Location: St Laurent (Exhibits)

	Prof. Dr. med. Michael Vogeser University Hospital, LMU Munich Dr. Michael Vogeser, MD, is specialist in Laboratory Medicine and senior physician at the Hospital of the University of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (LMU; Institute of Laboratory Medicine). As an Associate Professor he is teaching Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. The main scope of his scientific work is the application of mass spectrometric technologies in routine clinical laboratory testing as translational diagnostics. Besides method development in therapeutic drug monitoring and endocrinology a further particular field of his work is quality and risk management in mass spectrometry and in clinical testing in general. Michael has published >240 articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Michael heads the Commission for In Vitro Diagnostics in the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF).)
	Russell Grant, PhD Labcorp Dr. Grant earned a first-class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from Cardiff University and a PhD in Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric technologies from the University of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. He continued his scientific training in various industrial settings, which have included senior scientist at GSK, Principal scientist at Cohesive Technologies, Technical director at Eli Lilly, and Director of Mass Spectrometry at Esoterix Endocrinology. Dr Grant is currently the Vice President of Research and Development and co-discipline director for Mass spectrometry at Labcorp. Dr Grant has pioneered the use of direct injection technologies, chromatographic systems multiplexing, microsampling, utility of automation, and other new analytical platforms in direct patient care. His research goals are focused upon improvements in speed, sensitivity, and quality of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical systems and assays. Dr Grant has been awarded 100 patents and received both the MSACL Distinguished contribution award and ASMS AL Yergey “Unsung Hero” Award in 2024 for his contributions to Clinical Diagnostics using Mass Spectrometry.
	Dajana Vuckovic, PhD Concordia University Dr. Dajana Vuckovic is Professor and Concordia University Research Chair in Clinical Metabolomics and Biomarkers and the Director of Centre for the Biological Applications of Mass Spectrometry at Concordia University. Her research program focuses on the development of novel mass spectrometry and microextraction methods to accurately measure challenging low-abundance and unstable metabolites and improve metabolite coverage and data quality in clinical metabolomics and lipidomics. Dr. Vuckovic is the recipient of the 2023 Fred Beamish Award from the Canadian Society for Chemistry and the 2024 Metabolomics Society medal. She serves on the editorial boards of Bioanalysis and Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry and currently co-leads the Best Practices Working Group of Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality Control Consortium. She was elected as Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of Metabolomics Association of North America. She has co-organized numerous scientific symposia at leading national and international conferences and has co-chaired Metabolomics 2023 conference held in Niagara Falls, Canada.
	Nguyen Nguyen Baylor Scott & White Health Interested in networking and collaboration.
	Peggi Angel, PhD MUSC Proteomics Center Peggi Angel is Associate Professor at Medical University of South Carolina, where she works on technology advancements in MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and biomarker imaging analyses in cancer disparities. Dr. Angel attended graduate school at the University of Georgia’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, graduating with a PhD in 2007. Her graduate research was on development of technologies for mapping N-linked glycan sites in mammalian development. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University focused on membrane proteomics of fetal alcohol syndrome, she won a competitive Postdoctoral Fellowship with the Systems-based Consortium for Organ Design and Engineering. With the Fellowship, she worked at Vanderbilt University in the laboratory of Richard Caprioli on methods using MALDI IMS for developmental biology. Dr. Angel has developed IMS methods for increasing sensitivity of protein detection from tissues, analysis and identification of signaling lipids in negative mode, targeted metabolomics on tissue and cell culture, extracellular matrix protein detection in FFPE tissues, and N-glycomic strategies for proteins, cells, and tissue. Dr. Angel is a co-founder of Glycopath, a company that focuses on glycosylation patterns as a prognostic or diagnostic tool. She serves on the board of N-Zyme Scientifics, a company that produces enzymes for mass spectrometry. Dr. Angel is committed to serving the imaging mass spectrometry community and serves as President-Elect for the US Imaging Mass Spectrometry Society.
	Tim Garrett, PhD University of Florida College of Medicine Dr. Garrett has over 20 years of experience in the field of mass spectrometry spanning both instrument and application development. He received his PhD from the University of Florida, under Dr. Richard A. Yost, working on the first imaging mass spectrometry-based ion trap instrument. He has also developed MALDI-based approaches to analyze proteins in bacteria and small molecules in tissue specimens. His current interests include the translation of LC-HRMS, MALDI, DESI and LMJSSP in metabolomics to clinical diagnostics. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Florida, and an Associate Director for the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics (SECIM).

Table TBA: Chromsystems : Can automated LC-MSMS workflows hold the key to enhancing diagnostic efficiency and reliability?

Presenter TBD

Table TBA: Anything new about the EU-IVDR?

Michael Vogeser

The IVDR has been in a gradual introduction process in the European Union since 2017. In particular, requirements with regard to in vitro diagnostic devices that are manufactured in healthcare facilities and used exclusively there are the subject of continued discussion. It would be desirable for the upcoming IVDR evaluation process to result in changes to the law that would provide the laboratories concerned with clarity and relief in this area. It is very important that the community of affected diagnostic laboratories is heard and taken into account in the EU processes. This should be seen as a shared task.

Table TBA: Patient Centric Remote Sampling for Clinical Diagnostics– How do we overcome the regulatory hurdles?

Russ Grant, Dajana Vuckovic, Shelley Hossenlopp

Numerous technologies are now commercially available that facilitate the collection of human blood samples in locations away from the clinical setting. This approach is termed patient centric sampling, or microsampling and can involve the collection of samples from a finger stick, or from elsewhere on the body. The samples can be dried or liquid and are often a smaller volume than those obtained by traditional phlebotomy.

The use of these approaches potentially enables samples to be collected from currently underserved communities (pediatric, elderly, remote areas, etc). Furthermore, the approach may enable more regular sampling of individuals to be performed and facilitates choice for the patient about how and where samples will be collected. These technologies also have the potential to overcome the discomfort, pain and fear that is encountered by many when collecting samples by traditional phlebotomy.

However, there are challenges around the regulatory status of the sampling devices and assays developed for clinical diagnostic purposes using these technologies. Participants of this workshop will take part in a facilitated discussion on what the regulatory challenges are to the adoption of these technologies. Different regulatory frameworks and quality systems will be discussed relative to EU (Medical Device Regulation + In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation), USA (FDA class 1 & 2 test “systems”) and Canada (Medical Device Directorate, ICH M10). Exemplars will be discussed relative to current products and workflows that have achieved regulatory approval in these jurisdictions. Participant discussion will then focus on how these barriers may be overcome and what future activities might be required to enable this.

Table TBA: Thebaine Testing to Improve Clinical Interpretation of Drug Testing Results

Nguyen Nguyen

Thebaine, a naturally occurring alkaloid in opium poppy, serves as a precursor in the synthesis of medically relevant opioids such as oxycodone and naloxone. Despite its limited direct pharmacological effects, thebaine is a critical biomarker for distinguishing poppy seed ingestion from illicit opioid use. Understanding the nuances of thebaine testing is essential for clinicians, toxicologists, and forensic professionals, particularly when interpreting complex cases involving drug testing. This roundtable will cover the biochemical properties of thebaine, the analytical methodologies employed (with a focus on LC-MS/MS for high-precision quantification), and the clinical implication of its detection. Emphasis will also be placed on standardizing sample preparation, utilizing deuterated internal standards, and implementing quality control to ensure reliable results. Time permitting, we may discuss case studies to illustrate the differentiation between dietary exposure and opioid abuse, highlighting challenges in interpreting results within diverse patient populations. Participants will gain practical insights into integrating thebaine testing into their workflows and leveraging this knowledge to improve diagnostic accuracy, enhance patient care, and support legal decision-making.

Table TBA: Starting an In-House Clinical Laboratory Scientist//Medical Technologist Training Program

Stacey Beal

The purpose of this roundtable is to explore the feasibility and benefits of starting a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)/Medical Technologist (MT) training program at your laboratory. With an increasing demand for skilled professionals in clinical laboratory science, establishing an in-house training program can help address staffing shortages, ensure a steady pipeline of qualified personnel, and elevate the quality of services provided to patients. This discussion will focus on the steps needed to create the program, including aligning with accreditation standards and developing a curriculum that meets clinical and laboratory needs. We will also cover the necessary resources such as faculty, clinical mentors, and equipment, along with a timeline for program implementation. Additionally, we will address the potential challenges, such as securing funding, recruiting qualified students and instructors, and ensuring that the program meets the required certification and licensure standards. The discussion will provide insights on how a CLS/MT training program can benefit your laboratory, enhance the professional development of staff, and ultimately improve patient outcomes by providing a highly trained, dedicated workforce.

Table TBA: Automation and Integration of MS with Standard Pathology Lab Workflows

Peggi Angel

Table TBA: Effective Reviewing and Appropriate Author Responses for Submitted Manuscripts

Tim Garrett

Location: St Laurent (Exhibits)

Location: St Laurent (Exhibits)

Location: Your Choice

Your choice!

Location: Salon Ville-Marie, Hotel Level