Assay Development and Screening
Erik Danen, PhD
Professor
Leiden University, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Advances in tissue modeling are key to improve drug discovery and development as well as toxicity testing. Combining tissue complexity with assay throughput of the models represents a challenge for target discovery and screening. In this session new models and their application to drug testing and efficacy and toxicity screening of compounds are discussed. First, a multi-well microplate assay system is presented that enables high throughput growth of organized neuronal networks on a chip. Compartmentalized testing of axons and soma in this system generates big data for neuronal analysis and its application to safety and efficacy evaluations in the context of neurotoxicity is discussed. Second, a series of immunological assays are presented using primary immune cells, including PBMCs, T cells, macrophages, and NK cells in 2D and 3D in vitro models. Application to lead selection for small molecule and antibody therapeutics is discussed as well as identification and validation of new targets for immune-oncology and inflammatory diseases. Third, a primary screening platform is presented using a series of non-small cell lung cancer 3D cultures in 1536 well plate format. Application to screening of a large library of natural compounds for the identification of novel lead compounds is discussed. Efficacy as well as selectivity with respect to NSCLC mutation status is showcased for new leads. Altogether, this session will present state of the art cell models where tissue complexity and assay throughput are combined to allow application to target discovery and screening.
Doreen Miao – Ananda Devices
Alejandro Amador Arjona, PhD – Incyte
Virneliz Fernandez-Vega, B.S. – Scripps Research, Florida