Tag: 3BL

As the global water crisis worsens, so do financial risks facing companies and their investors. Kirsten James, senior program director of water at the sustainability nonprofit Ceres, answers questions from Cliff Feigenbaum, GreenMoney founder about the Valuing Water Finance Initiative, which is a global, investor-led effort driving companies to prioritize water risk and act as responsible water stewards in their operations and supply chains.

Cliff: What work has Ceres done related to water?

Kirsten: Freshwater is essential for people, ecosystems, and business. Growing water scarcity and pollution is threatening these systems and slowing the pathway to a climate resilient future. Research shows we’ll be unable to meet even 56 percent of global water demand by 2030. No industry is immune from financial risks stemming from this crisis.

Seeing this writing on the wall, we’ve spent more than a decade establishing the business case for the private sector to act on water risk. We’ve worked closely with investors on integrating water risk into their investment decisions and developed resources to help them understand water risk in their portfolios. Our research and corporate benchmarking has shed light on industry practices threatening freshwater supplies and how companies are responding. This information has empowered investors with the guidance and the data they need to evaluate how companies are managing water risk.

Cliff: How did this work pave the way for the Valuing Water Finance Initiative?

Kirsten: Through this pioneering work we did on water risk, we saw the need for ambitious action to match the scope of the water crisis and the systemic risks affecting communities, nature, and economies. We developed the Valuing Water Finance Initiative, aimed at driving companies to make water risk and water management a priority in their business strategies. Because water is key to their success as a business.

This work is hitting home with investors and the initiative has taken off. Just two years after we launched it, nearly 100 investors representing more than $17 trillion in assets have joined. These investors are committing to engage with 72 large companies from four water-intensive industries—food, beverage, apparel, and high-tech—on their water management practices.

Read the full interview here – https://greenmoney.com/greenmoney-interviews-kirsten-james-on-the-ceres-valuing-water-finance-initiative

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Curious to uncover what captivated your peers in 2023? 
Dive into our curated collection of most-watched sessions, packed with valuable insights, latest technical knowledge and emerging trends.

Grab a coffee and embark on an exciting learning journey. Discover more in our best of 2023 webinar library today: https://ow.ly/3OLu50QviHE

About Keysight Technologies 
At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

As a young man fresh out of college, Scott Ford fancied himself having an expensive car, going on nice vacations, living the “good life.” But, he said, reality quickly set in when he started paying his own rent and buying groceries.

As a cold caller with a well-known financial institution, and later as a bank branch manager, he learned a lot about money quickly. What struck him most, he said, was that the people who had the most money weren’t the ones with flashy cars or expensive homes.

“They worked hard, saved for a rainy day, made simple investments – not get-rich-quick schemes – and spent less than they made,” he said. 

He realized that the things he thought he valued had changed. Instead of focusing on the things he wanted now, he had learned the value of saving for the future and helping his own family financially.

Ford – who is now the President of Wealth Management at U.S. Bank – spoke about his values around finances at the 39th annual Black Excellence Awards on Feb. 23 in Milwaukee. He was the keynote speaker at the event, which honored 12 high-school seniors and recipients of the Louvenia Johnson scholarship; 30 corporate trailblazers, including U.S. Bank Wisconsin Market Leader Nina Johnson; and 12 Vietnam War veterans. More than 800 people attended the sold-out event.

The Black Excellence Awards were created in 1985 by a group of Milwaukee citizens to honor the city’s unsung heroes and to raise funds for the Louvenia Johnson Scholarship Fund.

The theme of the evening’s event was “Value, Values and Excellence: Making Your Assets Count.” Ford talked about how to identify values around money and the importance of creating and building wealth for Black Americans. He also discussed six ways to build wealth, learned from his years as a financial advisor.

In addition to speaking at the event, Ford met with several influential leaders in the community to discuss some of the biggest issues facing Black Americans in Milwaukee right now, including high inflation, the cost of housing and record-high student loan debt.

“I became a financial advisor because I wanted to help people access the resources and information they need to talk about money, build wealth, and pass it on to their children or to their community,” Ford said. “That was my hope for everyone at the awards, and for anyone else who wants to create or build wealth.”

Scott Ford’s tips for building wealth

Maybe you can only do one of these to start and add on as your financial circumstances change, but the important thing is: Just. Get. Started.

1. You are your most important asset. Invest in yourself: in your education, in your ability to earn a living. It will pay dividends over your lifetime.

2. Pay yourself first. Whatever your income, set aside the same amount every week or month. Make it automatic if you can.

3. Save for a rainy day. According to a recent SecureSave survey, 63% of Americans don’t have enough cash to cover a $500 expense. You don’t want to put that on your credit card if you can avoid it: If you owe $10,000 on your credit card and pay $200 a month (18% interest rate) it will take you decades to pay it off.

4. Don’t buy bills. Consider prioritizing appreciating assets vs. big ticket items that depreciate. Warren Buffett still lives in the same house he bought in 1958.

5. Have goals around what you are trying to accomplish financially. Think about your longer-term goals (retirement) and shorter-term goals (buying a home).

6. It’s not timing the market, it’s time IN the market. Growth over time is probably the biggest thing I try to tell people. Start early. Time is on your side.

Related resources:

· Scott Ford’s interview with MKE Connect in Milwaukee on how Black Americans can build wealth

· Scott Ford’s interview local Milwaukee TV 

Hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the Global Inclusive Growth Summit returns on April 18, 2024 and will feature Rosario Dawson, Melinda French Gates, Aria Mia Loberti, Dr. Albert Bourla, Rohini Nilekani, Michael Froman, and more. The 2024 Global Inclusive Growth Summit advances real solutions to today’s most pressing challenges through collaboration and candid conversation among entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers and emerging changemakers.

 First held in 2019, the Summit assembles a dynamic group of cross-sector leaders who collectively address topics including financial inclusion, data science for social impact, emerging technology such as artificial intelligence, climate and the environment, women’s economic empowerment and place-based development. After a decade of impact, we’re excited to continue the great dialogue and work focused on driving and creating inclusive growth for all. Virtual registration is now live.

 As we look forward to coming back together in person and virtually, we offer these highlights from the 2023 event, hosted by Mastercard and the Aspen Institute.

To learn more, visit: globalinclusivegrowthsummit.com

Originally Published July 14, 2023 by Mastercard

 Lilly Singh knows a thing or two about the power of storytelling. With an unshakable belief that stories can guide us to a better world, Lilly has pushed the limits of possibility throughout her career – from her trailblazing start as a digital creator to the first woman of color to host a network late-night TV show in over thirty years.

Through stories across film, television and advocacy, Lilly continues to break new ground, challenging entrenched gender and cultural norms to advance equity and transform the way the world sees and values women and girls.

In this one-on-one, Singh and Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Founder and President Shamina Singh get candid about the importance of forging your own path and creating space for others to do the same.

To learn more, visit: globalinclusivegrowthsummit.com

Follow along the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth’s journey to advance equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world

CLEVELAND, April 8, 2024 /3BL/ – As part of its commitment to helping clients on their individual financial journeys, KeyBank (NYSE:KEY) continues to offer resources and education for those seeking to achieve the dream of homeownership.

KeyBank’s Special Purpose Credit Programs1 and home buyer educational initiatives aim to increase the accessibility and affordability of the homebuying process at a time when a significant portion of Americans feel that homeownership is beyond their reach. According to KeyBank’s 2024 Financial Mobility Survey2, approximately one-third (29%) of Americans who do not own a home and do not plan on purchasing one in the next 12 months feel that homeownership is not attainable.

“We recognize that the homebuying process can feel daunting and we are committed to helping our clients achieve their financial goals,” said Dale Baker, President of KeyBank Home Lending. “KeyBank continues to invest in resources, programs and community partnerships to help clients understand their unique financial pictures, address the barriers to homeownership, and improve their overall financial resiliency.”

Special Purpose Credit Programs ease burden of homebuying costs

The KeyBank Home Buyer Credit3 offers homebuyers purchasing eligible properties in designated communities up to $5,000 to be used towards closing costs and prepaid fees that may come with financing their new home. From the program’s inception in September 2022, through March 26, 2024, KeyBank funded approximately $1.7 million in Home Buyer Credits, helping 382 clients achieve their dream of homeownership in the qualifying areas where the program is available. Also, as of March 26, 2024, KeyBank has $322.9 million in mortgage loan applications for approximately $2.8 million in Home Buyer Credits to assist 646 clients (inclusive of the funded credits shared above) on their path to homeownership in these locations.

The Key Opportunities Home Equity Loan4 provides affordable terms for borrowers with qualifying properties to refinance their primary residence to a lower interest rate, consolidate debt, finance home improvements, or tap into their equity when needed. This loan features a fixed rate, with no origination fee, and a first or second lien option for loans up to $100,000. Since the program began on March 1, 2023, through March 26, 2024, KeyBank funded $10 million in loans, helping 202 clients in designated communities refinance for better terms or access equity in their primary home.

Similar to the Home Buyer Credit, KeyBank Neighbors First Credit5 is designed to help homebuyers purchasing eligible properties in qualified areas across Key’s footprint and in Florida by providing up to $5,000 to be used for closing costs and to pre-paid fees that may come with financing a new home. Since the launch of the program on July 1, 2023, through March 26, 2024, KeyBank funded approximately $575,000 in Neighbors First credits, helping 115 clients achieve their dream of homeownership in the qualifying areas where the program is available. Also, as of March 26, 2024, KeyBank has $35.7 million in mortgage loan applications for approximately $1.1 million in Neighbors First Credits to assist 223 clients (inclusive of the funded credits shared above) on their path to homeownership in these locations.

Through the KeyBank Home Buyer Credit and KeyBank Neighbors First Credit Special Purpose Credit Programs, Key has $5,000 in purchase credits available to be used towards closing costs and prepaid fees, in over 9,500 census tracts.

Partnerships improve access to home buyer education and resources 

The KeyBank 2024 Financial Mobility Survey found that among respondents who purchased a home in the last 12 months or plan to do so in the next 12 months, 1 in 3 (30%) say their ability to understand the homebuying process influenced their purchasing decision.

To this end, KeyBank committed more than $1 million in 2023 to homebuyer education and other community support. Starting in 2022, Key also committed to investing more than $25 million over a five-year period in grants, fee waivers, marketing and branches to increase mortgage lending in majority-minority neighborhoods. Partnerships and initiatives with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP®) and Operation HOPE to advance homeownership through financial education are also underway.

“At KeyBank, we believe in turning aspirations into achievable milestones,” said Rachael Sampson, KeyBank’s Head of Community Banking for the Consumer Bank. “Our continued investments in financial education and homebuying resources for clients in underserved communities reflect our dedication to fostering financial empowerment and making homeownership attainable for all.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s home lending opportunities and programs, determine whether a property qualifies for Special Purpose Credit Programs, or get started on the journey to homeownership by visiting key.com/communitylending. For details on the current state of local markets and to answer any questions you may have, including whether a property qualifies for Key’s Special Purpose Credit Programs, KeyBank Mortgage Loan Officers are available to help.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $188 billion at December 31, 2023.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

Mortgage and Home Equity Lending products offered by KeyBank are not FDIC insured or guaranteed. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS# 399797. CFMA #240325-2518716

NOTICE: This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. Conditions and restrictions may apply. All home lending products, including mortgage, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, are subject to credit and collateral approval. Not all home lending products are available in all states. Hazard insurance and, if applicable, flood insurance are required on collateral property. Actual rates, fees, and terms are based on those offered as of the date of application and are subject to change without notice.

1 Special Purpose Credit Programs are, generally, programs that are established to meet special social needs or the needs of economically disadvantaged persons by extending credit to persons who would probably be denied credit or would receive it on less favorable terms, under certain conditions. See 15 U.S.C. § 1691(c)(1)-(3); 12 C.F.R. § 1002.8(a).

2 The KeyBank 2024 Financial Mobility Survey was conducted online by Schmidt Market Research. 1,000 Americans, ages 18-70, with sole or shared responsibility for household financial decisions, who own a checking or savings account, completed the survey in September 2023. The survey asked respondents about their financial attitudes, understanding, awareness and actions over the prior year.

3 Available on primary residence first lien purchases only. Property must be located in an eligible community as determined by KeyBank. Eligible Communities are subject to change without notice. Additional terms or restrictions may apply. Ask us for details.

4 Loan features reduced interest rate and no origination fees. Available on existing primary residence and loans up to $100,000. First or second lien only. Loan must close in a branch. Property must be located in an eligible community in KeyBank’s retail footprint. Additional terms or restrictions may apply. Ask us for details.

5 Available on primary residence first lien purchases only. Property must be located in an eligible community in KeyBank’s retail footprint or Florida. Eligible communities are determined by KeyBank and subject to change without notice. Additional terms or restrictions may apply. Ask us for details.

Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today published its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report detailing the company’s meaningful progress, evolved strategy, and aspirational goals toward its ESG efforts. The company’s ESG strategy is embedded in its mission to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.
  
“For more than 130 years, BMS has enabled positive change for our patients around the world. As we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, our ESG strategy has never been more important to driving long-term business value and fulfilling our purpose,” said Christopher Boerner, Ph.D., Board Chair & Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb. “We recognize ESG is a journey of continuous improvement, and our entire team is committed to advancing sustainability.”
  
In 2023, BMS conducted a global ESG materiality assessment to understand evolving stakeholder views and ensure its business priorities reflect the rapidly changing landscape. These insights enabled the company to evolve its ESG strategy, focusing on three key pillars: advancing patient health around the world; expanding the boundaries of science; and fostering a high-performing and inclusive global workforce. At the same time, BMS will continue to amplify its strong performance across material topics such as patient safety and product quality, ethics and conduct, as well as environmental sustainability.
 
About Bristol Myers Squibb 
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
 
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the Company’s goals, strategies, and performance in accordance with its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibb’s business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Media@bms.com

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Action Against Hunger Launches New Supplementary Nutrition Program, Reiterates Calls for an Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire

April 5, 2024 /3BL/ – It has been six months since the start of the conflict in Gaza and one million Palestinians continue to face the imminent threat of famine. 85% of Gazan people have been displaced from their homes.

With one in three children acutely malnourished and more than half of the population at immediate risk of famine, Action Against Hunger is launching a nutrition program in Gaza that aims to provide children and breastfeeding women with supplementary nutrients every month.

“Despite extremely challenging security conditions, since the start of the conflict, Action Against Hunger has reached over 800,000 people in Gaza with food, water, and sanitation and hygiene services. Sadly, even more support is needed since the catastrophe in Gaza is worsening,” said Dr. Charles E. Owubah, Action Against Hunger CEO.  “We can prevent the worst outcome—famine—with greater humanitarian access to people in need, additional funding, and an immediate and permanent ceasefire. We must do everything we can to alleviate this unimaginable suffering.”

81% of households lack access to safe and clean water and in northern Gaza, people go days and nights without eating. Action Against Hunger staff in Gaza have been direct witnesses to the overcrowded shelters and the astonishing number of children alone and trapped with nowhere safe to go.

“Malnutrition, dehydration, and starvation target the most vulnerable,” said Natalia Anguera, Action Against Hunger’s Head of Operations for the Middle East. “The risk is much higher for young children. Women in Gaza are struggling to breastfeed. Any effort to ensure access to safe drinking water should also include efforts to supply ready-to-use formula for infants who are not breastfed.”

In Gaza, 75% of solid waste is dumped, with no controls or sanitation services. The streets are flooded with sewage water, conditions that are ripe for an explosion of deadly diseases such as cholera.

The current threat and escalation of violence in Rafah gravely jeopardizes humanitarian operations. “The number of humanitarian staff killed—at least 196 deaths since the start of the conflict—prevents the assurance of safety and access for humanitarian workers to carry out their jobs. The safeguarding of aid workers is not only vital to respond to the pressing needs of the population but is also a fundamental obligation under International Humanitarian Law,” says Owubah.

About Action Against Hunger’s Work in Gaza

Action Against Hunger has worked in Gaza since 2005 and the West Bank since 2002. Since October 2023, we have been delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza that includes distributing fresh and dry food, hot meals, and hygiene kits; trucking clean water to communities; connecting people with shelters; and providing assistance with solid waste management.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

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Photos by Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP and Action Against Hunger

CNH has developed its I’m Breaking New Ground series to recognize organizations and individuals who are committed to making a difference. John Kariuki, coordinator of Slow Food International in Kenya, explains how, in collaboration with the University of Pollenzo, CNH is taking steps toward a more sustainable future where everyone can access good food. The initiative includes a field training course for local communities to improve traditional mango production with an efficient irrigation system.

Follow CNH’s YouTube Channel to discover more of these projects, as the company and the individuals they highlight continue Breaking New Ground.

April 5, 2024 /3BL/ – Today Bath & Body Works announces its inclusion on Newsweek’s list of Most Trustworthy Companies in America.

Newsweek partnered with data research firm Statista for their third annual list which ranks companies across 23 industries. The rankings are based on an independent survey of about 25,000 Americans and 97,000 submitted evaluations of companies across three touchpoints: customer trust, investor trust and employee trust.

Brands included on the list were evaluated based on their performance along several key metrics including confidence in products or services, fair treatment, company values and leadership.

“Our unparalleled dedication to our customers, associates and stakeholders drives our business forward and sets the stage for continued growth,” says Gina Boswell, CEO of Bath & Body Works. “This ranking affirms our position as a trusted global leader in fragrance and highlights our commitment to our passionate and exceptional team of associates. As we look to the future, we will continue to deepen the connection to our brand and increase the value it delivers to everyone we reach.”

In addition to making Newsweek’s list of Most Trustworthy Companies in America, Bath & Body Works recently has been recognized in several other ways including:

Customer Experience All-Stars by ForbesAmerica’s Greatest Workplaces for Women by NewsweekBest Managed Companies by the Wall Street JournalAmerica’s Most Responsible Companies by NewsweekAmerica’s Greatest Workplaces for Veterans by NewsweekAmerica’s Greenest Companies by NewsweekAmerica’s Greatest Workplaces by NewsweekAmerica’s Best Workplaces for Women by ForbesAmerica’s Greatest Workplaces for LGBTQ+ individuals by NewsweekDiversity in Business Award by Columbus Business FirstForbes List of America’s Best Large EmployersForbes List of America’s Best Employers for WomenA Diversity First Top 50 Company by the Diversity Research Institute

For more information about Bath & Body Works, visit bbwinc.com.

ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS

Home of America’s Favorite Fragrances®, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including top-selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the company’s predominantly U.S.-based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,850 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 480 international franchised locations to an online storefront at BathandBodyWorks.com.

Originally published on Illumina News Center

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) use is more established for rare and pediatric disease, but next-generation sequencing in clinical use for cancer consists of various approaches. In the last two decades since a targeted therapy was first approved for the EGFR mutation, comprehensive genomic profiling, or CGP, has become a gold standard for genomic assessment of cancer. CGP is a single next-generation sequencing assay that assesses hundreds of genes, including relevant cancer biomarkers, for therapy guidance. WGS is a comprehensive method for analyzing entire genomes—human, animal, plant, or disease-related microbes—and its use is restricted to certain cancer types as well as select top-tier academic settings worldwide.

“Prior to therapy selection usage in the 2010s, genomics was, and still is, quite a potent diagnostic, classification, and prognostication tool in cancer,” says Illumina Global Medical Director of Oncology Sugganth Daniel Pillei, MD.

Whole-genome sequencing is applicable in specific types of cancer, such as blood cancers, pediatric malignancies, CNS malignancy, and sarcomas. Daniel explains: “In hematologic malignancies, for example, that proportion of diagnostic and prognostic usage remains very high, because the amount of detail that is needed to accurately diagnose, classify, and risk-stratify leukemias is highly dependent on genomics and has become more so with time.”

Classifying leukemias, such as acute myeloid leukemias, is more complex in part because blood cancer cells have highly diversified genomic lineages—but accurate classification and risk stratification determine the treatment regimen. “In this context, WGS makes sense,” Daniel says, “because you need that broad suite of mutations and variants and genome-wide patterns to make up the picture of what the cancer is, in addition to pinpointing the therapy targets.”

After blood cancers, which show the greatest clinical utility so far, pediatric cancers also benefit from the more comprehensive method. The combination of diagnosis, classification, and prognosis required in pediatric cancers dictates the need for whole-genome sequencing.

CGP is a targeted panel that focuses on certain areas of the genome, whereas WGS looks across the board. “Whatever we see in CGP, you’re going to see on WGS, and much, much more,” Daniel says. In fact, WGS pairs well with information that other testing provides, such as cytogenetics from karyotyping; and gene copy number changes, deletions, and amplifications through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing.

Global adoption and programs 
In March 2021, a landmark paper from Eric Duncavage, David Spencer, and 25 others at Washington University School of Medicine showed that WGS yielded 25% additional diagnostic information over standard-of-care testing (PCR, karyotyping, FISH—each of which were done in different labs, making the logistics for WGS easier as well; WGS is also more amenable to automation and scalability).

A recent paper in Nature demonstrated the utility of WGS in more than 13,000 tumors from Genomics England’s 100,000 Genomes Project. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service was the first to approve WGS at a national level, and the country has about seven regional labs that can run WGS. This adoption inspired similar national WGS initiatives in Germany, Sweden, and elsewhere—and the leading institutions in these countries (such as Karolinska Institute, part of Genomic Medicine Sweden, and Munich Leukemia Laboratory) are focusing on rare cancers, leukemias and lymphomas, and pediatric cancers.

In 2023, the United States’ National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommended WGS for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a major step for precision oncology. That same year, Medicare Administrative Contractor MolDX approved reimbursement of WGS for AML.

WGS and the MRD advantage 
Daniel came to Illumina to join the Oncology Medical Affairs group, where he focuses on work in molecular residual disease (MRD) testing, ctDNA-based assays, WGS, and other emerging applications in cancer. He coordinates with cross-functional teams to engage and host collaborations in cancer-related diagnostics in the US, Europe, and other regions. He is a board-certified molecular pathologist with extensive experience in establishing and directing molecular oncology and molecular genetics labs in academic institutions and in large reference labs.

MRD testing assesses the potential risk for cancer recurrence and offers a method of detecting cancer relapse before standard modalities such as CT or MRI. It can also be used to assess the effectiveness of a cancer treatment for an individual by defining the state of the molecular disease at any point in time. To tell whether a treatment is working or not requires administering the test on two occasions—for example at the beginning of therapy or mid-regimen and at the completion of the regimen. If a patient’s results move from positive to negative after therapy, it not only informs doctors that the treatment was effective, it provides that information much sooner (rather than having to wait two years after therapy has ended for a scan to reveal that the cancer has come back). MRD can also be used for surveillance or longitudinal monitoring in a setting where cancer patients have reached a state of remission and are in long-term follow-up.

The bulk of available MRD data is on risk stratification, which is also its major use case. The technology is in its early stages, and standardization across providers in reporting and quantification is the subject of partnerships in various international consortia.

This year, Illumina announced collaborations with Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine and Bristol Myers Squibb to innovate on our MRD research assay, currently under development on a whole-genome backbone. The WGS MRD research assay will detect ctDNA for MRD assessment, allowing researchers to study cancer samples across multiple solid tumor indications. In contrast with existing MRD solutions with complex workflows, Illumina plans to develop a distributable clinical solution that will provide a cost-effective, highly sensitive, and automated workflow, with the potential to achieve a turnaround time of five to seven days.

Collaborations with Roche, Pillar Biosciences, and many other oncology partnerships are helping build Illumina’s portfolio of in vitro and companion diagnostics. With so many tests in development, it’s paramount that the assays and instruments remain accessible and all-purpose. Illumina technology supports many stages across the cancer continuum and enables its users to provide solutions that aid in the management of cancer patients from research and early discovery to clinical care and beyond. This has been advantageous for large institutions using multiple instruments and platforms across many types of labs. If the technology can transfer between different labs in an organization, the work itself—sometimes under a single investigator—enjoys a smoother pathway. As Daniel puts it, “The availability and use of the same platform and the same technology at different points facilitates better and faster results overall.”

Come to our talk at AACR! 
At the annual American Association for Cancer Research meeting in San Diego, Illumina is sponsoring a spotlight talk on Sunday, April 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The session features speakers working across the continuum from discovery through clinical research: Working on discovery, Dr. Hussein Abbas from MD Anderson Cancer Center will discuss how the Illumina NovaSeq X Series is unlocking massive microenvironment and cell heterogeneity discovery power via single-cell sequencing. In the emerging translational application area, Dr. Aadel Chaudhuri from Mayo Clinic will show data using our RNA Prep with Enrichment kit to sequence cfRNA from blood and urine samples, plus ctDNA and ctDNA methylation data. And finally, from the clinical research arena, Lily Chen, representing the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, will show results from the multiomic MATCH trial (RNA tissue data combined with ctDNA from blood samples), plus data on new TSO products.