This on-demand webinar, co-hosted by SelectScience, will highlight how the SPEAR UltraDetect™ platform enables ultra-sensitive and highly specific detection of plasma pTau 217 for enhanced accuracy of early Alzheimer’s detection.
Attendees will gain an overview of how SPEAR UltraDetect pTau 217 performance compares with leading commercial assays in the BioFINDER and WRAP cohorts, including classification of amyloid positivity and correlations with CSF biomarkers.
The session will also underscore the clinical implications of measuring pTau 217 at sub-clinical and early disease stages. Join to explore how advances in analytical sensitivity and specificity can help shape the future of blood-based Alzheimer’s detection.
What you will learn:
- Identify the analytical challenges of measuring plasma pTau 217 at low concentrations and understand why enhanced sensitivity and specificity are critical for Alzheimer’s disease research.
- Understand the principles behind the SPEAR UltraDetect™ assay workflow, including how two-factor authentication technology improves biomarker specificity.
- Learn how to interpret high-level performance metrics commonly used to evaluate blood-based biomarkers, such as assay concordance and disease discrimination.
- Recognize how next-generation plasma biomarker platforms can support study design, cohort stratification, and future clinical development in Alzheimer’s disease.
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. Laurel Provencher
VP, Application Support, Spear Bio
Laurel Provencher is Vice President of Product Development at Spear Bio, where she leads the advancement of next-generation ultra-sensitive assay technologies. She previously served as Sr. Director of Technical Operations at CATALOG, overseeing process development for their DNA-based computing platform. Laurel brings extensive senior leadership experience from Quanterix, PerkinElmer, and Caliper Life Sciences, where she supported development and applications for protein and nucleic acid assays. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from UC Davis and a B.A. in Biology from Cornell University.
