2014 Archived Content
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Wednesday, September 17
7:30 am Breakfast Presentation (Sponsorship Opportunity Available) or Morning Coffee
8:15 Chairperson’s Remarks
Allison Hubel, Ph.D., Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Director, Biopreservation Core Resource, University of Minnesota
8:20 Controlling Tissue Preservation with a Two Temperature Formalin Fixation Protocol Yields Improved Tissue Histomorphology, Protein Expression Profiles and Phosphoprotein Biomarker Signatures
Geoffrey Baird, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington
Time and temperature control in formalin fixation are important preanalytical factors affecting histomorphologic assessment and immunohistochemistry. Fixation protocols commonly encountered in clinical settings can ablate immunohistochemical phosphoprotein signals, in some cases leading to misinterpretations of biomarker activation states that misidentify patients as candidates for targeted therapies. We have identified and optimized a two-temperature formalin fixation protocol with a four-hour total duration that performs as well or better than overnight, room-temperature fixation protocols for histomorphology and immunohistochemistry of phosphorylated targets.
8:50 Frozen Brains and Brain Tumors: Understanding Procurement and Storage of Frozen Biospecimens for Next-Generation Technologies
William H. Yong, M.D., Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Neuropathologist, National Neurologic AIDS Bank Director, Brain Tumor Translational Resource David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
This talk will summarize current data on ischemia times, ideal storage temperatures and freeze-thaw effects on nucleic acids and proteins. Strategies to protect frozen biospecimens including diversifying storage site and room temperature storage will be discussed.
9:20 A Microfluidic Device for Dry Sample Preservation in Remote Settings
Stefano Begolo, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Rustem F. Ismagilov Laboratory, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
We will present a microfluidic device incorporating stabilization matrices for preserving biological specimens at room temperature. This portable, self-contained and compact device allows untrained users to process and stabilize samples collected in limited resources settings. The sample is automatically processed for plasma separation, loaded in the device, split into independent aliquots of known volume and dried for stabilization. After transport in a centralized facility, stabilized aliquots can be rehydrated and recovered for lab-based analysis, or stored for archiving and biobanking.
9:50 Advances in Patient-Derived Xenograft Models
Walter Ausserer, Ph.D., Senior Business Unit Manager, In Vivo Pharmacology Services
The Jackson Laboratory is investigating novel strategies for facilitating and accelerating PDX-based research. We have established an open resource of more than 300 early-passage tumors with detailed characterization data that can be queried by tumor site, gene variant and expression level. Many of these tumors are available off-the-shelf in engrafted mouse cohorts for rapid study enrollment.
10:20 Coffee Break, Last Chance for Exhibit and Poster Viewing
11:00 Common Sense and Common Pitfalls in Biobanking
Allison Hubel, Ph.D., Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Director, Biopreservation Core Resource, University of Minnesota
Having worked with biobanks globally, BioCoR helps biobankers use common sense and scientific principles to avoid common pitfalls in biobanking. We will summarize sources of headaches, agony and expense for biobanks that can be avoided with common sense and an understanding of the scientific principles of preservation. We will also help link the audience with resources that can help them improve their biobanking practice. Finally, the “bleeding edge” of biospecimen science and preservation of biospecimens will be discussed.
Featured Presentation
11:30 Cryopreservation: Cryobiology Fundamentals and Development of Novel Technology
Dayong Gao, Ph.D., Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Washington
This presentation focuses on an introduction to cryobiology fundamentals and dissemination of knowledge by presenting new research results, developments, theories/concepts and methods in cryobiology research. We will also discuss new and advanced engineering methods, instruments, BioMEMS and some novel technology for cryopreservation and its applications.
12:00 pm Close of Session
12:15 Luncheon Presentation (Sponsorship Opportunity Available) or Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
(Sponsorship Opportunities Available)
Biomedical researchers and drug developers require accessible, high-quality biospecimens that allow them to extract reliable and useful data. Oncology experts, for instance, use patient-derived tumor collections to connect datasets, pinpoint and assess variants within cancer patients post-diagnosis and zero in on the data that matter when tailoring therapies. Early, strategic collaborations with the biobanks that house specimens can be mutually beneficial, maximizing the financial and technological investments of the operation managers who collect, store, annotate and distribute the biological samples (“biobankers”) and supporting the research goals of the scientists who need those samples (“biousers”) – all to fulfill the promise of personalized medicine.
This session brings together both partners in a co-presentation to illustrate their collaboration and elaborate on the following issues:
- How does the partnership work?
- What are the bottlenecks?
- What does each bring to the table?
- What are the needs?
- Ultimately, what are the scientific results?
1:30 Chairperson’s Remarks
Katheryn Shea, Vice President, Bioservices, Precision for Medicine
1:35 Case Study #1: A Clinical Trial of Cellular Adoptive Immunotherapy in Patients with Melanoma: Integrating Biospecimen Procurement and Therapeutics
Sylvia M. Lee, M.D., Research Associate, Immunology Program, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Medical Oncologist, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Stephen Schmechel, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, UW Medicine Pathology and Director, NWBioTrust, University of Washington
Infusion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes after combination chemotherapy may provide benefit in patients afflicted with melanoma. This presentation will highlight successful operationalization of a cellular adoptive immunotherapy clinical trial integrating biospecimen procurement and laboratory science.
2:20 Case Study #2: Implementation of a Centralized Biorepository at a Large Academic Medical Center
Victoria M. Blanc, Ph.D., Director, University of Michigan Health System Central Biorepository
W. Troy Shelton, M.S., P.M.P., Vice President, Operations, International Genomics Consortium
The University of Michigan Health System(UMHS) identified the need for a centralized biorepository due to the existing structure being fragmented, non-standardized and costly. A phased development of an individual investigator-driven UMHS Central Biorepository began from the ground up in early 2013. This case study describes lessons learned to date by the UMHS and The International Genomics Consortium (IGC), its partnering consultants.
3:05 Case Study #3: Talk Title to be Announced
Colin Collins, Ph.D., Professor, Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia and Senior Research Scientist and Director, Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis, Vancouver Prostate Centre
Yuzhuo Wang, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, BC Cancer Agency and Vancouver Prostate Centre; Associate Professor, Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia; Leader, Living Tumor Laboratory
3:50 Closing Remarks
4:00 Close of Conference
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