Tutorials
Electronics for Nanopore Sensing
Discussion on the operation of the TIA and how it works and then, a discussion the data analysis package
A Primer on the Principles of Experimental Design
Dr. Devin Koestler, Associate Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center
In this lecture, I will provide a summary of some important concepts in experimental design. Points of emphasis include: a high-level overview of the structure of a research study, the importance of consulting with statisticians/biostatisticians at the earliest stages of a study, the difference between technical and biological replicates and the statistical ramifications when these two are confused, and the rationale behind power and sample size analyses. The intent is to keep this lecture informal and engaging.
Using ROCs to Evaluate the Diagnostic Accuracy of Markers
Dr. Leonidas Bantis, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center
Evaluation of the overall accuracy of biomarkers might be based on average measures of the sensitivity for all possible specificities ‐and vice versa‐ or equivalently the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve that is typically used in such settings (a.k.a. AUC). Apart from this overall accuracy measure, it is often the case that clinical questions focus on pre-defined specificity or sensitivity levels so that over or under-diagnosis is avoided.
In other settings, investigators are in need of cutoff points to determine whether intervention is required after establishing the utility of a continuous biomarker or their combinations. We will discuss all these subjects and further expand in 3-class problems that refer to trichotomous settings.
Signal Processing
Collin J. McKinney, Director,Electronics Design Core Laboratory & Nano‐Device Characterization Laboratory (NDCL), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Chemistry
Meet the Entrepreneur
Dr. Andrew Godwin, Co-Founder of Sinochips Diagnostics, LLC
Recorded via Zoom. August 3, 2020
This is a conversation with Dr. Andrew Godwin, co-founder of Sinochips Diagnostics (SD), a subsidiary of Sinochips, LLC. SD was formed as a pharmacogenomics company. Prior to launch of a clinically validated comprehensive pharmacogenomics PGX) panel, SD pivoted to address the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The company now supports a number of health departments, clinics, and assisted living facilities in the KC metro region and performs 600 to 1,000 COVID-19 tests/day. Dr. Godwin is the Chancellors Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences endowed Professor at KUMC, Director of Molecular Oncology and deputy director of the KU Cancer Center. He is a leader in the field of translational research and precision cancer medicine. He has been part of over 200 successful grant awards totaling 100’s of millions of dollars of external funding, including the $11.5M Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).
Dr. Godwin is internationally recognized for his molecular biology/genetic studies of sarcoma (gastrointestinal stromal tumors and Ewing sarcoma), breast and ovarian cancer, and his efforts to help bridge the gap between basic and clinical science in order to improve patient care. He has dedicated his scientific career to improve the care for patients diagnosed with cancer and was recently awarded the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences – the state higher education system’s most prestigious recognition for scholarly excellence.
Special thanks to KU Center for Technology Commercialization for allowing us to share this webinar.
Meet the Entrepreneur
Dr. Steven Soper, Founder of Sunflower Genomics, Inc.
Recorded via Zoom. September 9, 2020
This is a conversation with Dr. Steven Soper, KU Distinguished Professor and founder of Sunflower Genomics, Inc. (SGI). Sunflower Genomics is an early-stage sequencing instrument company that will develop, manufacture, sell, and distribute instruments and associated consumables. SGI is poised to transform the health care industry by better enabling precision medicine, a new paradigm where medical decisions are made based upon the individual’s specific DNA. SGI’s sequencing platform addresses key limitations of the current market leading platforms and is in a unique position to disrupt this $5 billion market in the life sciences – a market projected to grow to $20B as soon as 2023.
Dr. Soper, company founder and inventor of the SGI core technology, serves as Chief Scientific Officer. He is also a Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering and a permanent member of the nanotechnology study panel at the National Institutes of Health.
Note: At 50 minutes Dr. Soper's computer loses power. After a minute he rejoins to answer questions.
Special thanks to KU Center for Technology Commercialization for allowing us to share this webinar.
An Introduction to Solid-State Nanopore Technology
Webinar providing a foundation in solid-state nanopore technology, including the original of signals in the platforms (and factors that impact them), pros and cons of the different fabrication techniques used to make them, and the most exciting applications they are being developed towards.