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 Translational De-Risking Toolkit – Enhancing Utility of Preclinical Models of Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Disease
Synopsis
Despite technological and scientific progress, a significant challenge in drug development for neurological disorders remains – capturing the complexity of the human brain in laboratory models. Historically, translation has been ineffective and contributed to a catalog of failures in human studies. To continue trialing new drug treatments, an optimized approach must be taken to utilize the currently available methodologies in early research and increase the chance of success at clinical phases.
Attend this practical, solution-focused workshop to:
- Outline current rodent models, their limitations, and optimal functionality
- Understand the implications of transgenic models on pathophysiology
- Improve ability to review data gleaned in preclinical studies and translate into likely clinical effect