The worldwide liquid biopsy market is expected to reach $2.0bn by 2022, according to a new report by Meddevicetracker, "Oncology: Liquid Biopsy Products." The growth is driven by the rising global incidence of cancers, which, in turn, fuels innovation among companies to develop noninvasive diagnostic assays that obviate the need for tissue biopsy. This is the first in a two-part series providing an overview of the liquid biopsy market, as well as the technologies developed by the larger players in this space, and examining the biggest barriers and growth drivers. In the second part, we'll take a closer look at emerging companies in the sector and offer key insights from C-level attendees at the recent Liquid Biopsy Conference in San Francisco.

No significant trends emerged in diagnostics M&A or financing this past year, which did see the introduction of several government-funded initiatives, elements of which will bolster diagnostics innovation. As in other sectors of health care, the biggest question is how the incoming Trump administration could change US regulatory and funding policies.

The Baltimore university relies on an extensive infrastructure for tech transfer, and has a high volume of output to show for it. Recent tech transfer deals include Spark, Spotlight, Achilles, Biohaven, Cantabio and Renova, Zucara and Heat Biologics.

The White House announced 36 new project commitments under its ongoing Cancer Moonshot oncology initiative, including an ambitious project to create an open liquid-biopsy database and a NASA-NCI collaboration to explore the benefits of particle-beam radiotherapy.