Answers from the Lab

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 how healthcare is a logical space to apply artificial intelligence (AI) technology and trends in how AI is being utilized.

Their discussion includes:

• The benefits and pitfalls of using AI in clinical settings.
• Important factors to consider before implementing AI tools in the laboratory.
• A successful AI use case from the Parasitology Lab at Mayo Clinic, and how it enhanced turnaround times and staff satisfaction.

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 a case that was recently overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States that may have ramifications for the healthcare industry, including impacts on regulatory oversight.

Their discussion includes:

• A summary of the Supreme Court ruling on June 28 to overturn the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council decision, and how that impacts the power of federal agencies and the interpretations of the laws they administer.  
• How this decision may impact current healthcare issues like reimbursement and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule on regulating laboratory-developed tests as medical devices.
• The ambiguity of what comes next, and the importance of engaging members of Congress on these important decisions.

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 Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., director of the Metals Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, and Sarah Erdahl, technical specialist coordinator in the Metals Laboratory. They discuss their unique opportunity to complete testing on locks of hair from the composer Ludwig von Beethoven.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• How Mayo Clinic came to be involved in the project, and what historians were hoping to learn from the test results.
• The technical process of preparing, handling, and testing Beethoven’s hair.
• What the test results revealed about Beethoven’s health.
• An overview of Mayo Clinic’s Metals Laboratory and the specialized testing that occurs in the lab.

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 the summertime activity of COVID-19 and the latest updates with avian influenza (H5N1).

Their discussion includes:

• The recent rise in COVID cases and how the new FLiRT variants of the virus are affecting the immune system.
• Updates on avian influenza activity and the risk for more mutations and human infections.
• How the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to the avian flu outbreaks and how laboratories are preparing to support testing needs.
• Reminders of how to best protect yourself and your loved ones from infectious diseases this summer.

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 the platform business model and how it’s being used in the healthcare industry to drive innovation and reimagine how care is provided.

Their discussion includes:

• Key takeaways from the recent conference hosted by Mayo Clinic Platform.
• What constitutes a platform and how the model is being implemented in the healthcare industry.
• How the platform model can transform the way healthcare is delivered, and the implications this transformation has on laboratory medicine and pathology.

Anastasia Zekeridou, M.D., Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' updated panels and methodology boost the accuracy and efficiency of testing for three autoimmune neurology biomarkers. Early diagnosis is key to managing debilitating conditions associated with these antibodies.

(00:32)
 Could you please give our listeners an overview of your role at Mayo Clinic?

(01:22)
 What updates are happening in our laboratory to increase specificity when we receive a patient's serum and CSF for most of the CNS evaluations?

(03:48)
 Why are these updates and additions important in the larger disease state?

(06:16)
 Could you expound upon the relationship between the clinical practice and the lab?

(08:32)
 What do these changes mean for patient care?

(10:27)
 What about the inclusion of AMPA in the pediatric evaluation, and the inclusion of IgLON5 with autoimmune axonal?

(12:58)
 How does your lab discern when it's time to add a biomarker?

(15:44)
 What are you most excited about?

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 why measles remains a virus of concern, how avian flu continues to spread, and new developments in the federal regulation of laboratory-developed tests.

Their discussion includes:

• How a person infected with measles recently traveled through a U.S. airport, and the severity of the measles virus.
• The continued deadly spread of avian flu among wild birds, domestic poultry, and cattle, and the infection of a third human.
• Avian flu vaccine development and the importance of emergency preparedness.
• The American Clinical Laboratory Association’s (ACLA) lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the agency’s final rule to treat laboratory-developed tests as medical devices.

Divyanshu Dubey, M.B.B.S., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique PDE10A and TRIM46 assays facilitate care for central nervous system disorders triggered by cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for managing disabling neurological symptoms and malignancy.

(00:32)
 Could you tell us a bit about your background and your role at Mayo Clinic?

(01:26)
 How do the tests that are coming live relate to the larger disease state of neurological disorders?

(02:44)
 Can you share a little bit about the methodology we're using for these particular biomarkers? 

(05:15)
 How was PDE10A discovered?

(06:48)
 Anything you would add?

(07:50)
 Remind us which phenotype-specific assays these biomarkers are being added to, and how physicians should determine whether this testing is appropriate?

(09:55)
 What does early detection of these biomarkers mean for the patient's prognosis, diagnosis, treatment, etc.?

(12:33)
 What are you most excited about with the launch of these tests?

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 Peter Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair of Research for the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) at Mayo Clinic. 

Their discussion includes:

•  Dr. Lucas’ extensive pathology and research background and his journey to Mayo Clinic. 
• His goals for expanding DLMP’s research activities and advancing innovation in diagnostics.
• How laboratory research has evolved over his career and how researchers can continue to make progress despite obstacles.
• The importance of having good mentors, collaborating with others, staying curious, and remaining persistent to achieve goals.

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 Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., professor of laboratory medicine and pathology and clinical virologist at Mayo Clinic. They discuss the widespread outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu and the new “FLiRT” variants of COVID-19.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The current situation of avian flu activity across the world and throughout the United States, including outbreaks in poultry, U.S. dairy cows, and one recent human case.
• How this outbreak is different than previous ones, and the current public health risk.
• Resources for testing humans for avian flu.
• What we know about the new “FLiRT” variants of COVID-19 and how they might impact public health in the months ahead.