DNA Microarrays - Current Technology and Clinical Applications

CIE (Chinese Institute of Engineers) 2015 Annual conference technical session (1/4) DNA Microarrays - Current Technology and Clinical Applications
Speaker: Dr. Sunil Pandit, Director, Clinical Science, Affymetrix
Abstract: DNA microarrays or gene-chips has revolutionized the field of Genomics allowing analysis of thousands of genes simultaneously in a single experiment. It is a powerful technology that was able to address many biological questions that were not approachable previously. Affymetrix, Inc. is a pioneer and a world leader in microarray technology and microarrays have been utilized extensively for gene expression analysis, mutation analysis and to detect copy number variations (CNVs). Since the sequencing of the Human genome in 2003, the DNA sequencing technology has rapidly evolved and the cost of sequencing has gone down exponentially. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) methods have facilitated rapid sequencing and analysis of many organisms. The access to whole genome DNA sequence information for microorganisms, plants, and animals have further enabled rapid design of DNA microarrays and analysis of entire genomes for any species including Humans. In this presentation, the speaker will provide an overview of the current microarray platform technology and will discuss its clinical applications.

Biography: Sunil D. Pandit, Ph.D., recently assumed the position of Director of Science at Affymetrix, Inc. Dr. Pandit was a Senior Manager in the Next-generation diagnostics business at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and has 10+ yrs of experience in diagnostics industry. At Siemens, he was responsible for research and early development activities, including efforts for novel assay and technology development for companion diagnostics and their transfer to IVD development or as Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs). Previously, he has held positions of increasing responsibility in public and private sector at National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and as a CLIA lab Director at Vircolabs, Inc (JNJ). Dr. Pandit has extensive experience in the fields of Genomics, Molecular Biology, Molecular Imaging and Cancer Biology. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, New York, and completed his postdoctoral research in Human genetics and Genomics from the Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.