October 26 - January 31, 2021
La Jolla, CA, USA
October 26 - January 31, 2021
La Jolla, CA, USA
This year's program will include the following sessions. Additional sessions and speakers will be added as they become final. For a full two-day timeline, visit the Schedule at a Glance.
Autism Spectrum Disorder - From Molecule(s) to Drug Candidate - A 30 Year Journey Propelled by a 60-Year-Old Biomarker
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is recognized to be both much more prevalent that previously described and woefully deficient in therapeutics that can treat the core symptoms of the disorder. Our work in ASD has been a case of serendipity, surprise, and linkages, both at the genetic level and with respect to laboratory projects. In my lecture, I will describe our journey from cloning and study of the brain's major target for antidepressant medications, and an initial goal to develop new therapeutics for debilitating mood disorders, to new ideas, models and molecules potentially more relevant for ASD than depression.
Speaker: Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., Executive Director, FAU Brain Institute, Professor of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (Florida Atlantic University)
Enabling Technologies
This session centers on innovations in 3D culture enabling technologies. New functional and biology-inspired interfaces and polymer networks and their impact on 3D culture are presented. We will look into how phase transition and its utility as a tool in synthetic biology to create artificially high concentrations of enzymes and substrates via coacervation. Recent developments in synthetic, natural hydrogels and matrix free technologies for embedding 3D cultures are discussed including scalability for larger applications. Lastly, state-of-the-art organ-on-chip platforms are presented and their application perspective relative to 3D culture systems is discussed.
Chair: Glauco Souza, Ph.D. (Greiner Bio-One)
Speaker: Joern Dengjel, Ph.D (University of Friborg)
Speaker: Hongjun Song, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania)
A Patient-derived Glioblastoma Organoid Model That Recapitulates Inter- and Intra-tumoral Heterogeneity for Drug Testing
Speaker: James Hoying, Ph.D. (Advanced Solutions Life Sciences)
A Versatile, Enabling Platform for Vascularizing Tissues and Tissue Models
Speaker: Fabian Vincent, Ph.D. (Pfizer)
Human Whole Blood Pharmacology Assays for Drug Discovery
These ten-minute talks from six poster presenters will share research, innovations and new work on disruptive technologies.
High-Throughput Advanced Cellular Models
The High-Throughput Advanced Cellular Model session will explore complex cellular screening platforms, including the adoption of novel technologies and muti-variant approaches to provide an accurate biological context for drug screening and target identification.
Chair: Sinead Knight, Ph.D., Principal Scientist (Sygnature Discovery)
Speaker: Daniel Todd, Ph.D. (Charles River Laboratories)
A Huntington’s Disease Embryonic Stem Cell Phenotypic HTS to Identify Small Molecule Modulators of Mutant HTT
Speaker: Joseph Kissil, Ph.D. (Moffitt Cancer Center)
Use of 3-Dimensional High-Throughput Screening Approaches to Identify Oncogenic KRAS Selective Inhibitors
Speaker: Kristin Bircsaka, Ph.D. (MIMETAS)
A High-Throughput Liver-on-a-Chip Model for Hepatotoxicity Detection
Speaker: Paul Johnston, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh, PA)
Implementing 3D Models for Cancer Drug Discovery
Advances in Imaging and Analysis
This session will explore imaging modalities and imaging modes that are currently the domain of a few specialists world wide. These technologies will likely become accessible to a broader public in coming years so that this session should offer a glimpse into the technologies we might be using in the (hopefully near) future.
Chair: Marc Bickle, Ph.D. (ITB)
Speaker: Paul Kenny, Ph.D. (Mt. Sinai Icahn School of Medicine)
In vivo Brain Imaging and Circuit-based Therapeutics
Speaker: Nikolay Samusik, Ph.D. (Genentech)
Spatial Multiomics Analysis of Tumor-immune Interactions in HNSCC with CODEX
Speaker: Sven Fengler, Ph.D. (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases)
Human iPSC-derived Brain Endothelial Microvessels in a Multi-well Format Enable Permeability Screens of Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Complex Translational Models
With rapid advances in three-dimensional (3D) culture methods, scientists have modeled many complex human diseases in a dish. Cultures can incorporate both disease cells as well as key microenvironmental compartments. These patient-derived translational models are amenable to phenotypic screening thus enabling scientists to empirically identify effective therapeutic options and novel biomarkers ex-vivo. Early results suggest that findings in 3D models translate to patient outcomes. In this session, we will hear from experts who are optimizing robust platforms to empower clinicians and patients to take advantage of complex 3D translational models.
Chair: Herve Tiriac, Ph.D. (UCSD Moores Cancer Center)
Speakers: Andrew Aguirre, M.D., Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School)
Speaker: Carla Grandori, M.D., Ph.D. (SEngine Precision Medicine)
Speaker: James Hickman, Ph.D., (University of Central Florida NanoScience Technology Center)
Drug Efficacy and Safety Determination in Drug-Dosed Human-on-a-Chip Systems
Speaker: Hossein Tavana, Ph.D. (The University of Akron)
Targeting of Tumor-Stromal Interactions in an Organotypic Breast Tumor Model
Chair: Ross Lagoy, Ph.D. (Intellia Theraputics)
Speaker: David Tuveson, M.D., Ph.D. (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)