Benefits of Automation in the Laboratory: Erin Graf, Ph.D.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, invited Min-Han Tan, M.B.B.S., FRCP, Ph.D., founding CEO and medical director of Lucence, to discuss liquid biopsy cancer testing. Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Lucence recently announced a collaboration to expand access to this cutting-edge cancer test that is designed to detect clinically relevant biomarkers in ctDNA and ctRNA.During their conversation, Dr. Morice and Dr. Tan explore:Inspiration for developing the liquid biopsy.Features that differentiate LiquidHALLMARK® from existing cancer tests.Patients who will benefit from the test and how an oncologist might use the results.The future potential of liquid biopsy advancements.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the evolution of retail health. They cover several key topics, including:The emergence of retail health locations.Three types of care that are well-suited for a retail approach to healthcare.The importance of incorporating diagnostics when designing retail health.Keep up with the latest diagnostic news and Dr. Morice's insights on LinkedIn and X. 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss infectious disease activity around the nation. They cover:    The high prevalence of influenza A, avian influenza, measles, and COVID-19. Reliable resources for information on the spread of infectious diseases. Prevention measures and their impact on the spread of infectious diseases. The risks associated with multiple infectious diseases circulating simultaneously at high rates. 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, for a conversation about innovation in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Topics include: The advantages and challenges of new types of specimen collection and testing methods, including over-the-counter, at-home, and point-of-care options. Implications home testing has for clinicians and public health. Barriers to making more at-home collection and over-the-counter testing products for STI testing.The growing need for tests to detect resistance markers as antimicrobial resistance increases. 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, for a conversation about quality management. Specifically, they discuss: The benefit of investing in quality management for patients, staff, and the organization.How Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology in Rochester evolved and grew its quality management program.The advantage of holding 5–10-minute huddles each day.How the lab leverages education on quality tools and Gemba Walks to empower all staff to invest in quality management.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss recent business trends in diagnostics and why it is important for pathologists to stay informed about these trends. Their conversation covers: What’s driving a renewed interest in investing in diagnostics.Why the knowledge pathologists have is so valuable in the current landscape.How the evolving expectations of laboratory professionals will make it important to stay informed about business trends.

Sanjeev Sethi, M.D., Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new mass spectrometry test (Mayo ID: MSMN) identifies most antigens now known to cause membranous nephropathy. Precise identification of antigens is important for optimal management of this serious kidney disease.Speaker 3: (00:32) Would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself and your background? Speaker 3: (01:58) Would you give us an overview of membranous nephropathy?  Speaker 3: (07:14) Could you tell us a little bit about this new assay? Speaker 3: (14:29) Could you give a little example of how a clinician might use this information to treat their patients differently than how they would've in the past?   

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss Dr. Morice’s recent article in Becker’s Hospital Review, “Nine Developments Predicted to Shape Laboratory Medicine and Diagnostics in 2025,” and go deeper into conversation about: The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and large language models.Digital pathology.Proteomics, metabolomics, and mass spectrometry.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Erin Graf, Ph.D., co-director of Microbiology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, to discuss benefits of automation in the laboratory.   Topics of discussion include:Specific examples of how they are using automation in the laboratory. Strategies for ensuring a smooth implementation and a positive experience for staff. The potential of automation to support staff and continued patient care excellence amid projected labor shortages in the future. 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss emerging concerns about H5N1 avian influenza. Specific topics of discussion include:Patterns of transmission and what they indicate about the potential of person-to-person transmission. Tools, tests, and processes that emerged in recent years that are making it easier to understand and track this virus. Remaining unknowns about the virus and how it could evolve.