PowerTalk Seminar Series: Darshan Shimoga Chandrashekar

Join us for an insightful bioinformatics presentation by Darshan Shimoga Chandrashekar, PhD, Assistant Professor and Informatics Section Head Department of Pathology, Division of Genomic Diagnostics & Bioinformatics Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Scholar Profile Title: "Targeted NGS or Comprehensive Sequencing: An Evidence-Based Approach to Molecular Test Selection in Oncology" Abstract: Advances in precision oncology have expanded the range of molecular testing options available for cancer patients. Selecting the most appropriate test requires balancing clinical benefit, diagnostic yield, turnaround time, and cost. This seminar will review a recently proposed evidence-based framework for molecular test selection, comparing the use of targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels and comprehensive genomic profiling across common cancer types. The discussion will highlight situations where targeted NGS panels may provide sufficient information for treatment decisions, as well as scenarios in which broader genomic testing may be advantageous. Practical considerations for molecular pathology laboratories and strategies for optimizing test selection to support precision cancer care will also be discussed. Biography: Darshan Chandrashekar, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics (GDB), Department of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). As informatics section head at GDB, he oversees the development and implementation of bioinformatics workflows supporting clinical molecular testing, genomic data interpretation, laboratory informatics, and reporting infrastructure. With more than a decade of experience in cancer genomics, bioinformatics, and web-based data portal development, Dr. Chandrashekar is committed to translating complex genomic data into actionable biological and clinical insights. He is the principal developer of UALCAN (University of Alabama CANc