Advancing the Diagnostic-to-Treatment Continuum in Cancer Care –
Iowa City

Iowa City brings together leading experts in oncology, pathology, molecular diagnostics, hematology, and translational science for a multidisciplinary conference focused on the advances reshaping precision cancer care.

The program is chaired by Mark E. Burkard, MD, PhD, Director of University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, C.E. Block Chair of Cancer Research, Associate Dean for Cancer at the Carver College of Medicine, and a medical oncologist with expertise in breast cancer and precision oncology. His research focuses on understanding the genomic changes that drive cancer and translating those discoveries into more individualized treatment strategies.

Through expert-led presentations, case-based education, and multidisciplinary panel discussions, the conference will explore evolving approaches across thoracic, breast, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and hematologic malignancies, while examining how advances in pathology and molecular diagnostics are increasingly influencing treatment selection and patient management.

Participants will gain practical insights into molecular and genomic profiling, biomarker testing, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, liquid biopsy, measurable residual disease (MRD), emerging diagnostic technologies, clinical trials, and evolving standards of care – with an emphasis on translating scientific discovery into meaningful clinical decisions.

Hosted in Iowa City, home to Iowa’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the conference provides a unique setting for collaboration among clinicians, pathologists, laboratory professionals, researchers, and other members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team.

By connecting the specialists responsible for diagnosis, molecular characterization, research, and treatment, the Iowa conference will examine the full diagnostic-to-treatment continuum and how increasingly precise understanding of cancer can inform more individualized patient care.