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8:00 am
Registration & Welcome Coffee
8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Translational Models for Novel Immunotherapies
9:00 am In vitro platform to visualize and quantify effects of immunotherapies in a physiologically relevant 3D TME model
Synopsis
- Combining physiological relevance, assay robustness and reproducibility.
- Recapitulating tumor micro-environment and its complex interactions between all the different cellular players.
- Obtaining functional read-outs such as migration of immune cells towards tumoroids, infiltration into the tumoroids and their killing.
- Better understanding of the immune-modulatory profile of IO drugs.
9:30 am Assessing Tumour Localized 4-1BB Stimulation for Cancer Immunotherapy
Synopsis
- Overcoming 1st generation 4-1BB agonist safety and efficacy drawbacks with a 4-1BB/PD-L1 bispecific Anticalin® protein/mAb fusion protein
- Harnessing 4-1BB localized activity in the TME, while also offering the benefit of checkpoint inhibition
- Preclinical data package to guide clinical study
10:00 am Challenging the predictability of preclinical models for assessment of IrAE
Synopsis
- Ensuring preclinical and translational studies can closely predict the effects of oncology drug candidates in human
- Comparing the advantages and limitations of Immunodeficient mice reconstituted with Human Immune System and Syngeneic models
10:30 am SEMMs: Somatically Engineered Mouse Models – A New Tool for Translational Preclinical Research
Synopsis
- Animal models of cancer are key to understand the mechanism of action of drugs and their influence on the tumour microenvironment
- SEMMs with the CRISPR/Cas9 system have optimised and made more agile mouse modelling
- SEMMs can be integrated in the drug discovery pipeline at different levels
11:00 am
Structured Speed Networking & Morning Refreshments
Synopsis
Join this ice-breaking session and use this opportunity to reconnect and meet new fellow colleagues in the preclinical IO space!
Leveraging Next Gen Models to Predict & Minimise Drug Resistance in Clinical Studies
11:30 am MATCH-R, Development of Preclinical Models from Patient with Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy
Synopsis
- Preclinical models developed from patient at time of acquired resistance
- Demonstrating how these models will be used to improve knowledge on the mechanisms underlying resistance to treatment
- Exploring the impact on evaluating response to new treatments
12:00 pm The Disease Model Finder: An AI Powered Platform to Enhance Disease Model Sourcing
Synopsis
- Background on Scientist.com
- Motivation for the Disease Model Finder
- Interacting with the Disease Model Finder
12:20 pm Scientific Poster Session
Synopsis
- See the latest updates from the field in this scientific poster session
12:50 pm
Networking Lunch
Invigorating Novel Preclinical Pipelines
1:50 pm Preclinical Characterisation of Novel Immunotherapies to Redirect Lymphocytes Against Tumours
Synopsis
- Assessing the best tumour models for studying a novel immunotherapy
- Providing proof of concept to confidently guide progression
2:20 pm HUB Organoids as a New Diagnostic Platform to Improve Cancer Patient Treatment
Synopsis
- How to generate unique clinically relevant patient-derived models using HUB Organoid Technology
- HUB Organoids capture tumour heterogeneity and preserve tumour genetic make-up and pathology
- Published clinical data have shown that HUB Organoids mimic patient response
- The use of an organoid-based platform for drug screening, patient stratification, and personalised medicine approaches
2:40 pm Off-the-Shelf vs Personalised Organoid Models
Synopsis
- Understanding the limitations and advanced of off-the-shelf versus personalised organoid models
- Exploring the benefits of each to advance IO preclinical studies
- Answering clinical questions confidently with new insights on a patient by patient basis
3:10 pm Panel Discussion: Realising a Circular Approach to Preclinical Studies
Synopsis
- Developing a closer relationship between preclinical and clinical studies
- Leveraging feedback from clinical trials to guide preclinical decisions
- Optimising preclinical studies by understanding what questions need answers and how the mechanisms differed in human
3:40 pm
Afternoon Networking Break
Closing the Translational Gap in IO
4:10 pm What’s in Our Translational Science Toolbox? Preclinical Oncology Model Selection in the Genomic Era – A Biotech’s Perspective
Synopsis
- Current problems and opportunities; what have we learnt from past experience?
- Exploiting data-driven model selection (exemplified by case studies)
- First-time right? Delivering POC studies to inform the path to the clinic
4:40 pm Assessing the Impact of PD1 Checkpoint Blockade in a Murine Model of Bladder Cancer by Immunophenotypic & Molecular Profiles
Synopsis
- Bladder cancer is the tenth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Five checkpoint immunotherapies that target the PD-1/PD-L1 axis are FDA approved, and gene- and protein-based approaches are helping to identify new combination treatment strategies for therapeutic intervention.
- Using the murine MB49 model for bladder cancer, NanoString® and flow cytometry were used to provide gene and cell-specific signatures of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in response to checkpoint blockade by anti-mPD-1.
- NanoString® and flow analyses were complementary and demonstrated evidence of T cell recruitment and upregulation of genes associated with anti-tumor activity as well as a number of biomarkers suggestive of immunosuppression. These data can be used mechanistically and to inform rational combination strategies.
5:10 pm Talk Details Coming Soon
5:40 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks
5:50 pm End of Day One
For full details on each session, please view the event guide.