7:20 am Coffee & Registration

8:25 am Chairs’ Opening Remarks

  • Hongyu Xue Director - In Vivo Pharmacology & Oncology Research, Bayer

NAVIGATING NEXT-GENERATION ONCOLOGY MODELS: FROM MODELLING TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT TO INTERROGATING MOA

8:30 am Optimizing IO Preclinical Research: GEMMs, CDX, PDX, Humanized Mouse Models or Organoids?

Synopsis

  • Highlighting the key attributes of each model in the context of their specific research questions
  • Strengthening linkages between preclinical and clinical development
  • Maximizing current models while identifying appropriate prognostic and predictive biomarkers

9:00 am Leveraging Tumor Organoids & RWD to Generate Multimodal Insights for Drug Development

  • Michelle Mack Senior Director - Business Development, Biological Modeling, Tempus

Synopsis

  • Showcasing Tempus’ platform of 3D patient-derived organoids (PDOs) grounded in de-identified real-world clinical data to address high failure rates and increased costs in drug development due to a lack of robust preclinical models in the discovery and translational space
  • With one of the largest, pan-indication PDO repositories in the industry, Tempus’ portfolio of fixed screening panels supports research questions across a range of modalities including small molecules, ADCs, and cell therapies

9:30 am Development of Image-based In vitro/In vivo Platform for Targeting CAFs

  • Pengyu Huang Principal Scientist & Head of In Vivo Pharmacology, Simcere of America

Synopsis

  • Developing Image-based in vitro co-culture system to recapitulate the multicellular elements of TME, this allows monitoring of key cell-cell interactions between cancer cells, immune cells, and CAFs
  • Developing multiple panels IVIS to better understand MOA of novel immune therapies
  • Addressing the importance of using the right tumor cell line for investigating TME

10:00 am Navigating the Preclinical Oncology Landscape: The Search for Clinically Relevant PDX Models

10:30 am Speed Networking

Synopsis

Join our speed networking session tailored for preclinical and translational experts, like yourselves, to connect with industry peers & facilitating rapid yet meaningful exchanges of insights & expertise.

11:00 am Morning Break & Networking

Applications in Drug Discovery & Screening

Track Moderator: Regina Reilly, Research Fellow, Abbvie

11:30 am Optimizing Patient Representation Using PDX Models

Synopsis

  • Addressing the ways to identify the best PDX models to use
  • Understanding how to group PDX models
  • Can fibrotic elements, extracellular matrix, and stroma be replicated using PDX models?

12:00 pm Identification of a SOCS1-edited TIL Therapy using CRISPR Screens in Mouse Syngeneic Tumor Models

  • Fiona McHugh Director - Head of In Vivo Pharmacology, KSQ Therapeautics

Synopsis

  • Demonstrating the power of CRISPR screens in syngeneic tumor models for immunotherapy target identification
  • Highlighting the translatability of data generated in mouse models into human preclinical tumor models

Applications for Efficacy Evaluation & Biomarker Discovery

Track Moderator: Meghana Pandya, Senior Scientist, AstraZeneca

11:30 am In Vivo Imaging Biomarkers for Tumor Model Development & Understanding Mode of Action

Synopsis

  • Preclinical imaging to understand tumor growth in orthotopic and GEMM models
  • Development of bioluminescence reporter mouse models for visualizing and quantifying immune cells in vivo
  • Clinically translatable imaging biomarkers in preclinical tumor models to understand mode of action

12:00 pm Leverage Single-Cell Multi-Omics for a Comprehensive Understanding of AML, PDX Model Validation, and Therapeutic Development

  • Edward Ayoub Postdoctoral Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Synopsis

  • Case studies leveraging single-cell DNA + protein multi-omics to understand AML disease evolution, treatment response, and mechanisms of resistance.
  • How PDX models and sample multiplexing were used for baseline and end-point analysis in AML samples. 
  • Introducing a novel single-cell multiomics approach to dissect disease models, reduce downstream clinical trial costs and failure rates.

12:30 pm Lunch Break & Networking

1:30 pm Effectively Replicating the Tumor Stroma & Fibroblasts Using in vivo & in vitro Models

Synopsis

  • Spotlighting advances in successfully mimicking the tumor stroma
  • Reimagining drug discovery by recapitulating essential elements in tumor development
  • How could we develop a model to address hypoxia?

2:00 pm Catalyzing Success, Unveiling the Power of Preclinical Models in PROTAC

  • Yinfei Yin VP, Head of Biology & Pharmacology, ChemPartner Corporation

Synopsis

  • Introduction of a comprehensive platform for PROTAC evaluation

1:30 pm Mastermind Discussion: Increasing Clinical Translatability by Maximizing the Use of GEEMs

Synopsis

  • Better recapitulating the genotype and phenotype of the disease with transgenic models
  • Illustrating novel efficacy and safety data to evaluate the predictivity of using GEMMS

2:00 pm Myelofibrosis: A Challenging Preclinical Model with an Unmet Clinical Need – Presentation by TD2

  • Erin Trachet Senior Director, Scientific Engagement, Translational Drug Development (TD2)

Synopsis

  • TD2 overview with updates in services and technology.
  • General overview of myelofibrosis clinically and preclinically. 
  • TD2 models for myelofibrosis and how they can be used to drive programs forward

2:30 pm Afternoon Break & Networking

LEVERAGING NEW TECHNOLOGY & IN VIVO & IN VITRO MODELLING TO IMPROVE TRANSLATABILITY

3:00 pm In Pursuit of Precision: Clinical Relevance Makes All the Difference with CertisAI™ and Advanced Cancer Models

  • Michael Boice, PhD Senior Director, Scientific Engagement and Key Accounts, Certis Oncology Solution

Synopsis

  • Selecting an optimal artificial intelligence and machine learning platform for your drug discovery and development program: evaluation criteria to consider
  • Exploring new CertisAI differentiators: it’s the first and only commercially available drug response and synergy platform that can predict therapeutic efficacy — requiring just a small molecule as input
  • Reviewing new CertisAI in vivo validation study results using advanced orthotopic PDX models
  • Analyzing new immunology study results, comparing differential immune responses and tumor infiltration in sub-Q versus orthotopic implantation for successful translation of T cell-based therapies into the clinic

3:30 pm How Can Physiologically Relevant 3D Tissue Models Be More Predictive of the Tumor Microenvironment?

Synopsis

  • Assessing the role of the extracellular matrix and its importance in modeling the tumor microenvironment (TME)
  • Enhancing spheroid stromal complexity using “MatriSpheres” to mimic tumor morphology and physical barriers within the TME
  • Capturing tumor heterogeneity in vitro that reflects transcriptomic phenotypes of in vivo cancer cells 

4:00 pm Humanized Mice for Oncology Drug Development

Synopsis

  • Challenges in drug development using traditional oncology models
  • Different types of humanized models for oncology drug development

4:30 pm Fire-Side Discussion: Evaluating Animal Models & Their Benefits in Testing Clinical Agents

Synopsis

  • When should we still use mice in testing?
  • The use of dogs for effectively demonstrating efficacy, toxicity, and impact from a clinical agent
  • Leveraging monkeys for toxicity studies
  • Delving into tissue cross-reactivity

5:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

  • Hongyu Xue Director - In Vivo Pharmacology & Oncology Research, Bayer

5:10 pm Tumor Models Drinks Reception & Poster Session

Synopsis

Join our dedicated drinks reception and poster session to connect with like-minded experts while gaining competitive insights from the innovative work submitted by your peers!

6:10 pm End of Day 1