Day 1 | Day 2 | Short Courses
Monday, March 17
12:00 pm Main Conference Registration
1:00-1:05 Welcome Remarks from Conference Director
1:05-1:10 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Lorenzo F. Sempere, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Center for Personalized Medicine, Van Andel Research Institute
1:10-1:35 MiRNAs as Biomarkers of Tissue Injury
Xuemei Zhao, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Molecular Biomarkers and Diagnostics Laboratory, Merck
1:35-2:00 MicroRNAs as Promising Biomarkers of Renal Injury
Rounak Nassirpour, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Drug Safety R&D, Pfizer
Identification of novel early biomarkers of renal injury is urgently needed for drug development. Due to their stability, accessibility, and ease of detection in various body fluids, circulating microRNAs are increasingly evaluated as novel biomarkers. Here we describe changes in urinary microRNA expression in rodent models of renal injury using next-generation sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR. Our aim is to determine if urinary microRNAs can be used as a diagnostic to differentiate glomerular and tubular injury and assess platform variability.
2:00-2:25 MiRNAs as Circulating Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease
Pavan Kumar, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Biomarkers and Personalized Medicine, Eisai
A minimally invasive diagnostic assay for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is required to select optimal patient groups in clinical trials, monitor disease progression and response to treatment, and to better plan patient clinical care. microRNAs have tremendous potential to serve as clinical biomarkers because of their inherent stability and ease of detection in blood. Our recent work highlighting the discovery and validation of a 7-miRNA signature differentiating AD patients from age-matched control populations will be presented.
2:25-2:40 In Silico Identification of microRNA-mRNA Target Pairs as Potential Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer
Sohela Shah, Ph.D., Field Application Scientist, QIAGEN Redwood City
We analyzed miRNA and mRNA profiles from primary clear cell renal cell carcinomas from patients with or without metastasis. Using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis microRNA Target Filter, we identified novel target genes of dysregulated miRNAs which are involved in the transition from primary RCC without metastases into tumor generating distant metastasis.
2:40-3:30 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
3:30-3:55 Circulating miRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Toxicity
James G. Falls, Ph.D., Manager, Discovery and Molecular Toxicology, GlaxoSmithKline
3:55-4:20 MicroRNAs Downregulated in Drug-Resistant Cancer Cells as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Drug Efficacy
Taosheng Chen, Ph.D., Associate Member and Director, HTS, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Recent studies have provided evidence of microRNA-mediated drug resistance. We have identified microRNAs that are down-regulated in doxorubicin-resistant cancer cells. These microRNAs target xenobiotic receptors CAR and PXR, the upregulation of which leads to overexpression of MDR1 and development of drug resistance. These microRNAs are potential biomarkers of drug efficacy and therapeutic targets for reversing drug resistance.
4:20-4:45 miR-Direct: A Novel Assay for Quantification of miRNAs in Plasma
Brian Johnston, Ph.D., President and CEO, SomaGenics
Circulating microRNAs have great potential as biomarkers, but their accurate quantification is limited by inconsistent RNA recovery from protective complexes, contamination with RT-PCR inhibitors, and the low concentration at which most microRNAs appear in blood. miR-DirectTM is a novel method in which microRNAs of interest are captured from plasma samples of up to 400 microliters and then quantified by RT-qPCR without any need for prior extraction of total RNA. This method provides less bias and increased accuracy and sensitivity.
» 4:45-5:10 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
Nanoparticles for Detection of miRNA Biomarkers and Delivery of miR-Based Therapeutics
Robert J. Lee, Ph.D., Professor, Pharmaceutics, OSU College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University
Alternations in miRNA profile have been implicated in human diseases such as cancer. miRNA is released into the circulation via extracellular vesicles such as exosomes and can be used as a serum marker for cancer diagnosis. At the Ohio State University Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC), we have developed a lipid nanoparticle-biochip based technology to detect extracellular miR with high sensitivity. In addition, novel lipid nanoparticles have been developed for therapeutic delivery of miR mimics or antimiR oligonucleotides to cancer.
5:10-6:10 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
Day 1 | Day 2 | Short Courses