From September 14 to 16, 2023, the North American Chinese Chemist Association (NACCCA) and Shanghai Medical Association effectively co-hosted an international forum at the 12th Oriental Congress of Lab Medicine Conference in Shanghai. Nine esteemed NACCCA members, renowned experts in their respective fields, contributed to the event by sharing their experiences and insights through academic presentations. This forum served as a valuable platform for meaningful academic exchanges, drawing clinical laboratory professionals from across the nation and offering them an enriching academic experience.

Professor Fang Wu, the President of NACCCA, delivered the opening speech, extending a warm welcome to all conference attendees and expressing anticipation for the academic discussions ahead. Professor Wu, who is the Division Head of Clinical Chemistry at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Saskatchewan Health Authority-Saskatoon Integrated Service Area (Canada), and Director of the Postdoctoral Clinical Chemistry Fellowship Training Program, further presented on "Application of Clinical Mass Spectrometry in Precision Drug Therapy" during the opening session.

Professor Ahmed Mostafa from the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, presented a report titled "Revolutionizing Stem Cell Engraftment Monitoring with Next-Generation Sequencing: Groundbreaking Discoveries from a Canadian Laboratory." The report covered myths about chimerism, the principle of chimerism in HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation), methods for engraftment monitoring (including STR and NGS), and the validation of NGS for chimerism testing. Professor Mostafa emphasized the advantages of NGS technology in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, early detection capabilities, and speed.

Professor Xin Yi from Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Institute discussed "Precision Matters: Enhancing the Accuracy of Renal Function Assessment in Transplant Populations." The presentation highlighted the importance of accurate renal function assessment in transplant populations, addressing when and how to conduct assessments. Professor Yi emphasized the role of clinical laboratories in ensuring the well-being of both donors and recipients, especially concerning chronic kidney disease and the safety of living kidney donors.

Professor Yushen Zhu from Penn State University Hershey Medical Center presented on "AACC Guidance Document on Cervical Cancer Detection: Screening, Surveillance, and Diagnosis," offering valuable insights into HPV, screening methods, and diagnostic approaches. The presentation provided guidance for women with specific risk factors undergoing cervical cancer screening.

Professor Carmen Gherasim from the University of Michigan discussed "A Stepwise Approach to Implementation of Blood-Based Biomarkers for Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Brain Injury." The presentation outlined traditional methods for clinical diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and highlighted the potential applications of blood-based biomarkers in patient evaluation and management.

Professor Zejuan Li from Houston Methodist Hospital explored "Novel Epigenetic Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy of Cancer," focusing on the early stages of cancer and the diagnostic potential of epigenetic markers in liquid biopsy.

Professor Ruben Luo from Stanford University delivered a presentation titled "Top-Down High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Clinical Testing of Protein Diagnostic Markers," covering top-down mass spectrometry methods and their application in clinical diagnosis.

Professor Li Wang, a Medical Biochemist at BC Children’s Hospital, presented a report titled "Quality Improvement in Point of Care Testing: Showcase from BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Canada." The presentation highlighted the advantages of Point of Care Testing (POCT) and discussed challenges faced by POCT, expressing confidence in its ongoing improvement and potential benefits.

The 12th Annual East Asian Conference on Laboratory Medicine International Forum concluded successfully. Gratitude was expressed to all the experts and professors worldwide for their insightful presentations.