Professor Paul Hofman, Director of the RespirERA Institute, took part in the SOPHiA GENETICS Innovation Summit 2026, an international event dedicated to innovations in precision medicine. This event brought together experts from academia, hospitals, industry, and new technologies to exchange views on advances transforming cancer diagnosis and management.
An event dedicated to precision medicine
The SOPHiA GENETICS Innovation Summit brings together international specialists each year around developments in genomics, artificial intelligence, and the use of health data in support of precision medicine.
The 2026 edition addressed the challenges related to integrating these innovations into clinical practice, with a shared goal of improving diagnostic accuracy and adapting treatments to each patient’s specific biological characteristics.
Innovation in support of diagnosis and treatments
The various sessions highlighted several key themes, including the development of new oncology biomarkers, comprehensive genomic profiling of tumors, the use of transcriptomics, and the contribution of artificial intelligence to medical decision support.
The discussions also emphasized the need to strengthen collaborations between healthcare institutions, industry, and digital actors in order to accelerate the deployment of data-driven medicine and improve its accessibility.
Liquid biopsy at a global scale
In this context, Professor Paul Hofman gave a presentation entitled: “Liquid Biopsy at a Global Scale: Advantages and Challenges of Decentralization”
He presented the perspectives offered by liquid biopsy in thoracic oncology, particularly its potential to transform diagnostic pathways at scale.
His presentation highlighted a central point in the current debate: the decentralization of liquid biopsy analyses. While this approach opens up significant prospects in terms of diagnostic accessibility and speed, it also raises major challenges related to standardization, data quality, and the harmonization of practices between laboratories.
This intervention is part of the work carried out on the integration of advanced molecular biology into care pathways, where the issue of balancing technological innovation and clinical robustness remains a key structural challenge.
Discussions in support of health innovation
Professor Hofman’s participation aligns with the strategic priorities of the RespirERA Institute, focused on precision medicine, biomarkers, integrative pathology, and artificial intelligence applied to respiratory diseases.
These international meetings make it possible to compare approaches, strengthen scientific collaborations, and identify innovations that can concretely improve the management of patients with thoracic cancers and respiratory diseases.
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