Rebecca Mathew
Principal Scientist Merck
Dr. Mathew, Senior Principal Scientist at Merck, leads the Stem Cell Models group for Target and Biomarker Validation in Immunology and Neuroscience. She oversees the development of disease-relevant iPSC-derived model systems to validate novel targets and biomarkers, and advance translational discovery. Prior to this role, she led multiple teams focused on neuro/immunology model development, CRISPR-based editing in iPSC-derived model systems, and functional genomics screens with iPSC-derived model systems. She earned her MS in Chemistry from Yale University and her PhD in Biophysics from Stanford, followed by postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School.
Seminars
Despite decades of reliance on rodent models in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, there is growing consensus that animal systems often fail to capture key human disease mechanisms. This panel will debate whether we are entering a postanimal-model era or simply shifting expectations and redefining how in vivo studies are used.
- What have we truly learned from animal models and where have they fallen short in reflecting the complexity of human neuroimmune diseases?
- How do chimeric and humanized mouse models help bridge the translational gap, and what are their limitations?
- When is reliance on animal models necessary, and when can strong human genetic or phenotypic data support a “modellight” approach?
- How should we balance phenotypic versus target-driven strategies in preclinical testing, especially given the artificial nature of many models (e.g., amyloid beta overexpression)?
- Are current in vitro models a step backward or an important complement in understanding multifactorial diseases where secondary mechanisms matter?
- How do different companies weigh model necessity depending on target confidence and therapeutic strategy, and what does the future hold for smarter, more selective use of in vivo models?
- How organoid models are used to simulate the BBB and enable small molecule screening for CNS drug candidates
- Addressing challenges in organoid maturity, reproducibility, and relevance to human disease biology
- The importance of incorporating multiple CNS cell types, including microglia and astrocytes, for inflammation studies
- Comparing organoid approaches with traditional animal and cell-based models in neuroinflammation research
- Emerging efforts to harmonize organoid protocols and enhance translatability to clinical settings
