SCN-MRM Symposium: Drug Discovery in Stem Cell and Organoid Models

Drug discovery through screening relevant biological systems has the potential to identify therapeutically beneficial compounds. Although technical prowess in screening for drugs has increased dramatically, translation into the clinic has stagnated and not all drugs work to treat all patients. This is likely due to the frequent use of generic, cell-based screens, which provide poor facsimiles of biologically relevant tissues, organs and patients.

Stem Cell Network and the McGill Regenerative Medicine Network are hosting a two-day symposium on October 19-20, 2022 that will focus on the tools to undertake various types of screening in more relevant physiological models using patient-derived iPSCs and organoids. The symposium will include both informational talks by renowned experts and a practical session focused on the analysis and visualization of single cell biosensor data to track drug-induced signaling pathway activation in single cells from heterogeneous cell populations.

Note: This event is hosted online and will be delivered in English.

Registration Deadline: September 27, 2022 by 5 p.m. (local time).

Learning Objectives

• Review current approaches and tools for high throughput and high content drug discovery in heterologous cell systems
• Understand the use of biosensor-based approaches to explore cellular signaling
• Review the translation of such approaches to iPSC and organoid models
• Understand the genomic and signaling screening ecosystem in Canada
• Discuss the advantages and limitations of measuring signaling pathway activation using fluorescent biosensors
• Understand the steps involved in analyzing single cell versus bulk biosensor data
• Learn approaches to data analysis, visualization, and interpretation

Speakers

• Stephane Angers, PhD, Professor and Director, The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto
• Alia Arslanova, Sc. Student, Tibbits Lab, Simon Fraser University and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
• Mick Bhatia, PhD, Senior Scientist, Professor, and Program Director of Experimental Therapeutics in human leukemias, McMaster University and Michael DeGroote School of Medicine
• Kyla Bourque*, PhD Candidate, McGill University
• Thomas Durcan, PhD*, Associate Professor, The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University
• Joachim Goedhart, PhD, Assistant Professor, Swammerdarm Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam
• Terry Hébert, PhD*, Professor, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University
• Terry Kenakin, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
• Graciela Pineyro, PhD*, Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal and CHU-Ste. Justine Research Center
• Laurent Sabbagh, PhD, Head of Biology and Associate Director R&D, Domain Therapeutics North America Inc.
• Jace Jones-Tabah, PhD*, Postdoctoral Fellow, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University
• Jean-François Trempe, PhD, Associate Professor, McGill University

*Member of the Organizing Committee

Who Should Attend?

The two-day symposium is open to all interested principal investigators, researchers and trainees working in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine in a Canadian lab. The symposium will provide an entry point for understanding key screening concepts and methods. It will also provide an opportunity to learn how to adapt biosensor-based drug discovery tools to stem cell/organoid models. Due to the interactive nature of the symposium, spaces are limited; all those interested in participating must register for the symposium by Tuesday, September 27, 2022 by 5 p.m. (local time).

Format and Dates

Symposium Day 1: October 19, 2022, 11:00 AM ET – 3:00 PM ET
Symposium Day 2: October 20, 2022, 11:00 AM ET – 4:45 PM ET

See detailed schedule

Location: Hosted online. A link to the online sessions will be provided to successful registrants.

Application Procedure & Registration Fees

1. Stem Cell Network and the McGill Regenerative Medicine Network are hosting a two-day symposium, to be held October 19-20, 2022, which will focus on tools to undertake screening in more relevant physiological models using patient-derived iPSCs and organoid models. Due to the interactive nature of the symposium, spaces are limited; all those interested in participating must register for the symposium here by Tuesday, September 27, 2022 by 5 p.m. (local time).
2. Spaces are limited for this training opportunity. If the number of registrations exceeds the number of places in the symposium, the SCN Training & Education Committee will review all complete registrations for the workshop, and will notify all approved registrants by October 7, 2022. Notification of approval for successful registrants will include details on accessing the workshop. If the number of registrations exceeds the number of places in the symposium, priority will be given to those registrants who are positioned to use the techniques, skills, and concepts learned at the event within one year.

Conditions

Spaces are limited for this event. SCN will cover the costs of this event for confirmed registrants who attend both days of the symposium. For confirmed registrants that fail to attend both sessions in the absence of extenuating circumstances, a fee of $500 will be charged directly (for researchers) or to their supervisor (for trainees) to cover the costs associated with delivering this training opportunity.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be a principal investigator, researcher, trainee, or highly qualified personnel (HQP) (i.e. a graduate student, post-doc, research associate and/or technician) currently working on a research project in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine in a Canadian lab. While industry-affiliated researchers are welcome to apply, priority will be given to academic registrants.
• If you’re unsure whether you are eligible for the workshop, please email Ellie Arnold at earnold@stemcellnetwork.ca for confirmation.

Workshop Requirements

Note that participants in this course are required to use their own laptop computers, with head-set for audio and webcam for video interaction.

Reporting and Communication Requirements

By accepting a place at this training event, the recipient agrees to provide a report describing the value of the training and networking opportunities made available through the award. This information will be used at SCN’s discretion on its website, newsletters and for the purpose of reporting to their funding agencies. By registering for this event attendees also accept to have their pictures taken during the event and used in materials as described above.

Questions

For further information on this event or for application related enquiries, please contact Ellie Arnold at earnold@stemcellnetwork.ca.