Introducing SPEAR epTau 217 and eMTBR-Tau: Dissecting Alzheimer’s pathologies from early Tau phosphorylation to Tau tangles

The development of reliable blood-based biomarkers is transforming Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research, offering new opportunities to detect pathological changes earlier and monitor disease progression with greater precision.

In this SelectScience^® webinar, held in partnership with Spear Bio, experts will introduce two novel blood-based biomarker assays designed to advance AD research: SPEAR epTau 217 and SPEAR eMTBR-Tau.

This webinar will present new data on SPEAR epTau 217, which detects a distinct subset of pTau 217 that may represent an early AD-associated Tau species. You will learn how the assay delivers highly consistent results across paired venous and Tasso capillary blood samples and how its performance compares with other Tau biomarkers, including total pTau 217, BD-Tau, and BD-pTau 217.

We will also introduce SPEAR eMTBR-Tau, a plasma biomarker associated with neurofibrillary tangle pathology in late-stage AD. Data will show how plasma eMTBR-Tau levels increase markedly with advancing disease and correlate with neuropathological severity and Tau-PET burden, supporting its potential as a blood-based marker of Tau tangle pathology.

Join us to explore how these assays could enable more accessible, precise, and stage-specific assessment of Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

Speakers

Dr. Nicholas Ashton
Senior Director, Fluid Biomarker Program, Banner Health

Dr. Nicholas Ashton is an internationally recognized expert in fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. He serves as Senior Director of the Banner Research Fluid Biomarker Program, where he leads efforts to develop and validate cerebrospinal fluid and blood-based assays that support research, clinical studies, and diagnostic development.

With more than a decade of experience in biofluid analysis and assay development, Dr. Ashton has authored over 400 research publications and has received multiple awards for his contributions, including recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher.

Dr. Tracy Liu
Director, Product Managment, Spear Bio

Dr. Tracy Liu is Director of Product Management at Spear Bio, where she leads product strategy and commercialization for the company’s ultra-sensitive biomarker detection platform. With more than a decade of experience in life science research tools, she has led the development and commercialization of innovative technologies spanning biomarker research, immunoassays, single-cell analysis, genome editing, and next-generation sequencing. Her expertise lies in translating complex scientific innovations into impactful products that enable cutting-edge research and accelerate advances in precision medicine.

Dr. Liu earned her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Toledo and is passionate about advancing biomarker discovery by bridging scientific innovation with product strategy to deliver technologies that empower researchers and improve clinical research.