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Raise the Line

Capturing Cancer Signals to Aid Early Detection - Dr. Josh Ofman, President of GRAIL

Sep 27, 2023
Dr. Josh Ofman, President of GRAIL, discusses a new testing approach using genomic technology and machine learning to detect signals circulating in the blood across more than 50 types of cancers. This could dramatically improve early cancer detection and reduce the death rate by almost forty percent. They explore the founding of GRAIL and the urgency of innovative approaches to cancer detection and treatment.
33:43

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • A new testing approach leveraging genomic technology and machine learning can detect signals circulating in the blood across more than 50 types of cancers, improving early detection and potentially reducing the death rate by almost forty percent in the next five years.
  • Multi-cancer early detection, such as Grail's gallery test, has the potential to significantly improve cancer detection rates by analyzing DNA for shared cancer signals, leading to a significant reduction in cancer mortality rates.

Deep dives

New Testing Approach using Genomic Technology and Machine Learning to Detect Cancer Signals in Blood

Dr. Josh Offman, president of Grail, explains a new testing approach that utilizes genomic technology and machine learning to detect cancer signals in the blood. This approach goes beyond current screening methods and can identify over 50 types of cancers. The test analyzes methylation patterns on DNA, which are specific to cancer cells, and employs a machine learning classifier to accurately detect the presence of cancer. The test has a low false-positive rate and a high positive predictive value, making it a game-changer in early cancer detection.

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