Heather Biggs
Papers
1
Total Citations
109
H-Index
1
About
Heather Biggs is a leading translational researcher whose work has fundamentally shaped how circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is collected and analyzed for noninvasive cancer management. Her primary research areas center on liquid biopsy pre-analytics, specifically the critical pre-analytical variables that influence cell-free DNA (cfDNA) integrity and yield. Biggs’s landmark 2018 study, cited over 109 times, demonstrated how collection and processing procedures directly impact plasma cfDNA levels—showing that leukocyte lysis during blood handling can artificially inflate cfDNA, masking the true tumor-derived signal. This work established essential best-practice protocols now widely adopted to ensure ctDNA detection accuracy. By systematically identifying and controlling these confounding factors, Biggs has enabled more reliable liquid biopsy assays for early cancer detection, treatment monitoring, and minimal residual disease assessment. Her contributions bridge the gap between laboratory science and clinical application, providing the methodological rigor necessary for ctDNA to fulfill its promise as a transformative noninvasive biomarker. Biggs’s research continues to guide both academic and commercial efforts to standardize liquid biopsy workflows, making her a pivotal figure in precision oncology.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1