Keynote: Understanding the Cancer Microbiome – Dr. Andrew Bartko

Join us for a scientific seminar exploring how spatial genomics and microbiome research are transforming our understanding of cancer biology and human health.

This special event features keynote speaker Dr. Andrew Bartko (UC San Diego), presenting new insights into cancer recurrence through spatially resolved tumor–microbiome interactions. Additional guest talks from Complete Genomics will highlight cutting-edge advances in spatial biology, bioinformatics workflows, and data-driven discovery.

🔬 Event Highlights:

• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Andrew Bartko - UC San Diego, Center for Microbiome Innovation
• Technology Spotlight: Dr. Yongfu Wang - Complete Genomics, STOmics Stereo-seq
• Refreshments + Table Show

📌 Key Details:

• 📅 Date & Time: Thursday, December 11, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
• 📍 Location: Moores Cancer Center, 2nd Floor Comer Commons
• ☕Refreshments will be provided!

🧪 Scientific Program:

Keynote: Local environmental heterogeneity: advancing our understanding of the cancer microbiome

Dr. Andrew Bartko, UC San Diego, Center for Microbiome Innovation

Abstract: Bladder cancer is characterized by one of the highest recurrence rates among solid tumors, yet the mechanisms driving relapse remain poorly understood. Traditional genomic approaches fail to capture the spatial heterogeneity of tumor ecosystems, limiting our ability to predict and prevent recurrence. Spatial genomic sequencing addresses this gap by preserving tissue architecture while resolving transcriptomic variation at cellular resolution. This approach enables identification of tumor–immune interactions and microenvironmental niches that potentially foster recurrence. Applied to bladder cancer, spatial sequencing can reveal patterns and microbial relationships that are undetectable with bulk methods. Integrating spatially resolved profiles with clinical data offers the potential to develop predictive biomarkers and precision therapies tailored to recurrence risk. Thus, spatial genomic sequencing provides a powerful framework for advancing personalized oncology and improving outcomes for patients with recurrent bladder cancer.

Technology Spotlight: A complete view of Cancer: High-resolution whole tissue full transcriptome spatial transcriptomics

Dr. Yongfu Wang, Complete Genomics

Abstract: STOmics Stereo-seq is compatible with both fresh-frozen (FF) and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, delivering single cell resolution across entire tissue regions while capturing full transcriptomic diversity in a single experiment. This advancement significantly drives the discovery of novel biomarkers and enhances our understanding of disease progression and potential therapeutic targets.

👩‍🔬About the Speakers:

Dr. Andrew Bartko - Executive Director, Center for Microbiome Innovation, UC San Diego

Dr. Bartko’s goal is to inspire, nurture, and sustain vibrant collaborations between UC San Diego’s microbiome experts and industry partners in the life science, nutrition, energy, information technology, clinical, and healthcare industries. Specifically, his aim is to focus on creating and commercializing innovative technologies to accelerate microbiome discoveries and healthcare breakthroughs across academic and industry collaborations.

Prior to his time with CMI, Dr. Bartko was a research leader at Battelle Memorial Institute, a nonprofit global research and development organization committed to science and technology for the greater good. Dr. Bartko has developed products for clinical diagnostic purposes and has created a portfolio of intellectual property including 15 patents that has been successfully licensed into the industrial research base. In 2018, he received Battelle’s Inventor of the Year Award for a career’s worth of innovation. He brings more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in various roles throughout his career. Dr. Bartko received his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and his PhD in physical chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and he was a postdoctoral fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Dr. Yongfu Wang - Sr. Manager, Field & Sales Support for STOmics, Complete Genomics

Yongfu Wang is the Senior Manager of Field and Sales Support at Complete Genomics, where he leads scientific advising, technical support, and customer enabling for the Stereo-seq spatial platform. He joined the company in 2023, following a career in academic research and operations. Before joining Complete Genomics, Yongfu served as Head of Histology at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and previously held the position of Assistant Research Professor at the University of Kansas. Yongfu’s academia work has yielded 50+ peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature, Cell, Science, Nature Protocols, J Neurosci. etc. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Histotechnology and editorial board member of Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience and Biotechnique & Histochemistry.