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The qualitative and quantitative characterization of endogenous and exogenous analytes in biological systems are the basis of drug discovery and development. This track will highlight important developments in bioanalytical technologies, including advances in label-free technologies, applications of target and mechanism deconvolution techniques and ‘omics approaches to biomarker analysis. Planned sessions include:

Label-Free Bioanalytical Techniques
Session Chair: Frank Buettner, Ph.D., Boehringer Ingelheim

Target Engagement and Pathways
Session Chair: Kilian Huber, Ph.D., University of Oxford

Target and Mechanism Deconvolution After Phenotypic Screens
Session Chair: Paul Tesar, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University

This track will focus on recent innovations across the assay development and screening field, including the adoption of novel technologies and intelligent informatics approaches, to enable the implementation of effective screening campaigns and hit triage strategies to identify, validate and characterize potential leads. Attendees will hear about the development of robust, physiologically relevant biochemical, biophysical and cellular assays that are crucial for identifying active ligands that engage their targets directly. There will be an emphasis on recent case studies where cutting-edge assay approaches to improve the success rates of screening have been coupled with next-generation therapeutic modalities and novel mechanisms of action to broaden the scope of target classes that can be drugged. Planned sessions include:

Advanced Imaging and High-Content Assays
Session Chair: Regis Doyonnas, Ph.D., Pfizer

Applications of CRISPR Technology in Drug Discovery
Session Chair: Davide Gianni, Ph.D., AstraZeneca

Biochemical & Biophysical Assays
Session Chair: Larry Szewczuk, Ph.D., Janssen Pharmaceuticals

DNA-Encoded Libraries
Session Chair: Patrick McEnaney, Ph.D., Haystack Sciences

In vitro Immunological Assays
Session Chair: Amy Quinn, Ph.D., GlaxoSmithKline

Chemical Biology
Session Chair: Christopher Parker, Ph.D., Scripps Research

This track focuses on the innovative use of biological or chemistry applications, tools, technologies and techniques as they pertain to automated high throughput screening, the advancement of laboratory processes or improvement of the quality and impact of experimental laboratory data. Emphasis is placed on advancements in chemically and biologically relevant technologies using engineering, analytical, informatics and application to cutting edge automation-assisted research. Planned sessions include:

Screening & Profiling at Higher-Throughput Using Physiologically Relevant Cell Models
Session Chair: Sylvia Boj, Ph.D., Hubrecht Organoid Technology

Technologies to Bridge the Gap Between High-Content and High-Throughput
Session Chair: James Pilling, M.S., AstraZeneca

Automating Screening Processes
Session Chair: Steven van Helden, Ph.D., Pivot Park Screening Centre

Automating Chemistry in the Age of AI
Session Chair: Lee Cronin, Ph.D., University of Glasgow

Microtiter Plates and Beyond: High-Throughput Miniaturization While Maintaining Physiological Relevance
Session Chair: Lorena Kallal, Ph.D., GlaxoSmithKline

In-House and Open Source Automation: Products, Devices and Software used to Support Laboratory Automation
Session Chair: Pierre Baillargeon, M.S., Scripps Research

Attendees will learn from industry and academic leaders about new cellular technologies and their application in the understanding of normal physiology and disease, and in the generation of disease-relevant models for drug discovery and pre-clinical development. The track will cover models used for illuminating functional genomics and for pharmacology, ADME or toxicity outcomes. The technologies covered will include the generation and use of patient-derived models, iPSC models, complex co-cultures, organoids, organ-on-chips and microphysiologic models. The track will also include cellular therapeutics and cell technologies to support biologics and gene therapy approaches. Of particular interest will be the therapeutic areas of oncology, infectious diseases, immunology and rare diseases. Planned sessions include:

Novel and Innovative Applications of Cellular Technologies
Session Chair: Chris Hughes, Ph.D., Aracari Biosciences

Application of Disease-Relevant Cellular Models in Drug Discovery and Pre-Clinical Development
Session Chair: Marie-Claire Peakman, Ph.D., Pfizer

Development and Evaluation of Cellular Therapeutics
Session Chair: Sandra Santulli-Marotto, Ph.D., Bristol Myers Squibb

The world is rapidly transforming. Data are ambient and exist in volumes far exceeding the quantities imagined by the pioneers of our fields. As data volume and complexity continue to grow exponentially, so does the demand for tools that can rise to the occasion. Gone are the days of my data and your data. Analyzing single or even multiple sets of similar data will not yield the breakthroughs of the past but alongside the challenges are new opportunities for technology to empower discovery. This session will focus on the rapidly evolving role of digital technology and scientific information management as well as the hardware and software of the modern digital research lab. Emphasis will be placed on transforming data feeds from instruments into scientific understanding, particularly with the use of artificial intelligence and with additional consideration for distributed laboratories and the use of the cloud in the data ecosystem as we live through a global pandemic. Planned sessions include:

Lab of the Future
Session Chair: John Williams, Ph.D., Neurocrine

Building a Data Ecosystem
Session Chair: Marti Head, Ph.D., Oakridge National Lab

The Age of AI in the Lab
Session Chair: Joe Jacobson, Ph.D., MIT/DeepCure

Creating the next generation of small molecule drugs calls for novel drug target strategies. This track will provide assay and screening scientists with cutting edge information on technologies and methodologies that enable them to advance chemical matter for clinically relevant pharmacologies. Planned sessions include:

Drugging the Undruggable
Session Chair: Allison Olszewski, Ph.D., Civetta Therapeutics

Advances in Protein Homeostasis
Session Chair: Eunice Park, Ph.D., C4 Therapeutics

Targeting RNA Regulation
Session Chair: Tim Wigle, Ph.D., Ribon Therapeutics

Freeman Dyson famously said "when we make a new tool, we see a new cosmos". Micro and nano-scale tools have accelerated the pace of scientific discovery, particularly in next-generation sequencing, single cell analysis, analytical chemistry, high-throughput screening and point-of-care diagnostics. These tools leverage unique physics at small length scales, the ability to interact and interrogate biological systems at similar length scales and the ability to massively parallelize assays. Attendees will be given a broad overview of such emerging tools and their applications from both industry and academic leaders. This year's track will highlight advances in single-cell analysis technologies, infectious disease theragnostics and personalized medicine. Planned sessions include:

Microfluidic-Based Profiling of Eukaryotic and Microbial Cells at Single-Cell Resolution
Session Chair: Hee-Sun Han, Ph.D., University of Illinois

Disposable Near-Patient Testings for Infectious Disease
Session Chair: Nicolas Durand, Ph.D., Abionic

The Emerging Role of Micro/Nano Innovations for Personalized Medicine
Session Chair: Soojung Hur, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

Planned sessions include:

Therapeutic Antibody Fragments
Session Chair: Andrew Bradbury, Ph.D., Specifica

Alternate Scaffolds with Clinical Potential
Session Chair: Yasmina Abdiche, Ph.D., Immunoprecise

Silencing Diseases at the Genetic Level Using siRNA
Session Chair: Karol Watson, M.D., Ph.D., UCLA Program in Preventive Cardiology

'Omics technologies have become an inevitable part of drug research. While much attention has been put on (chemical)-proteomics have other 'omics-technologies yet received less awareness. In this track we will put the spotlight on metabolomics, transcriptomics and glycomics as upcoming techniques for drug research and biologics characterization. Planned sessions include:

Metabolomics in Drug Research
Session Chair: Baljit Uhbi, Ph.D., Sciex

Transcriptomics
Session Chair: Valeria Orlova, Ph.D., Leiden University Medical Center

Sweetening the Pot: Recent Advances in the Characterization of Biotherapeutic Glycoproteins
Session Chair: Guinevere Lageveen-Kammeijer, Leiden University Medical Center

The Precision Medicine and Diagnostics track focuses on approaches that aim to resolve disease complexity. This includes molecular, biochemical, bioengineering and bioinformatic strategies in disease biology, diagnostics, screening and translational medicine. The session will emphasize the application of state-of-the-art, quantitative, high-throughput and high-resolution approaches to both cellular models and complex tissues. These strategies enable multiparametric computational analyses to reveal the complex interplay of genetics, cell types and drugs to advance precision medicine. Topics include improvements in stem cell-based disease modeling, bioengineering, molecular and cellular assay and bioinformatic approaches. Planned sessions include:

Closing the Gap Between Assay and Patient
Session Chair: Stephane Richard, Ph.D., Oncodesign

Applications of Single-Cell Analysis to Disease Studies
Session Chair: Nichol Miller, Ph.D., Pfizer

Pandemics
Session Chair: Kate Hastie, Ph.D., La Jolla Institute for Immunology