Day Two

7:50 am Coffee & Registration

8:50 am Opening Remarks

Mapping Insights with Digital Pathology & Spatial Biology to Accelerate Drug Discovery

9:00 am Leveraging Digital Pathology & AI Analytics to Drive Novel Insights into Disease Pathophysiology

  • Revashnee Naidoo Senior Scientist – Tumour Profiling, Translational Sciences Group, Adaptimmune Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Utilising digital pathology and advanced analytics to enable deeper understanding of the complexity and underlying mechanisms of the tumour microenvironment
  • Employing AI to analyse protein expression and decipher complex pathophysiology

9:30 am Roundtable: Leveraging the Power of CRISPR for the Development of Cutting-Edge Models

Synopsis

  • Rapidly creating complex organoid cultures and animal models
  • Engineering multiple in vivo mouse models in parallel and deriving combinations of genetic alterations

10:00 am Interrogating AI-Based Approaches & Digital Pathology to Elucidate Biomarker Expression & Drug Response

  • Wesley Minto Senior Associate Scientist, Preclinical Pathology Team Lead, Gilead Sciences

Synopsis

  • Applying deep-learning algorithms to recognise and quantify image features associated with clinically important outcomes
  • Investigating retrospective and prospective uses of AI and digital pathology to extract biomarkers from histology images

10:30 am Morning Break & Networking

Unlocking Forward & Reverse Translational Studies to Revolutionise Precision Medicine

11:30 am Addressing Project Optimus: Use of Preclinical, Modelling, & Clinical Data to Identify the Optimal Dose of the PARP1-Selective Agent Saruparib for Phase 3 Studies

Synopsis

  • Interrogating in vitro models to understand mechanisms of action and exposure thresholds for activity
  • Analysing in vivo models to understand dose responses and exposure relationships needed for optimal efficacy
  • Exploring mathematical quantitative systems pharmacology modeling to correlation of clinical exposures, PD and efficacy in relation to preclinical data and modeling
  • Understanding how cross-validation of preclinical results with patient outcomes can drive more effective and personalised cancer treatments

12:00 pm Bedside to Bench: Interrogating Preclinical Models for Precision Oncology

Synopsis

  • Exploring how precision oncology customises cancer treatment based on the genetic and molecular profiles of patients’ tumours
  • Utilising mono- and co-culture patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and xenografts to help identify biomarkers for optimising regorafenib treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer
  • Using paired tissue and liquid biopsies from a phase II trial, identified MIR652-3p as a biomarker and molecular driver of resistance to regorafenib

Evaluating In Vitro & Complex 3D Models for Precinical Research

12:30 pm Elucidating the Value of 3D Models in Preclinical Drug Discovery, Target Validation, & Safety Assessment

  • Fabien Garcon Associate Principal Scientist (Oncology R&D), AstraZeneca

Synopsis

  • Analysing the pros and cons of utilising 3D models in the development of personalised medicines
  • Investigating the potential of 3D models to confidently validate drug targets and conduct comprehensive preclinical safety assessments
  • Examining how regulatory bodies perceive the use of 3D models in preclinical packages and their integration into regulatory submissions for IND/CTA approvals

1:00 pm Lunch & Netowrking

2:00 pm Characterization of Physiologically Relevant Ex Vivo Models

  • Shamin Li In Vitro Pharmacology Team Leader, Servier

Synopsis

  • Understanding pros and cons of working with patient-derived 3D tumour models
  • Development of functional readouts pertinent to the selected models
  • Assessment of ex vivo efficacy to immune modulators

2:30 pm 3D Bioprinted Bone Mimics for Cancer Research & Drug Screening

  • Mads Daugaard Co-founder, President & Chief Scientific Officer, Rakovina Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Discussing the development of these models
  • Interrogating how these models can be used to study metastases and for drug screening

Model Validation & Characterisation to Optimise Research Efficiency & Increase Translational Impact

3:00 pm Comparative Study to Validate Genomics Vendors

Synopsis

  • Evaluating the efficacy of each technique to determine the optimal workflow
  • Comparing the analysis of protein and RNA on the same slide versus separate slides to identify the best service providers

3:30 pm Afternoon Break & Networking

4:00 pm Panel: Optimising Preclinical Research: Comparing Organoids, GEMMS, PDX, & Cell-Lines

Synopsis

  • Highlighting the key attributes of each model in the context of their specific research questions
  • Analysing the cost and time implications of working with each type of models and how this should be taken into account when picking the right model 

Uncovering Regulatory Insights for Successful Drug Development

4:30 pm Exploring Regulatory Ingredients in Pharmaceutical Development for Oncology Medicine

  • Michaela Katharina Nahler Head of Regulatory Affairs, Former Senior Director, Head Regulatory Affairs Europe, Urovant Sciences, Urovant Sciences

Synopsis

  • Highlighting AI concepts and use in precision medicine
  • Identifying biomarker concepts today and outlook
  • Examining general pharmaceutical legislations in Europe and HTAR

5:00 pm Closing Remarks

5:10 pm End of Day Two