Speaker Profile

Ph.D., Chief Development Officer; NYS CLEP Laboratory Director, Biodesix

Biography
Dr. Pestano is an experienced leader in Product Development and clinical Laboratory Operations. Prior to joining Biodesix, Dr. Pestano held senior positions in Pharma Services, R&D and Project Leadership at Ventana Medical Systems, a member of the Roche Group. Dr. Pestano’s experiences are specialized in high complexity molecular diagnostics for oncology and virology and include molecular, serologic, and proteomic testing. Dr. Pestano is the co-inventor on multiple national and international patents for diagnostic tests. He has also fostered many collaborations in academia, industry, quality, and public health consortia as a part of new product development. Dr. Pestano received his Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology at The Graduate Center, City University of New York where his thesis focused on vaccine development for novel genetic variants of HIV-1. He conducted his post-doctoral training in Cancer Immunology and AIDS at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School.


Talk
Real World Testing in Support of Back to Work Programs
Panelist providing real world perspective on multiple modalities of covid testing and studies in support of back to work programs.


 Session Abstract – PMWC 2022 Silicon Valley

Track 1 - June 28 11.00 A.M.-11.45 A.M.


This panel will discuss the current state of affairs for virus testing including genotyping, antigen testing including limitations, and the value for antibody testing including total, virus neutralization, and surrogate neutralization testing in light of COVID variants. Also cover home testing options and limitations.