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End-User Forum*
Tuesday, January 31
3:30–6:00pm Tutorial
(Separate registration is required)
More Effective RNAi Studies with High-Content Screening
Mr. Joseph A. Zock, Manager, HCS User Services, Cellomics, Inc.
The promise of using RNAi to deconvolve complex signaling pathways and cellular processes requires detection methods robust enough to deal with variability in transfection frequency and percent knockdown. High-Content Screening
(HCS) technology is uniquely suited to this goal by quantitatively measuring multiple target intensity and morphology changes in individual cells of a given experimental population. The combination of HCS and RNAi provides a powerful platform for drug discovery. In this tutorial session you will learn the basics of
HCS, how it works, and what unique features are being used to gather more effective data from RNAi experiments. We will also touch on analysis of RNAi effects, both primary and off-target, using multiple HCS endpoints. |
3:00–7:00pm End-User Forum*
*Participation is limited to end-users only and subject to approval by conference organizers. Companies with HCA-related products or services on the market or in development
(including sponsoring and exhibiting companies) will not receive access to the End-User Forum. Separate registration is required. Dinner is included.
OVERCOMING TECHNICAL CHALLENGES IN HCA IMPLEMENTATION
3:00-3:30 Participant Introductions
3:30-4:30 Discussion I: Instrumentation
Discussion Leader: To Be Announced
Discussion Questions Include:
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What hardware features and capabilities are required (throughput, capacity,
confocality,
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live cell kinetic/fixed endpoint assays with on board
pipetting, etc.)?
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Manually fed or fully integrated automation?
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Cost: what is your capital budget?
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How user-friendly is the software in setting up the instrument and analyzing the data?
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Turnkey system vs. flexibility/control? Canned algorithms or customized algorithms?
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Customer Service: installation with acceptance/performance testing? Routine diagnostic testing
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to ensure the instrument is calibrated and fully functional?
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User feedback on various platforms.
4:30-5:30 Discussion II: Assays, Reagents and Cells
Discussion Leader: To Be Announced
Discussion Questions Include:
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How do the performance requirements vary for HCA assays at various stages in drug discovery (including lead generation and optimization, tertiary screening, pathway biology, toxicology, etc.)?
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What are the biggest bottlenecks, technical challenges, or unmet needs in reagents?
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What are the pros/cons to developing the assays in-house vs. buying off-the-shelf kits?
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What are good sources of antibodies?
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What cellular technologies are most appropriate for HCA assays (including cell lines, automation,
plateware, etc.)? Is cell drift an issue?
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What assay development strategies ensure best cell behavior for imaging (including distribution in the well, adherence, morphology, etc.)?
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End-point vs. kinetic HCA assays?
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What are the “lessons learned” in developing various types of HCA assays (all participants welcome to share their experiences)?
5:30-6:30 Discussion III: HCS Data Analysis and Storage
Discussion Leader: To Be Announced
Discussion Questions Include:
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Which software packages handle the multiparameter readouts of imaging platforms in “user-friendly” fashion?
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What additional query tools are available to data-mine large scale HCS collections?
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What are the options for the first time purchaser of a data management solution for
HCS?
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Are there platform-independent solutions to automated image analysis?
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How are machine learning, artificial intelligence and neural networks being applied to
HCS?
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Is there ready-to-use image analysis software?
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How can Information Technologies/Information Management teams interact with HCS scientists more effectively?
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What is the rate-limiting steps in accessing HCS data? How can data be shared and synchronized between multiple sites?
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How can all the images and data be stored in a cost-effective manner? How long should the images be saved?
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Is there a need for standardized image formats?
6:30-7:00 Closing Remarks and Preparation of a “Consensus Statement” for the Audience
5:00-7:00pm Conference Pre-Registration
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