virtual.MEDICA presents specialist topics in laboratory medicine
The MEDICA LABMED FORUM seeks to respond to many questions. This year, the MEDICA LABMED FORUM will offer a high-profile programme with top speakers which is free for registered online visitors. This programme will be held digitally and can be accessed via the Conference Area in virtual.MEDICA on all days of the trade fair from 16-19 November 2020.
The sessions in the forum focus on the topics microbiology and infectious diseases, cardiology and oncology and, of course, COVID-19. In addition, young scientists and the industry glimpse into the future together and present promising trends in laboratory medicine. The organiser of this series of events is Prof. Dr. Georg Hoffmann from Trillium, the medical publisher, in cooperation with the German Heart Centre Munich (DHM).
Day 1: Microbiome diagnostics, infection diagnostics and breathomics
The series of events kicks off on 16 November (from 12:00 p.m.) with the microbiome/infection diagnostics and breathomics themes, chaired by Prof. Dr. med. Beniam Ghebremedhin (Witten/Herdecke University, HELIOS Wuppertal University Clinic).
The next part of the programme is all about breathomics. Here, the volatile metabolome, the characteristic metabolic properties of exhaled breath, is analysed. This contains many gaseous substances which predominantly come from the lungs and blood of the patient. A well-known example of this are the checks police carry out to test blood alcohol content via breathalyzer.
Day 2: Digitalisation, computational biology and genetics in cardiology and oncology
The second day of the virtual event, 17 November (from 12 p.m.) is chaired by Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Holdenrieder of the German Heart Centre Munich.The MEDICA LABMED FORUM continues on to oncology, where the focus lies on blood analyses (key words: liquid biopsy and exosomes).
In his talk, Dr. Frank Diehl, a scientific advisor from Hamburg, looks at new developments in examining circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in blood plasma.
Day 3: The central role of laboratory medicine in the COVID-19 pandemic
The speeches on the third day (again from 12 p.m. onwards) are chaired by Prof. Dr. med. Gunther Hartmann of the University of Bonn. The speeches concentrate on COVID-19 diagnostics, mass screening of the population and the quality control that this requires. We also take a look at new developments in COVID-19 testing technology and current options for testing immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Day 4: Young scientists and laboratory medicine specialists meet innovative industry
At the end of this forum, two worlds will be brought together. Young scientists and laboratory medicine specialists will report on their research projects on biobanking, liquid biopsy and other trends in laboratory medicine and diagnostic companies will present innovative test procedures for COVID-19 on 19 November.
The complete programme for virtual.MEDICA 2020 (16 – 19 November) can be viewed online from mid-October.