Clinician Perspectives
See how leading clinicians are integrating CSF liquid biopsy into the care of patients with CNS malignancies.
Neuro-Oncologists
Michael Youssef, MD
Neuro-Oncologist, Houston Methodist Texas Medical Center
“Belay’s Summit and Vantage platforms have fundamentally changed how I care for patients with primary brain tumors. I have now used the Summit test in more than 100 patients, consistently obtaining clear, definitive results that have directly informed clinical decision-making. The Summit assay has enabled molecular diagnoses in patients with midline glioma who were unable to undergo surgery, providing actionable clarity without the need for tissue. It has also identified leptomeningeal disease earlier than conventional cytology—particularly in cases where cytology was negative—allowing for earlier and more confident intervention. The ability to longitudinally track variant allele frequency (VAF) has further strengthened our capacity to monitor treatment response in real time. In parallel, Vantage has expanded access to essential biomarkers, including MGMT promoter methylation status, in patients who could not safely undergo surgical resection, ensuring that critical therapeutic decisions are guided by molecular data rather than limited by procedural risk. Together, these technologies represent a meaningful advance in precision neuro-oncology, delivering reliable answers when patients need them most.”
Nancy Ann O. Bush, MD, PhD
Clinical Director, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurological Surgery and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco
“This study illustrates how liquid biopsy with the Belay assay represents a paradigm shift in neuro-oncology. This technology allows for the continuous monitoring of a tumor’s molecular evolution, enabling physicians to detect clonal evolution and possibly treatment resistance ahead of radiographic progression closing the gap between biological change and clinical intervention.”
Alireza Mansouri, MD
Neurosurgical Oncologist, Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery Cancer Institute, Experimental Therapeutics Penn State Neuroscience Institute
“As a neurosurgical oncologist, having access to Summit 2.0’s CSF genomic profiling helps us make faster, more precise decisions for patients with complex CNS tumors. The ability to obtain meaningful molecular data through a minimally invasive approach is transforming how we diagnose and manage brain cancer.”
Shawn Damodharan, DO
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics | Director, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology | Director, Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA)
“Belay Summit 2.0 has been an important addition to how we care for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. The CSF liquid biopsy platform provides minimally invasive molecular information that helps us monitor disease and, in some cases, identify tumor recurrence when repeat surgery or biopsy is not possible. By giving us clearer, real-time insight into a child’s tumor, Belay Summit 2.0 supports more informed clinical decisions and strengthens precision care in pediatric neuro-oncology.”
Michael Youssef, MD
Neuro-Oncologist, Houston Methodist Texas Medical Center
“Belay’s Summit and Vantage platforms have fundamentally changed how I care for patients with primary brain tumors. I have now used the Summit test in more than 100 patients, consistently obtaining clear, definitive results that have directly informed clinical decision-making. The Summit assay has enabled molecular diagnoses in patients with midline glioma who were unable to undergo surgery, providing actionable clarity without the need for tissue. It has also identified leptomeningeal disease earlier than conventional cytology—particularly in cases where cytology was negative—allowing for earlier and more confident intervention. The ability to longitudinally track variant allele frequency (VAF) has further strengthened our capacity to monitor treatment response in real time. In parallel, Vantage has expanded access to essential biomarkers, including MGMT promoter methylation status, in patients who could not safely undergo surgical resection, ensuring that critical therapeutic decisions are guided by molecular data rather than limited by procedural risk. Together, these technologies represent a meaningful advance in precision neuro-oncology, delivering reliable answers when patients need them most.”
Nancy Ann O. Bush, MD, PhD
Clinical Director, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurological Surgery and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco
“This study illustrates how liquid biopsy with the Belay assay represents a paradigm shift in neuro-oncology. This technology allows for the continuous monitoring of a tumor’s molecular evolution, enabling physicians to detect clonal evolution and possibly treatment resistance ahead of radiographic progression closing the gap between biological change and clinical intervention.”
Alireza Mansouri, MD
Neurosurgical Oncologist, Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery Cancer Institute, Experimental Therapeutics Penn State Neuroscience Institute
“As a neurosurgical oncologist, having access to Summit 2.0’s CSF genomic profiling helps us make faster, more precise decisions for patients with complex CNS tumors. The ability to obtain meaningful molecular data through a minimally invasive approach is transforming how we diagnose and manage brain cancer.”
Shawn Damodharan, DO
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics | Director, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology | Director, Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA)
“Belay Summit 2.0 has been an important addition to how we care for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. The CSF liquid biopsy platform provides minimally invasive molecular information that helps us monitor disease and, in some cases, identify tumor recurrence when repeat surgery or biopsy is not possible. By giving us clearer, real-time insight into a child’s tumor, Belay Summit 2.0 supports more informed clinical decisions and strengthens precision care in pediatric neuro-oncology.”
