The Conference will return in November 2021, Register Your Interest Here
7:55 am
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Tackling Fibrosis: Where Are We With Antifibrotic Drug Development?
8:00 am Discussion Panel: Debating the Commonalities & Disparities Between the Different Fibrotic Disease Indications & Organ Specific Fibroses
Bridging the Translational Gap: Clinical & Preclinical Biomarkers
8:30 am Discussing Myofibroblast Membrane Receptors as Targets for PET-Imaging Tracers in Fibrosis & Fibrotic Cancer Stroma
Synopsis
- Highlighting the translatability of fibrogenesis biomarkers across disease states
- Divulging the relevance of upregulated myofibroblast membrane receptors as sensitive fibrogenesis biomarkers to be used in PET-imaging of fibrogenesis in organ fibrosis and fibrotic cancer
- Proving early therapeutic effectiveness to give confidence taking the drug development forward
9:00 am Extracellular Matrix Remodeling is the Common Denominator in All Chronic Diseases
Synopsis
- Using collagens to quantify the balance between formation and degradation of tissues
- Highlighting the importance of targeting the right epitope of the right protein
- Illuminating that biomarkers of the extracellular matrix are key in understanding pathological pathways
9:30 am Integrating Multi-Omics Approaches to Identify Relevant Biomarkers for Fibrosis Clinical Trials
Synopsis
- Discussing the translatability of combining biomarkers across disease states and indications
- Detecting peripheral biomarkers using transcriptomics and proteomics
- Considering how this applies across indications and how to harness this knowledge
- Illuminating novel biomarkers to capture the translatability bridge into humans
10:00 am
Speed Networking
Synopsis
- This session is the perfect opportunity to get face-to-face time with the key opinion leaders in the fibrosis field
- Establish meaningful business relationships to build upon for the rest of the conference and gain individual insight into the pioneering work ongoing
10:45 am
Morning Break
Basic Science & Early Translational
Examining Novel In Vitro & In Vivo Modelling to Drive a New Era of Fibrotic Drug Development
11:00 am Understanding Fibroblast Heterogeneity in Target Organs Across Inflammatory & Fibrotic Diseases
Synopsis
- Revealing fibroblast heterogeneity in human diseases using single-cell profiling
- Uncovering niche signals which govern fibroblast fates in diseases using spatial profiling
11:30 am Session Reserved for Physiogenix
11:45 am Discovery of Novel Anti-Fibrotic Targets in an In Vitro Human Surrogate System of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Synopsis
- Highlighting a novel in vitro cell culture system to explore phenotypic changes in stellate cells
- Evaluating fibrotic biomarkers suitable for in vitro applications
- Using RNAseq and bioinformatics for identifying and validating new therapeutic targets for reversing liver fibrosis
12:15 pm Harnessing Organ on a Chip Models to Improve Representation of the Human Condition
Synopsis
- Illuminating the importance of biologically relevant tissue culture environment for in vitro studies
- Exploring the effect of mechanical stretch and flow on cellular function
- Highlighting rapid ex vivo assessment of therapeutic efficacy in human cells under more realistic physiologic conditions
- Discussing relevant experimental readouts
Later Translational & In-Human
Illuminating the Latest in Fibrotic Biomarkers Across Indications to Harness Predictive & Progressive Biomarkers In Clinical Development
11:00 am Crossing the divide: Leveraging Fibrosis- Inflammatory Biomarkers to Inform Clinical Trial Design
Synopsis
- Highlighting the predictive and progressive biomarkers used in later translational and in-human studies
- Debating which biomarkers to harness in clinical trial design
11:30 am Session Reserved for Antaros Medical
12:00 pm Treating Scleroderma by Targeting Pro-Fibrotic Macrophages: Highlighting Biomarkers of M2-like Macrophages-Levels in Systemic Sclerosis
Synopsis
- Highlighting macrophage activation states and the role of M2-like macrophages in fibrosis
- Exploring novel approaches to targeting this type of pathogenic cell
12:25 pm
Roundtable Discussion Groups: Deliberating Bench to Bedside Biomarkers
Synopsis
This session facilitates in-depth discussion amongst participants. A topic will be given to the table to discuss, make a case for and against and then to feedback to the chair. This session is intended to be thought-provoking and a chance to speak to peers across disciplines.
- Non-Invasive vs Invasive Biomarkers to predict and detect fibrosis across fibrotic indications
- Harnessing knowledge and practices cross-organ, cross disease, and cross-discipline
12:45 pm
Lunch
Basic Science & Early Translational
Navigating Repairing & Regenerating Tissue to Address Fibrosis
1:45 pm Delving Into Transcriptional Programming & Immune Interactions That Influence Fibroblast Regenerative Competence
Synopsis
- Understanding key transcriptional programs underlying regenerative versus fibroblast fates during skin wound healing
- Highlighting inflammatory immune signalling restrains fibroblast regenerative potential
- Illuminating new insights from a unique large animal model of skin regeneration
2:30 pm Turning Back the Clock Across Organs: Regenerating Fibrotic Loss & Preventing Progression Towards Organ Failure
Synopsis
- Decoding secreted proteins for new therapeutics targets in regenerating fibrotic loss
- Upregulating repair pathways
- Illuminating the possibilities of regenerative medicine for antifibrotics across organ function
Later Translational & In-Human
Illuminating the Latest in Fibrotic Biomarkers Across Indications to Harness Predictive & Progressive Biomarkers In Clinical Development
1:45 pm
Panel Discussion: Validating Biomarkers Across Trials & Diseases: Illuminating Learnings from the Lung, Kidney & Liver
Synopsis
- This is your chance to ask your burning questions to the expert panel
- Discussing everything surrounding validating biomarkers for clinical trials and across diseases to illuminate learnings we can harness cross-disease and cross-organ
2:30 pm Discussing Biomarkers of Progressive Kidney Function Decline as Biomarkers of Kidney Fibrosis
Synopsis
- Illuminating biomarkers to identify patients at risk
- Predicting effectiveness of reno-protective drugs with biomarkers
- Monitoring effectiveness of reno-protective drugs using biomarkers
3:00 pm
Afternoon Break – Poster Session
Synopsis
Connect with your peers in a relaxed atmosphere and continue to forge new and existing relationships, whilst exploring the latest antifibrotic drug development advances
To submit a poster or to find out more, contact info@hansonwade.com
The Fibrosis Umbrella: Understandings & Developments to Accelerate Effective Fibrotic Therapeutics
4:00 pm Discussing SIX1 Driven Mechanisms in Lung & Skin Fibrosis: A Potential for Gene Therapy?
Synopsis
- Introducing the SIX1 pathway in diseases
- Understanding of how SIX1 alters epithelial cell function in lung fibrosis
- Appreciating how SIX1 expression in adipocytes contributes to skin fibrosis
4:30 pm Dynamic Fibrogenesis in Human Precision Cut Tissue Slices: An Unrivalled Preclinical Platform for Development & Testing of Anti- Fibrotic Therapies
Synopsis
- Explore how human liver, kidney, heart and lung precision cut tissue slices (PCTS) retain the cellular complexity and architecture of the native tissue in culture
- Discover established, dynamic models of tissue inflammation, fibrogenesis, and cancer
- Discuss the application of PCTS for drug testing, target engagement, and assessment of tissue viability and metabolic activity
5:00 pm Understanding the Role of the 5-HT2B Receptor in Fibrosis with Special Focus on Systemic Sclerosis-ILD
Synopsis
- Exploring the mechanism of action
- Using a variety of preclinical models to evaluate the therapeutic’s effectiveness
- Harnessing RNA sequencing to show target engagement in relevant cells
- Moving from Phase 1 into systemic sclerosis patients with focus on biomarkers