Preclinical Drug Safety - The Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2009

Recommended Short Courses*

(SC8) Assessing Mitochondrial Function in Preclinical Drug Discovery and Safety (Click on the title to view the full description)

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 9:00AM-12:00PM
San Francisco, California

Because of the newly recognized role of mitochondria in many cellular processes, the mitochondria is both a target for drug discovery and an organelle to monitor for potential drug toxicities. Until recently though, there have not been adequate high throughput assays of the various mitochondrial functions. This is now changing. This course provides you with new methods of analyzing mitochondria in the context of what is working for different drug discovery/development companies with regards to both in-house and out sourcing modalities.

Agenda

Why The Sudden Interest in Mitochondria?
Roderick A. Capaldi, D.Phil. CSO, MitoSciences Inc.
This talk will provide:

an overview of the various cellular functions linked to mitochondria
background on diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction is confirmed
consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction, whether in energy metabolism, apoptosis or oxidative stress
direct linkage between mitochondrial processes in both disease and drug toxicity

Novel Mitochondrial Screening Methods to Reduce NCE Attrition
Yvonne Will, Ph.D., Senior Principal Scientist, Exploratory Safety Differentiation, Pfizer Global R&D
In this session you will learn about:

new rapid throughput technologies for measuring mitochondrial function for in house screening
strengths and weaknesses of the various assays
where to position new mitochondrial assays within drug development

Screening for Mitochondrial Effects of Kinase Inhibitors
Kyle Kolaja, Ph.D., Director of Investigative Toxicology, Roche Palo Alto
This discussion will cover:

a comprehensive screen of the mitochondrial effects of 100 different kinase inhibitors and the distribution of effects on multiple mitochondrial functions related to compound structures
how to combine high content screening, which involves several assays of generic mitochondrial functioning that are routinely done in house, with novel analyses of protein expression levels, oxidative modification and apoptotic changes available by outsourcing.

Large Scale Dissection of Mitochondrial Function
Toshimori Kitami, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Broad Institute, MIT
In this presentation you will learn:

how a systems biology approach is being employed to monitor mitochondrial function.
the breadth of parameters that must be measured to include the integrated nature of organelle functioning

Panel Session on Implementing Different Mitochondrial Assays

The panel session will include all of the speakers and will be an opportunity to discuss how screening of mitochondrial functioning can implemented in different pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies based on needs, available scientific personnel and cost considerations.

The overall session, including the panel session, is being organized to maximize interactions between the speakers and course participants.

*separate registration required

(SC10) Collaborating to Accelerate the Adoption of Novel Technologies in the Preclinical R&D Process Identifying Tools That Will Make A Positive Impact (Click on the title to view the full description)

click here for complete list of short courses

David Ewing Duncan, Chief Correspondent, NPR Talk’s “Biotech Nation” and Best Selling Author “Masterminds”

James A. Wells, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Professor of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco

Michael J. Yaszemski, M.D., Ph.D., Brigadier General, United States Air Force Reserves; Professor, Orthopedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic