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7:50 am Breakfast & Registration
An Overview of the Current Standpoint of Neuroimmunology Therapeutic Development
8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Biomarker Combinations to Stratify & Monitor Clinical Effect
9:00 am Opening Panel Discussion: What’s New in Neuroimmunology Drug Development?
Synopsis
- What are the new biomarkers and targets within neuroimmunology?
- Innovation in neuropsychiatric drug development
- Updates on the role of cells beyond microglia in neuroinflammation
9:30 am Using Digital Biomarkers to Apply a Stratified Approach to Neuroinflammation
Synopsis
- Applying digital biomarkers, in combination with standard inflammatory markers, to aid identification of people at high risk for neuroinflammation
- Using prophylactic small molecule approach for neuroinflammation to analyze neuroinflammatory outcomes in patients with post-operative cognitive decline in
- Referencing the outcomes of the clinical trials conducted by Monument Tx to outline the above
10:00 am Structured Networking
Synopsis
We are excited to return to in person meetings, allowing you to connect with peers face-to-face once again. Join this structured networking session to dissect the latest developments in neuroimmunology drug development, and brainstorm solutions to drug discovery and translational bottlenecks with industry colleagues.
10:45 am Morning Break & Networking
Examining Case Studies of Biomarker Application Across Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s & FTD
11:15 am Inflammation Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease & Fox Foundation Resources
Synopsis
- Summarizing the Michael J Fox Foundation’s current strategy around inflammation biomarkers and funding in the space
- Covering Tools, Biospecimens, Funding, and other resources available for researchers through the Michael J Fox Foundation
11:45 am Narrowing the Gap to Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease Through Biomarkers
Synopsis
- Analyzing several biomarkers to understand their use for neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases
- Using CSF biomarkers to narrow the gap to diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s disease
- Referencing to current human trials of CSF and blood biomarkers to compare the effectivity of blood versus CSF-based biomakers
12:15 pm Utilizing Inflammatory Biomarkers to Assess the Activity of a Novel Therapeutic in Frontotemporal Dementia Patients with Granulin Mutation
Synopsis
- Examining biomarkers specifically for frontotemporal dementia, a rapidly progressive form of dementia, to address the gap in therapeutic development for neurodevelopmental disease, as there are currently none approved for this condition
- Leveraging biomarkers to evaluate hallmarks of frontotemporal dementia pathophysiology to aid drug development
- Implementing a biomarker strategy in a clinical study to assess treatment impact in frontotemporal patients with a granulin mutation
12:45 pm Lunch & Networking
Rationalizing & Evaluating Preclinical Models Recapitulating the Neuroimmune System for More Robust Translational Drug Development
1:45 pm Using Preclinical Models to Inform Clinical Trial Design Targeting Chronic Inflammation in Neurodegenerative Disease
Synopsis
- Discussing the rationale for the use of animal models to inform clinical trials, with a lens on neuroinflammation
- Referencing evidence from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease to compare models used to analyze neuroinflammation in different neurodegenerative disorders
- Understanding downfalls in current clinical trial designs for neuroinflammation to improve future generations of trials
2:15 pm Translational Models of Neuroinflammation: An Update from Ulysses Neuroscience on Depression, Rare Diseases & Parkinson’s Disease
Synopsis
- The interferon-alpha back translational model of depression: Where do we stand after two years of studies?
- Effects of interferon-alpha on synaptic markers
- Parkinson Disease: A brief overview on our collaboration with Atuka (animal models) and the Michael J Fox Foundation (iPSCs and brain organoids)
2:30 pm Analyzing In Vitro Models of Microglia in Relation to Inflammasomes
Synopsis
- Studying the use of in vitro models of microglia to understand inflammation in neurodegenerative and neurodegenerative diseases
- Translating the results of in vitro models of neuroinflammation to unpick disease standpoint and progression
- Establishing neuroinflammatory responses from in vitro animal and cellular models to aid patient stratification for inhibitor of the innate immune system
3:00 pm Immunomodulation of Tau Pathology in Organotypic Brain Slice Cultures
Synopsis
- Looking at an organotypic brain slice culture rAAV-based model of tauopathy to study the overexpression of immunomodulators in neurodegenerative diseases
- Using fluorescently tagged markers for live imaging to allow identification of neuroinflammation changes in neurodegenerative disease patients
- Focusing on the overexpression of specific chemokines and cytokines to analyze the immunological factors of different neurodegenerative diseases
3:30 pm Afternoon Break & Networking
Advancing Clinical Progress: A Look into the Successes & Challenges
4:00 pm Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative Disease – Cutting All 3 Legs
Synopsis
- Understanding why addressing the immunopathology of neurodegenerative disorders will be key to effective treatment to improve future drug development
- A brief survey of differences between neurodegenerative diseases to highlight the implications of inflammatory differences across diseases
- Proposals for solutions to issues with current neuroinflammation studies to drive the next generation
4:30 pm Approaching Clinical Trials Targeting the Immune System: Understanding Biomarker Selection & Treatment Responses
Synopsis
- Analyzing at biomarker selection and treatment responses and what they mean to understand how Inmune Bio approach clinical trials targeting the immune system
- Challenging how we view the immune system to gain a better appreciation for drug development relating to biomarkers for neuroinflammation
- Referring to the results of a recent Phase 1 study to provide evidential backing for the above
5:00 pm Suppressing Neuroinflammation: T-REG Cell Therapy of ALS
Synopsis
- Analyzing T-regs dysfunctional in neurodegenerative diseases to aid future therapeutic development
- Understanding how ex vivo expansion restores T-Reg suppressive function to highlight neuroprotective factors that may arise from targeting neuroinflammation
- Using clinical trial data to highlight how autologous T-reg infusions slow disease progression to thus suggest a potential avenue towards curing neurodegenerative diseases