FLUID BASED BIOMARKER
SEMINAR DAY
9:30 - 2:30
TRANSLATIONAL WORKSHOP WITH ATUKA
3:00 - 6:00
Connect with pioneering experts in AD and PD biomarker research in an intimate setting, with a blend of case study presentations and interactive discussions, to uncover the evolving landscape of fluid-based amyloid, alpha-synuclein, and tau assays, as well as novel biomarker opportunities beyond protein aggregation.
Join Atuka and industry colleagues for a collaborative deep dive into enhancing the utility of AD and PD preclinical models, exploring strategies to de-risk the translational gap.
8:30am Check-In, Coffee & Light Breakfast
9:20 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
FLUID BASED BIOMARKER SEMINAR DAY
9:30 am Panel Discussion: Evaluating the Current Landscape of Plasma-Based Markers of β-Amyloid Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease & Mapping the Path to Widespread Blood Testing
Synopsis
- How will the breakthroughs in blood-based amyloid biomarkers advance precision medicine?
- What are the opportunities for these β-amyloid assays to be used commercially to inform patient selection?
- How do we determine the right cut off, based on somebody’s age, gender, or phenotype, to deem a patient amyloid-positive and enrol them?
- Have there been advancements to develop biomarkers to predict who’s going to be at risk of ARIA so we can select against this?
10:00 am Reviewing the Latest Advancements in Plasma-Based Tau Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease: High-sensitivity Assays for Tau Modifications
Synopsis
- Overcoming the low levels of modified tau in blood via enrichment and high-sensitivity assays to enable less invasive monitoring
- Highlighting the promise of plasma-based p-tau assays to detect Alzheimer’s even earlier and in broader populations
- Emerging evidence of tau fragments as unique pathological biomarkers
10:30am Morning Break & Refreshments
11:00 am Exploring the Impact of NSD-ISS, New Biological Definition & Staging System on the Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Landscape
Synopsis
- Sharing examples of how the revised AD staging criteria has been applied in clinical trials: how will this inform the adoption of PD staging?
- Highlighting how the NSD-ISS definition will allow for more targeted PD clinical trial designs
- Comparing and contrasting how the molecular staging of AD and PD will impact the treatment landscape
11:30 am Outlining Current Progress in Validating the Alpha-Synuclein Seed Amplification Assay & Progress in Measuring Alpha-Synuclein in Less Invasive Fluids
Synopsis
- Elevating the current use of the alpha-synuclein seeding assay
- Exploring approaches being developed to eventually detect and isolate the seeds from plasma, including antibody enrichment and extracellular vesicle isolation
- Investigating strategies to quantify the assay
12:00 pm Reviewing Different Assays in Development to Detect Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation & Diagnose Synucleinopathies
Synopsis
- Sharing experiences of αSyn seed amplification and immuno-based assays
- Optimizing the assays to isolate and detect αSyn aggregates
- Future directions to further enhance their sensitivity and specificity
12:30pm Lunch & Networking
1:30 pm Analyzing Upregulated Proteins Driving Parkinson’s Disease Progression & Evaluating Their Functions as Novel Treatment-Related Biomarkers
Synopsis
- Working with AMP PD to identify promising biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease progression
- Identifying pathways altered in Parkinson’s disease that can be remodulated to healthy levels with drug treatment
- Investigating emerging markers, such as DOPA decarboxylase, to distinguish their role as biomarkers from their function as treatment-related indicators
2:00 pm Panel Discussion: What Other Fluid Biomarkers Are Being Investigated for Parkinson’s Disease Outside of Protein Aggregation & Alpha-Synuclein?
Synopsis
- Is there an aspect of the disease pathophysiology that can be captured in a broad panel and recapitulated across genetically associated PD, idiopathic PD, and others?
- Have there been attempts to develop an inflammatory biomarker with relative consistency across PD populations?
- Even at the prodromal phase, have there been advancements to develop a marker that can be recapitulated across populations?
2:30 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks & End of Fluid Based Biomarker Seminar Day
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP WITH ATUKA
3:00pm The Implications of a Biological Definition of Parkinson’s Disease on Preclinical Research
Synopsis
Attend this practical, solution-focused workshop to:
- Examine the impact of biological definitions of Parkinson's disease on clinical trial design.
- Investigate the role of emerging biomarkers in the early detection, monitoring of disease progression, and assessment of therapeutic efficacy in Parkinson’s disease.
- Discuss how evolving clinical trial designs and emerging biomarkers will redefine evaluation of efficacy and target engagement in preclinical models.