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Speaker Proposals
being Accepted!
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Short courses enable attendees to attend a session designed to
advance their knowledge in a specific area. Separate
registration required. Workshop options are listed below:
Pre-Conference Short Courses -
October 23rd
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SC1: Improving Disease Models Through Imaging
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Tutors:
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Thomas
Krucker, Ph.D., Head, Molecular Imaging, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Inc. |
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Bohumil Bednar, Ph.D., Senior Investigator, Imaging, Merck & Co. |
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Yi Yang, Ph.D., Laboratory Head, Center for Models of Disease, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research Inc. |
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SC1: Improving Disease Models Through Imaging
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2:00-2:30
Non-invasive Imaging of Disease Models in Drug Development
- Imaging overview (Thomas Krucker )
- Imaging modalities (Thomas Krucker )
- Probe technology (characteristic of probe)
(Cyrille Sur)
- Translational imaging (proof of concept) (e.g. ALS/MRI and NK1/PET)
(Cyrille Sur)
- Review of literature (key players in imaging, current opinion) (Thomas Krucker)
2:30-3:15
Engineering Disease Models
- Overview of modeling disease
for drug discovery (Yi Yang)
- Genetic tools for building a
better reporter line (Yi Yang)
- Unconventional reporters (Yi
Yang)
- Conditional models –
environmental manipulation (Yi Yang)
- Resources (Yi Yang)
- Applicability, timing
issues, project dependency (Yi Yang, Thomas Krucker, Cyrille
Sur)
3:15-3:40 Refreshment Break
Examples
3:40
3:50
- Neuroscience (neurodegenerative disease) (Cyrille Sur)
4:00
- Cardiovascular (Atherosclerosis) (Thomas Krucker/ Cyrille
Sur)
4:10
- Characterize founders e.g. Diabetes (Yi Yang)
4:20-5:00
Opportunities and Limitations ( Thomas Krucker , Cyrille Sur, Yi Yang)
- Data storage, processing, image analysis
- Group size, statistics (refinement)
- Investments/cost (complexity)
- Technology is changing rapidly
- Implementing technologies (tracers/labels)
- Timing (agenda, deadlines, impact)
5:00-5:30 Panel: Future of the Field
- Technological advances (mouse and imaging)
- Mouse model development vs development of probes (tool box)
- General discussion
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SC2: Translational Medicine
What
Is It and Has Anyone Really Had Success with It
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Course Leader:
T. Forcht Dagi, MD, MPH, FACS, FCCM, HLM Venture Partners &
Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST) and
the MIT Sloan School of Management Faculty
Much has been said in the last couple of years about
Translational Medicine and its positive impact on R&D but do
we really know what it is and do we have proof of its success?
This workshop will address some of the key questions that are
developing as we enter into this new area, such as:
- Can we improve disease models for drug discovery by using
translational methodologies?
- Are there successful examples of predictiveness in going
to the clinic and bringing it back?
- Are there examples and case studies of success?
- What is the status of in silico models?
- What regulatory strategies serve to promote earlier human
testing?
- What strategies underlie the choice of useful primary
clinical endpoints in translational research?
- What is the role of phased clinical trials outside the
U.S.?
1:00 – 2:30 Defining Translational Medicine
T. Forcht Dagi, MD, MPH, FACS, FCCM, HLM Venture
Partners & Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences
and Technology (HST) and the MIT Sloan School of
Management Faculty
2:30 – 3:00 Refreshment Break
3:00 – 4:30 Case Studies and Examples of Translational
Medicine
John Apathy, MBA, Partner, Accenture
Beginners Course on RNAi Knockdown
Technologies
Tutors from Industry and Academia
For Those Considering or Have Just
Begun to Use RNAi
Tutors:
Anastasia Khuorova, Ph.D., Director of Biology, R&D, Dharmacon
Christophe J. Echeverri, Ph.D., CEO & CSO, Cenix BioScience GmbH
Bernard Mathey-Prevot, Ph.D., Genetics, Harvard Medical School
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2:00-2:45 Introduction to
RNAi
Anastasia Khvorova, Ph.D., Senior Scientific Officer, Dharmacon
- Defining RNAi
Technology
- Mechanism of RNAi
action
- Consequences of
hijacking the natural RNAi mechanism
- Choice of reagents
available on the market
- Experimental
design
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2:50 – 3:35 High Throughput Cell-based Applications of RNAi
Christophe J. Echeverri, Ph.D., CEO & CSO, Cenix BioScience GmbH
Using case studies to illustrate:
- Different applications of HT-RNAi in cells
- Strategic Study Design: different options to optimize discovery potential
- Screening paradigms: matching the technology to the application
- Experimental Design: assay optimization & effective controls
- Assay readouts: focused vs high content
- Data Analysis: caveats, data handling & normalization issues
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Break 3:35-4:00
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4:00-4:45 Drosophila Screens: an Entry to Mammalian Biology
Bernard Mathey-Prevot, Ph.D., Genetics, Harvard Medical School
Brief overview of RNAi in Drosophila & examples and new developments showcasing the value of the system;
- Genome-wide screens: Deciding between a gene discovery or systems biology approach
- Taking a systems biology approach:
- Dealing with and interpreting large data sets
- Manipulating raw data: statistical analysis
- Use of other databases to order data set (genetic interactions, protein-protein interactions, literature mining, etc.)
- Building pathways and networks from RNAi screening: Are we there yet?
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4:50-5:00 Brief Overview of the Advances in in vivo RNAi Field
Anastasia Khvorova, Ph.D., Director of Biology, R&D, Dharmacon
5:00 Informal Q&A with speakers
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SC4: Protecting Your Pharmaceutical Inventions with Patents
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Patents are at the very core of strategic decision making at pharmaceutical companies, large and small. They impact research and development, commercial products and investor financing. Very often, patent applications are written and filed with the USPTO and issued long before FDA approval and commercial production. Given the nature of
pharmaceutical development, patents need to be forward-thinking and cast a broad net not only to cover your own eventual commercial embodiments but also your competitors’ commercial embodiments. Once a patent issues, goals of enforcement and/or licensing come into play.
Every company that relies on innovation should have a sound patent strategy to protect the fruits of its labors. This requires at the outset, an effective recording and reporting program to maximize the benefits of scientific discoveries. Is an electronic recording system the best choice? Once the discoveries are recorded and reported, there are many questions that require answers, such as:
- How do you decide which inventions merit a patent application and when do you file? What are the best strategies for seeking and obtaining patent protection in view of shifting standards of patentability?
- How do you ensure that your patent portfolio prote cts your commercial products and methods and provides you with a competitive edge in the marketplace?
- When do you examine your competitors’ patents and patent applications?
- Do you need product clearance opinions?
- What do your issued patent claims mean? Can you or your issued patents withstand litigation?
- And even if you win, can you still stop your competitor?
- Our expert instructors will lead an interactive workshop into the cutting edge areas of patent law of most interest to corporate executives, whether in-house counsel, technology officers or CEOs.
| Short Course Leader: John P. Iwanicki, Esq., Senior Partner, Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. |
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Instructors: Peter D. McDermott, Esq.
Sarah A. Kagan, Esq.
Ernest V. Linek, Esq.
Joseph M. Skerpon, Esq.
Jon O. Nelson, Esq.
Our expert instructors will lead an interactive workshop into the cutting-edge areas of patent law of
most interest to corporate executives, whether in-house counsel, technology officers or CEOs.
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