Drug Target Review Podcast

In this podcast episode, titled ‘Investigating the promising future of organoids’, we will be discussing the ways in which organoids are being used to study diseases and improve drug development. We explore the specific preclinical models organoids are replacing, the current limitations of organoids and how to overcome these, as well as where the field is heading. This conversation features Dr Radhika Menon, Senior Scientist of Neurobiology at Ncardia, Dr Etienne De Braekeleer, Senior Research Scientist at AstraZeneca, and Dr Paige Vinson, Director of High Throughput Screening at Southern Research.

In this podcast episode titled 'Breaking resistance - the future of immunotherapy in oncology' we will be discussing checkpoint inhibitors in cancer therapy, and how primary and secondary treatment resistance are still limiting their clinical success in a variety of cancer types. In this episode, we want to explore the current status and potential solutions to addressing this major hurdle in oncology. This conversation features Christine Schuberth-Wagner, Chief Scientific Officer at CatalYm, and Roy Baynes, Chief Scientific Officer at Eikon Therapeutics.

In this episode titled: CRISPR/Cas: exploring its impact on gene editing, we explore the latest technological advancements in the field and more. This conversation features Dr Pietro De Angeli, Scientist at Tubingen University Hospital, and Dr Maarten Guerts, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology. Key learning points: What comparative safety profiles exist between utilising plasmid DNA, mRNA, and ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) as delivery systems for CRISPR/Cas components in gene editing therapies? In what ways might the use of different ex-vivo applications affect the scalability and feasibility of large-scale gene editing treatments? How might the convergence of CRISPR/Cas technology with Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning improve precision medicine?

In this episode titled: High throughput screening: rapid advancements in drug discovery, we explore the latest technological advancements in the field and more. This conversation features Dr Luke Alderwick, Senior Group Leader in HTS/Hit ID at Early Discovery at Charles River Laboratories (CRL), and Dr Sachin Mahale, Research Leader in High Throughput Screening at Charles River Laboratories.

As we step into the new year, we explore research insights and projections for the field in 2024 in neuroscience. In this episode titled: Navigating the neurological frontier - 2024 and beyond, we want to find out what are the most exciting recent advancements in neuroscience, setting the stage for the future. This conversation features Dr Alessio Travaglia, Director, Translational Science at the Foundation for National Institutes of Health (FNIH), and Dr Steve Hoffman, Associate Vice President, Science Partnerships, Translational Science, and Director of the Biomarkers Consortium at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH).

In this episode titled: Genetic engineering for allogeneic immunotherapy development, sponsored by Cellistic, we are taking a dive into genetic engineering, its role and relationship with allogeneic immunotherapy. This conversation features Dr Suzanne Snellenberg, Director of Genome Engineering at Cellistic, and Dr Matt Angel, CEO of Eterna Therapeutics.

In this episode titled: Making organoids ready for screening, sponsored by Revvity, we are understanding why researchers are turning to 3D Organoids and how organoids can be made ready for screening. This conversation features Dr Nathan Gödde, Manager of the Australian Organoid Facility at The University of Queensland and Dr Amee George, Manager of the ANU Centre of Therapeutic Discovery at the Australian National University.

A new episode of our podcast is now live! Sponsored by Molecular Devices, we will be discussing the tumour microenvironment in immuno-oncology. We will be covering the key themes of the tumour cells interacting with immune cells and these factors that can affect tumour fate and progression.

This episode is the second part of our series: Cell Talk: A Comprehensive Guide to Next-Gen Cell Therapy. We are defining allogeneic cell therapy as the administration of cells to a patient for therapeutic use, that were not initially taken from that patient. This conversation features Andy Holt, CCO at Cellistic, and Dr Tracey Lodie, CSO at Quell Therapeutics. Key learning points: Specific roles of different immune cells in combating diseases Autologous vs allogeneic therapies Cell therapies for cancer treatment and diseases

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the hot topic that is AI and how AI technology is used in drug discovery, looking specifically at how Biotech & Pharma trying to keep up with emerging technology. This conversation features Dr Aaron Daugherty most recently Vice President at Aria Pharmaceuticals, and Sheraz Gul, Head of Drug Screening & Compound Repurposing at Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine & Pharmacology. Key learning points: -How Biotechs & Pharma are trying to keep up with AI -AI regulation -Quantitative vs Qualitative data

Part 1 of our new series: Cell Talk: A Comprehensive Guide to Next-Gen Cell Therapy, is now live! In this episode titled: A current look into adoptive cell therapies, sponsored by Cellistic, we analyse the current landscape of adoptive cell therapies and discuss how it differs from other cancer treatments. This conversation features Stefan Braam, CTO at Cellistic, and Dr Jo Brewer, CSO at Adaptimmune.

The final episode of our Organoids Miniseries is now live! In this episode, sponsored by Molecular Devices, we discuss the processes involved in scaling up three-dimensional (3D) organoids. This conversation features Dr Vicky Marsh Durban, Chief Executive Officer at Cellesce Limited, and Dr Magdalena Kasendra, who is the Director of Research and Development at Centre for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine. Key learning points: ● Process of scaling up 3D high-throughput cell cultures ● Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) versus adult stem cells ● Discover different kinds of solutions to overcome challenges related to scaling up 3D organoids.

Part three of our Organoids Miniseries is now live! In this episode, sponsored by Molecular Devices, we discuss how to analyse complex data obtained from organoids. This conversation features Dr Angeline Lim, a Senior Applications Scientist at Molecular Devices and Dr David Egan, Co-founder and CEO of Core Life Analytics. Key learning points: - Examine the differences between analysing three-dimensional and two-dimensional cell models - Learn about the various types of resources required to analyse organoids - Discover different kinds of technology to overcome challenges related to data analysis of organoids. Our speakers: Dr Angeline Lim is a Senior Applications Scientist at Molecular Devices where she specialises in bioimaging and automation. She provides scientific support for the company’s portfolio of ImageXpress® High-Content Imaging Systems and their applications in lab automation, high-throughput phenotypic profiling and 3D models in biology. She has over 10 years of research experience in genetics and cell biology and holds a PhD from the University of California at Santa Cruz, US. Dr David Egan is Co-founder and CEO of Core Life Analytics, a company dedicated to helping biologists analyse their own data. David Egan has over 20 years of experience in high-throughput screening services in both academia and industry. As he witnessed his clients struggle with the analysis of data from high-content screens, he realised this was a widespread problem. This inspired the development of StratoMineR; an intuitive tool that helps biologists to independently analyse their complex datasets.

Tune into this podcast to hear experts discuss imaging and obtaining data from organoids! Part two of our Organoids Miniseries is now live! In this episode, sponsored by Molecular Devices, we cover the advantages of three-dimensional imaging over two-dimensional and how to obtain quality data from organoids. This conversation features Judi Wardwell-Swanson, a Senior Scientist at InSphero and Sebastian Peck, a senior product manager for cellular imaging at Molecular Devices. Key learning points: - Examine why 3D organoids are harder to image compared to 2D cell cultures - Learn about what type of hardware software is used to image organoids at scale - Uncover some advancing imaging techniques that provide detailed data from an organoid. Check out our previous episodes here: https://www.drugtargetreview.com/podcasts/

In this episode, brought to you by Molecular Devices, we cover reducing variability issues in organoids. We speak with Dr Ilya Lukonin, scientist in organoid phenotyping at the Roche Institute for Translational Bioengineering (ITB), and Dr Passley Hargrove, Programme Officer for the US National Health Institute’s Tissue Chip Programme. Listen now to discover factors that cause variability issues, how to standardise your research process, plus much more! Key learning points: ● Examine why organoids are not always consistent in structure and how this can lead to variability ● Explore how these issues can impact research ● Expand your knowledge on how you can solve variability issues in your research. Make sure you don’t miss any new podcasts from Drug Target Review – subscribe to be notified of releases!

In this episode, brought to you by Molecular Devices, we cover three-dimensional (3D) organoids and the automation of complex cell assays. We speak with Ian Shoemaker, Senior Application Scientist at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences and Dr Oksana Sirenko, Senior Manager of Assay Development at Molecular Devices. Listen now to discover how organoid models are developed, used within our experts' research and how the automation of 3D organoid analysis will evolve in the future, plus much more! Key learning points: - Why 3D cell models and 3D organoids are useful in disease research and drug screening - What a typical workflow for 3D organoid development and analysis looks like - How to automate organoid development and analysis workflows - What the automation of 3D organoid analysis will aid in the research of complex systems. Make sure you don’t miss any new podcasts from Drug Target Review – subscribe to be notified of releases!

In this episode of Drug Target Review’s podcast, sponsored by Leica Microsystems, Dr Luke Gammon, Screening Core Facility Manager at Queen Mary University of London, UK discusses multiplexed imaging with Dr David Pointu, Senior Application Specialist at Leica Microsystems. Tune in to this podcast to understand how multiplexing can provide an advanced imaging technique, the benefits of this method and how data is examined and shared with end users, plus much more! Key learning points: - How experts utilise multiplexing in their research - The advantages of this imaging method in comparison to other techniques - What samples can be analysed using this platform - What the future is for multiplexing research. Make sure you don’t miss any new podcasts from Drug Target Review – subscribe now!

In this podcast, in association with Molecular Devices, we cover ELISA assays, their advantages and automation with experts Dr Ana Miletic, Senior Research Scientist and Anna Dey, Senior Research Associate at Kyowa Kirin, as well as Dr Cathy Olsen, Senior Applications Scientist at Molecular Devices. Listen now to discover how ELISA assays work, why they are highly sensitive and how they are used within our experts' research, plus much more! Key learning points: - How ELISA assays can support a wide range of research in drug discovery and development - Advantages of ELISA assays compared to other immunoassays - What kind of instrumentation is used for ELISA assays and what elements of an automation platform are most critical for success - What research directions have been opened up through the use of ELISAs. Make sure you don’t miss any new podcasts from Drug Target Review – subscribe now!

In this podcast, in partnership with Molecular Devices, we cover CRISPR in therapeutic settings and in pharmaceutical discovery with experts Dr Jakob Haaber, Vice President & Head of Delivery Technologies, SNIPR Biome and Dr Richard Fox, Co-Founder, CEO and CTO of Infinome Biosciences. Tune in to hear about how CRISPR edits genes, how it can be applied to both industrial bioproduction and microbiome engineering and why this field is yet to see more exciting innovation! Key learning points: - What CRISPR is and how it can be applied therapeutically and for pharmaceutical discovery - The potential of targeting the microbiome with CRISPR-based precision medicines - How to accelerate biomanufacturing processes - The advantages of CRISPR and recent developments - Important considerations for gene editing - The future of CRISPR and how gene editing workflows are evolving.

In this episode of Drug Target Review's podcast, sponsored by Leica Microsystems, Dr Tobi Langenhan, Professor of Biochemistry at the Universität Leipzig, Germany, discusses microscopy in the context of neuroscientific research in conversation with Dr Abdullah Ahmed, Advanced Workflow Specialist at Leica Microsystems. Listen to this podcast to discover how microscopy can be used to understand the molecular basis of mechanoceptive and synaptic pathways, some of the technologies that can help to overcome these challenges, plus much more! Key learning points: - Why microscopy is such an important tool in neuroscientific research - The advantages of microscopy over other techniques - How to overcome common challenges encountered in microscopy - How microscopy is applied in the Langenhan lab to investigate synaptic protein assemblies and study the mechanoceptive properties of adhesion-type GPCRs.