AMP 2019 Show Preview: Marking a quarter-century of molecular pathology

Association for Molecular Pathology brings its annual meeting and expo to Baltimore

Jeffrey Bouley
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Association for Molecular Pathology
AMP 2019 Annual Meeting & Expo
Nov. 7-9, 2019
Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore
 
 
This year’s gathering of the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) at the AMP 2019 Annual Meeting & Expo will be a special one, not only as the usual yearly get-together and educational forum for those interested in molecular pathology, but also as a celebration of 25 years of such activity.
 
In welcoming attendees and potential attendees to the 25th-anniversary meeting, 2019 Program Committee Chair Dr. Neal I. Lindeman said, “The AMP meeting is the premier gathering for molecular professionals, and this year’s meeting will be a special one for us. Our 25th anniversary will be a celebration of our close-knit community and of the technical advancements and legislative achievements we’ve shared over the years. It’s also an opportunity for us to look to the future, and to explore how we can continue providing the highest quality of care for our patients in an evolving medical landscape.”
 
Before the meeting
Worth noting is that activity actually begins even prior to the official Nov. 7 opening of the meeting. On Nov. 6, the AMP Corporate Workshop Day will take place, providing an opportunity for all AMP meeting attendees and the public at large to learn from industry representatives about the latest scientific advances and equipment. This event is open to all, with more than 80 workshops hosted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free, and no registration is required.
 
Also on Nov. 6 is the Molecular Pathology Outreach Course, presented by the AMP Training & Education Committee and titled “AMPlicons: A Practical Molecular Toolkit and Case Studies.” Unlike the Corporate Workshop Day, registration is required. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., presented as an interactive course designed to bring participants up to speed in molecular pathology. Contents include current molecular hot topics, reviewing preanalytical variables that impact molecular testing, an overview of current molecular technology (including the application of novel technologies such as next-generation sequencing [NGS] and informatics), and an immersive NGS workshop of case studies where participants will break out into small groups to work through NGS cases in clinical genetics, solid tumors, hematopathology and infectious diseases.
 
Programming and special events
As far as the regular program, the entirety of it is too much to go into here, so visit https://amp19.amp.org to review the details. However, just to give a taste, the offerings include symposia sessions with the presentations “Emerging Tech for Circulating Tumor Cells, Beyond Counting/ctDNA Alternative Fluids,” “Carrier Screening: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” and “Structural Variation Detection in Human Disease;” and targeted topic sessions offering “Artificial Intelligence and Diagnostics Microbiology: Friend or Foe?” as well as case studies in genetics, hematopathology and solid tumors. There will also be concurrent workshop sessions with such offerings as “Cell-Free DNA Testing for Autosomal Dominant Disorders,” “Practical Approaches to Centralizing (or Decentralizing) Molecular Testing,” “Tumor Mutation Burden, Clinical Utility/Efficacy and Harmonization Project,” and “Biobanking and 3D-Organoid Technology.”
 
Looking at special events during AMP 2019, new this year is the Guest Society Symposia, which will welcome the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
 
Another special event is the AMP Reference Materials Forum, designed to discuss genetic testing reference materials availability and needs (for test validation, quality control and proficiency testing). Speakers will present a variety of current reference material development projects for molecular testing of inherited and acquired somatic genetic disorders followed by group discussion.
 
Back this year by popular demand are the Innovation Spotlight Stages, which will provide a unique platform for exhibiting companies to showcase products or services as well as presenting cutting-edge AMP-produced content. The two Innovation Spotlight Stages are strategically located near main cross aisles in the back and left corner of the exhibit hall. Innovation Spotlight presentations are open to all Meeting Registrants and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
Also during the event will be the Amazing Molecular Party, as the AMP’s big social gathering is known, which will also serve as the AMP’s 25th anniversary celebration.
 
Awards and honors
At the Annual Meeting & Expo, AMP honors individuals at various stages of their careers through several prestigious awards. Each year's award winners are announced online and in the November issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. The awards include:
  • AMP Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics—AMP's highest award, the AMP Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics recognizes lifetime pioneering and special achievements by professionals in the fields of molecular biology, molecular pathology, pathology, genetics, microbiology and basic medical sciences, especially as these achievements relate to molecular diagnostics and molecular medicine.
  • AMP Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award—This is AMP's highest award given to an AMP member. It is presented to an AMP member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the accomplishment of the mission and goals of AMP.
  • AMP Meritorious Service Award—This award recognizes an AMP member for particularly estimable service to the organization. The recipient has demonstrated exceptional dedication and effort, over time and often behind the scenes, to provide exceptional service to AMP and its membership. The recipient generally also provides especially notable service to the molecular pathology profession.
  • International Membership Grant—The AMP International Membership Grant is awarded each year to up to five non-U.S. laboratory professionals who would not otherwise have access to AMP services and activities due to limited financial resources in the applicant's local environment.
  • International Trainee Travel Award—This award provides travel assistance to the AMP Annual Meeting to selected international AMP member trainees (residents, fellows and students) residing and employed outside the United States who do not receive travel support from their institutions.
  • Technologist Award—AMP honors the three best posters submitted by AMP member non-doctoral technologists or medical technologists with the Technologist Award.
  • Technologist Travel Award—The AMP Technologist Travel Award provides travel assistance to the Annual Meeting & Expo to selected AMP member technologists who do not receive travel support from their institutions.
  • Young Investigator Award—AMP honors the three best posters submitted by AMP member trainees with the Young Investigator Award.
For more information about the annual meeting, visit https://amp19.amp.org/, and for more about AMP itself, visit www.amp.org/.

Jeffrey Bouley

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