identification of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for infection related cancers
• Application of targeted and un-targeted technologies to miRNA biomarker discovery and their impact on downstream workflows integrating into a streamlined approach
• From bench to field: Integrating field based approaches to miRNA development work early in your work for successful point of care

Register today to hear Jordan speak about this exciting research and answer your questions during a live Q&A!

Jordan Plieskatt

Jordan Plieskatt leads the Biomarker Research group under Dr. Jeffrey Bethony at The George Washington University’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine. He has more than eighteen years of experience in both protein chemistry and nucleic acid research. 

In 2001, Jordan joined The George Washington University to lead the analytical and formulation unit as it advanced multiple vaccine development programs for neglected diseases of poverty, particularly Human Hookworm and Malaria. Today, he continues his work in vaccine development by consulting with organizations and program development partners to facilitate advancement of their efforts in neglected disease eradication.

In 2011, Jordan broadened his involvement in neglected disease research to include biomarker discovery and development of diagnostics.  Focusing primarily on miRNAs and their utility in biomarker signatures for infection related cancers, he has integrated innovative technologies into laboratory workflows to minimize the time between bench discovery and field validation applications.

Jordan is the lead author in a number of recent publications related to miRNA biomarker development work currently focused on Opistorchis viverrini-induced cholangiocarcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.