November 10, 2016
11am EST to 12pm EST

Sponsored by

Webinar Description:

Leveraging New and Established Preclinical Oncology Models for Translational Success. The success rate of anti-cancer therapeutics has historically been low, hovering around 5%, and may attributed to the widespread use of imperfect models in the preclinical phase. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the latest translational models and tools enabling therapeutic development in oncology. A special emphasis will be given to the importance of context in enhancing the predictive potential of preclinical models. Will we discuss context in terms of choosing appropriate tumor models (cell lines, PDX, reporters, and biomarkers), tissue contexts (ectopic, orthotopic, heterotopic and metastatic models), treatment contexts (the recapitulation of clinical treatment paradigms), stromal contexts (microenvironment, infiltrating cells, extracellular matrix etc.), host contexts (especially immunological contexts and considerations in performing immunoncology studies), and influences of the microbiome (particularly in immunoncology studies and an overview of Biomodels’ capabilities in running oncology models under germ-free or gnotobiotic conditions). With thoughtful design and innovative application, Biomodels’ currently available preclinical models can be rationally leveraged to provide novel cancer therapies the best chance of success in the clinical phase.

Learning Objectives:

• Intro to Biomodels.
• Overview of Translational Models.
• Predictive Potential of Preclinical Oncology Models.
• The Importance of Recapitulating Clinically Relevant Contexts.
• Novel Applications and Opportunities in Preclinical Oncology Models.

Speaker:

Benjamin G. Cuiffo, Ph.D.

Principal Scientist, Oncology

Biomodels LLC

Dr. Cuiffo joined Biomodels in 2015 after completing his postdoctoral studies at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, where he was an American Cancer Society Fellow. His postdoctoral work centered upon elucidating the molecular mechanisms of tumor metastasis in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models. Dr. Cuiffo brings additional expertise in the biology of tumor- initiating (cancer stem cells) and invasive phenotypes, oncogenic signaling pathways, and noncoding RNAs in cancer. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from Brandeis University in 2010, where he developed novel strategies to target the RAS oncogene in animal models of leukemia. As the Lead Oncology Scientist at Biomodels, Dr Cuiffo will collaborate with clients to design and execute clinically translational preclinical Oncology studies.