On April 16, 2026 SOPHiA GENETICS (NASDAQ: SOPH), a global leader in AI-driven precision medicine, reported that the Mount Sinai Health System, one of the leading academic health systems in the United States, will adopt the AI-powered SOPHiA DDM Platform to advance cancer research and enhance genomic testing capabilities.

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Mount Sinai, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York City, supports care for more than 4,000 oncology patients annually. Mount Sinai’s Molecular Pathology team will leverage SOPHiA DDM to strengthen next-generation sequencing (NGS) capabilities for blood cancers and solid tumors. The Platform is designed to enable detection and interpretation of a wide range of complex genomic variants while improving operational efficiency by consolidating critical steps in the analysis pipeline and reducing manual interpretation time.

By combining Mount Sinai’s clinical excellence with SOPHiA DDM’s advanced AI-powered analytics, the hospital will be equipped to interpret complex genomic datasets at scale and optimize laboratory resources, enabling teams to focus on direct patient care.

Jane Houldsworth, Ph.D., Director of Molecular Oncology Pathology of the Mount Sinai Health System, said: "The collaboration between Mount Sinai and SOPHiA GENETICS reinforces our commitment to scientific innovation by integrating powerful digital tools into our workflows to support high-quality, data-driven cancer care. Leveraging SOPHiA DDM has enabled us to reduce hands-on analysis time and improve our testing turnaround times, enabling our clinicians to provide better patient care."

John Carey, Managing Director, North America, SOPHiA GENETICS, said: "Mount Sinai is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading centers for cancer research and was recently ranked No. 1 globally among health care institutions in the Nature AI Index, underscoring its leadership in artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation. We are honored to support their teams with an AI-native platform and global network designed to deliver faster results, greater operational efficiency, and deeper genomic understanding to help shape the future of precision oncology."

By utilizing the SOPHiA DDM for Blood Cancers and SOPHiA DDM for Solid Tumors applications, Mount Sinai joins a growing network of more than 990 global institutions using SOPHiA GENETICS’ decentralized platform to accelerate precision medicine. This collaboration underscores SOPHiA GENETICS’ mission to democratize data-driven medicine, delivering scalable, cloud-native solutions that empower healthcare institutions to expand access to advanced genomic testing and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

The collaboration was announced from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in San Diego. Learn more by connecting with SOPHiA GENETICS at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) booth #4248 from April 17 – 22, 2026.

(Press release, Mount Sinai Hospital, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664442])

On April 16, 2026 Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: WHWK), a clinical-stage oncology therapeutics company applying advanced technologies to established tumor biology to efficiently deliver improved antibody drug conjugate (ADC) cancer treatments, reported Dave Lennon, PhD, President and CEO, will participate in a virtual fireside chat as part of the Jones Trading Post-AACR Fireside Chat Series on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 3 PM ET.

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A live webcast of the event can be accessed by visiting the Whitehawk Therapeutics IR website and will be available for replay for approximately 30 days following the event.

(Press release, Whitehawk Therapeutics, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664441])

On April 16, 2026 Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTCQB: SNANF) (the "Company", "Sona") reported the appointment of two renowned oncologists to its scientific advisory board: Dr. Michael Smylie and Dr. Jonathan Trites.

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Dr. Michael Smylie is a leading medical oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton and a clinical professor at the University of Alberta, renowned for his transformative work in melanoma research. He played a key role as a contributing investigator and co-author in the landmark CheckMate clinical trials–specifically CheckMate 067. This study is hailed as a turning point in oncology, as it proved that combining immunotherapy drugs could lead to long-term survival for patients with advanced melanoma, a condition once considered a terminal diagnosis.

His work on the long-term outcomes and quality-of-life data from these trials has helped establish the current international standard of care, moving the needle from short-term treatment to the possibility of decade-long remission for many.

Dr. Jonathan Trites is a head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgeon based at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. As an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University, he has been a key figure in research advancing surgical techniques and outcomes for complex head and neck cancers.

Dr. Trites’s work primarily focuses on improving the precision and functional outcomes of cancer surgeries. He is a leader in using minimally invasive techniques for tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. His research has demonstrated that Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM) is a viable option for advanced-stage glottic cancer, achieving high rates of laryngeal preservation and excellent functional outcomes. He has also published significant data on various squamous cell carcinomas, including early-stage laryngeal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer.

Sona’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Carman Giacomantonio, commented, "I am excited to have Dr. Smylie and Dr. Trites join our scientific advisory board. I have had the privilege of working closely with both gentlemen over the past many years and have a tremendous amount of respect for the experience and wisdom they bring to our table. The clinical course we are embarking upon is truly pioneering. Both Dr. Trites and Dr. Smylie have been pioneers throughout their careers in their respective fields, giving me and my team a tremendous amount confidence as we plan and begin to execute our clinical course going forward."

(Press release, Sona Nanotech, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664440])

On April 16, 2026 Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported that City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, is implementing Haystack MRD, a highly accurate circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) test, for clinical trial participants with solid tumor cancers to help guide disease management for patients being treated for breast, colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancer. The multi-year research program is expected to serve approximately 500 patients with thousands of longitudinal measurements from fourteen City of Hope sites across the country, including in the Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago, Phoenix, and Atlanta areas.

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"City of Hope brings together the scientific expertise, clinical infrastructure, and advanced technology needed to evaluate emerging approaches that can meaningfully improve cancer care and health outcomes for patients," said Cristian Tomasetti, Ph.D, Professor and Director, Center for Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Monitoring, City of Hope. "We see liquid biopsy as an important frontier in oncology and aim to leverage the most accurate and effective commercially available ctDNA assays while also working to develop effective early detection platforms. We are excited to study how Haystack MRD might inform treatment decisions across several solid tumor types."

The City of Hope clinical trials are investigating Haystack MRD across patient management settings, including neoadjuvant, adjuvant and post-treatment surveillance. The research is evaluating if the test can detect minimal residual disease, monitor treatment response, and identify recurrence earlier than standard imaging modalities.

"New blood test technologies can make a significant difference for a patient. For example, they may help determine that a surgery was able to fully remove the cancer, thereby sparing chemotherapy treatment," added Dr. Tomasetti, Professor in the Early Detection and Prevention Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope.

"City of Hope is one of the nation’s foremost cancer centers, with a century-long commitment to advancing cancer care through both research and clinical excellence, and we have built a strong relationship with them over time," said Dan Edelstein, Vice President and General Manager of Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics company. "Haystack MRD is designed to help clinicians and their patients act earlier with greater confidence, based on the principle that cancer survivors and their care teams should be able to make proactive, not reactive, healthcare decisions. We believe the research collaboration will generate important evidence supporting the role of Haystack MRD in informing patient management across multiple solid tumor settings."

About ctDNA MRD
A growing body of research underscores the value of ctDNA-based MRD testing for identifying residual or recurring cancer in solid tumors. By detecting trace amounts of tumor-derived DNA in the bloodstream, ctDNA MRD testing can reveal molecular evidence of disease recurrence months before it becomes apparent through imaging or other conventional monitoring methods. This early insight can help clinicians tailor surveillance strategies, adjust treatment plans, and potentially intervene before disease progression becomes clinically evident. Nearly all oncologists (96%) in a survey by Harris Poll for Quest Diagnostics said MRD testing has the potential to identify cancer recurrence earlier than other current methods. In 2025, the FDA granted the Haystack MRD Dx test Breakthrough Device Designation for use in Stage II colorectal cancer.

(Press release, Quest Diagnostics, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664438])

On April 16, 2026 QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) reported it will showcase its oncology workflow applications at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego, demonstrating how its portfolio connects sample preparation with multi-omics profiling and genomic data interpretation to support cancer research and molecular diagnostics.

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"Cancer research and molecular diagnostics are increasingly constrained by fragmented workflows, variability in sample processing and the growing complexity of multi-omics data," said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Portfolio & Innovation at QIAGEN. "At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), we are demonstrating how QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight portfolio helps standardize critical steps from sample preparation through data interpretation, enabling more consistent results, improved reproducibility and more confident insights from complex biological data."

At the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, QIAGEN will showcase applications across key stages of the oncology workflow, from sample preparation to genomic profiling and data interpretation:

Sample technologies: New instruments and kits highlighting Parse single-cell solutions

QIAsymphony Connect: The upcoming IVD QIAsymphony Connect will support oncology workflows in laboratories around the world. This scalable automation platform for clinical molecular testing builds on over 3,300 placements of the established QIAsymphony system to automate IVD sample extraction, improve laboratory productivity, enhance sample traceability and process safety and deliver highly concentrated nucleic acid for sensitive assays. As molecular testing expands across oncology and other applications, QIAsymphony Connect will help laboratories standardize complex workflows while reducing hands-on time and supporting reproducible, high-quality results.
QIAsprint Connect: Following its launch at the SLAS 2026 meeting in February, QIAsprint Connect for research use only is now progressing through commercialization as QIAGEN’s new high-throughput automation platform for research laboratories. The compact benchtop system enables automated purification of up to 192 DNA or RNA samples per run, supports validated and customizable workflows, and helps laboratories scale sample processing while reducing plastic use and packaging volume.

Evercode single-cell analysis: Parse Biosciences, a QIAGEN company, will highlight at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) its Evercode Whole Transcriptome portfolio, including the recently launched v4 kit with higher cell recovery, higher sensitivity and shorter workflow with lower sequencing budget. Parse will also showcase the Evercode Whole Transcriptome FFPE kit, now shipping after the successful completion of an early access program with select partners. The Evercode WT FFPE enables unbiased whole transcriptome single cell RNA sequencing of millions of nuclei from FFPE-preserved tissues using Parse’s novel split-pool combinatorial barcoding method.

Genomic profiling:New QIAseq research panels for use on next-generation sequencers (NGS)
QIAseq xHYB HRD Panel: Developed with Myriad Genetics, the QIAseq xHYB HRD Panel is designed to support research into homologous recombination deficiency as an important cancer biomarker for research applications. The assay combines QIAGEN’s hybrid capture technology with Myriad analytics to support assessment of genomic instability, and has shown high concordance with the Myriad myChoice CDx HRD assay.
QIAseq xHYB Trinity DNA/RNA Kit: This new kit enables comprehensive genomic profiling from DNA, RNA or both in a single research workflow using the AVITI platform from Element Biosciences. Designed for use with Element’s Trinity sequencing workflow, it helps streamline target enrichment through a shorter hybridization step, fewer manual cleanup steps and no post-enrichment PCR, reducing hands-on time while supporting high on-target rates and confident variant detection for research applications.

Data interpretation: New AI-grounding platform for unified drug discovery support for research purposes
QIAGEN Discovery Platform: QIAGEN Digital Insights, the bioinformatics business of QIAGEN, will introduce the QIAGEN Discovery Platform at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) as an AI-grounding solution for drug discovery. The platform is designed to bring together biological knowledge, omics data and advanced analytics to support oncology research, with future implementation of AI functions and integration with downstream AI analysis. The platform will be presented through demonstrations and spotlight sessions at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) meeting.
To learn more about QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight portfolio, visit Booth #3547 at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego from April 17–22, or go to www.qiagen.com/oncology-meeting.

(Press release, Qiagen, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664437])