June 4, 2015
1 pm to 2 pm

Sponsored by

Webinar Description:

KIYATEC specializes in ex vivo 3D tumor models created from primary patient tumors and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) explants to create clinically relevant, predictive drug response profiling (DRP) assays. The webinar will describe KIYATEC’s DRP program and discuss advantages of ex vivo 3D tumor models, long-term perfusion bioreactor platforms and their applicability in both preclinical compound prioritization studies and late-stage clinical development for combination therapies. The Jackson Laboratory will present data highlighting a recent collaborative research program with KIYATEC aimed at developing correlative and predictive in vitro 3D PDX response profiles using a cost efficient, higher throughput screening approach.

Learning Objectives:

• Become informed on advances in 3D heterotypic microtumor models
• Integrating ex vivo 3D (EV3D) screening approaches to enhance efficiency in preclinical compound evaluation
• Understanding correlative in vitro / in vivo data sets and clinical applicability
• PDX models and key new technologies to enhance translational medicine efforts and compound progression

Who should attend:

• Translational Medicine (or Oncology) Group Leaders
• Biology Directors, In Vitro Pharmacology Scientists
• In Vivo / Preclinical Scientists
• CSO / Principal Scientists (or Research Investigators)

Speakers:

Matt Gevaert, Ph.D.

CEO and Co-Founder

KIYATEC Inc.

Dr. Matthew (Matt) Gevaert is Chief Executive Officer of KIYATEC Inc. Possessing a background which combines both business and technology, prior to his role at KIYATEC he led the commercialization of Clemson University's biomedical and biotechnology intellectual property portfolio for nearly 5 years, working with both entrepreneurial start-ups and large, industry leading corporations. Gevaert grew up in Ontario, Canada and graduated from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor's degree in Applied Chemistry. He also holds a master's degree and a doctorate in Bioengineering from Clemson University. Matt has held a variety of professional roles with 3M, Dow Chemical, and Merck, and has additional experience as sole proprietor of Edge Biomedical, a biomaterials consulting practice. He maintains current appointments as adjunct professor in the Clemson University Department of Bioengineering and as visiting professor in the Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, where he teaches graduate courses in technology and biomedical entrepreneurship for scientists, engineers and professional business students.

James Keck, Ph.D.

Senior Director
In Vivo Pharmacology & Clinical Lab Services

The Jackson Laboratory

To address the demand for new pre-clinical models, The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), in collaboration with founding member UCDCC and 24 other medical centers, has engrafted primary and metastatic tumors from over 20 types of human cancer into NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice to create a bank of >270 clinically annotated and genomically characterized Patient Derived Xenografts (PDXs). Compared to cell lines, PDX models reflect the complexity of human tumors, including clonal heterogeneity and stromal interactions. Sub-grouping PDX models using genomic properties (e.g., cancer driver gene mutations) provides a unique platform for study of new therapies and mechanisms of drug resistance. Dr. Keck leads the in vivo pharmacology and clinical lab services at The Jackson Laboratory and is based out of the Sacramento, California research and development laboratories. Dr. Keck’s expertise is in the areas of animal pharmacology, assay development, drug discovery, target identification, protein expression and translational research. This work has encompassed several therapeutic areas including oncology, virology, and inflammatory and metabolic diseases. As his career progressed, Dr. Keck was part of a business development team, making presentations to potential corporate partners and interacting with collaborators in industrial and academic centers. Jim also was a member of a clinical team, co-authoring clinical investigator brochures, FDA progress reports, and clinical protocols. Under his leadership, teams of scientists developed high-throughput assays in the areas of oncology, inflammatory and metabolic diseases, viral transcription, and gene function. In his current position at The Jackson Laboratory, Dr. Keck has overall responsibility for the ongoing operational development of the PDX resource, which generates, banks, and distributes patient derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models of human cancers. The Oncology Preclinical Services team, which offers preclinical efficacy studies using PDX and other models, is also under Dr. Keck’s direction.