SC3: SELECTION, SCREENING AND ENGINEERING FOR AFFINITY REAGENTS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 | 2:00 - 5:00 PM

Room Location: St. George AB
  
Biologics such as recombinant antibodies and alternative binding scaffolds are routinely used in a wide variety of applications from basic research to clinical indications. This success has led to the development of a vast number of different selection, screening and engineering technologies for these molecules. This short course will give a comprehensive overview on different display technologies as well as screening approaches for the selection of specific binders. In addition, it will discuss engineering strategies including affinity maturation and how to implement these strategies. Classical antibodies and antibody fragments as well alternative binding scaffolds such as DARPins will be covered.

What You Will Learn:

• Get an insight into different display technologies (Phage Display, Ribosome Display, Yeast Display), their advantages and their use
• Receive firsthand information about different screening technologies (high and medium throughput, plate-based vs. homogeneous assays, …) to identify specific binders
• Learn how to engineer your binder with respect to stability, high affinity or species cross-reactivity

Instructors:

Jonas V. Schaefer, PhD, Laboratory Head, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Switzerland

Dr. Schaefer is heading an R&D laboratory supporting Novartis’ lead finding through the utilization of Encoded Library Technologies (e.g., DNA encoded libraries (DEL)), using various screening methods to select low-molecular-weight compounds against a broad variety of protein targets. Prior to this assignment, Jonas did establish and headed the High-Throughput Binder Selection Facility at the University of Zurich for many years, using automated Ribosome Display and various High-Throughput screenings to develop specific proteinaceous affinity reagents called DARPins. For over a decade, Jonas focused on the development of new methodologies and technologies enabling the improved generation, screening and validation of various affinity compounds, which were used in applications ranging from basic research to diagnostic usage and medical applications.

Christian Kunz, PhD, Director, Discovery Alliances & Technologies, MorphoSys AG, Germany

For over 10 years, Dr. Kunz is working as Project Team Leader at MorphoSys in early discovery projects. He has been developing therapeutic antibodies for various indications with a strong focus on oncology. In his team he currently emphasizes the work on immuno-modulatory agents that improve therapeutic responses through bispecific compounds. Throughout the years, he and his team successfully identified, characterized and engineered multiple antibody lead candidates, handed them over to preclinical departments where they further progressed into clinical studies.

Back to Short Courses