Gene Silencing & Epigenetics Agenda

Registration

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

RNAi Screening Outcomes
Bhavneet Bhinder, Bioinformatics Engineer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America

We have performed several arrayed RNAi-based screens at our HTS Core Facility, using flavors from both siRNA and shRNA technologies. I will present and discuss the results providing specific example pertaining to gain of function assays and drug modifier screens.

Pooled RNAi Screens in Xenograft Mouse Models
Donato Tedesco, Lead Research Scientist, Cellecta Inc, United States of America

We have adapted our pooled shRNA lentiviral libraries to track clonal cell populations derived from each transduction event in single-assay. This platform allows us to assess, in a single RNAi screen against many genetic targets, the phenotypic effect of each shRNA on multiple clonal populations. With this capability we have been able to perform reproducible RNAi "drop-out" screens in xenograft models where this sort of loss-of-function screen is typically confounded by massive proliferation of a small subset of sub-clones that produce the bulk of the tumor mass.

Lunch & Networking in Exhibition Hall

Free Workshop
Introduction of miRNA Research Reagents and Development of Novel Transfection Reagents using Combinatorial Chemistry and High-Throughput Cell Screening
Taku Funakoshi, Leader

Poster Viewing Session

Lethal Respiratory Viral Infections and the Delivery Barrier – Using Stealth siRNAs for Therapy
Nigel McMillan, Associate Professor, Griffith University, Australia

The main barrier to the clinical use of RNAi for respiratory viruses remains the lack of efficient delivery. Our stealth siRNA, delivery IV, bypasses the inflamed lung tissue and results in effective delivery, gene silencing and reduction in virus load.

Targeting Regulatory Antisense RNAs for Locus-Specific Gene Upregulation
Roya Pedram Fatemi, Staff Scientist, Faghihi Lab, University of Miami, United States of America

Targeting noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and ncRNA-binding domains of epigenetic enzymes offers a novel way of upregulating endogenous gene expression. We developed a pharmacological assay to quantify specific interactions between protein and ncRNAs that can serve to achieve locus-specific upregulation of selected genes.

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

The Role of an HIV-encoded Antisense Long non-coding RNA in the Epigenetic Modulation of Viral Transcription
Sheena Saayman, Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, United States of America

My presentation will address the existence of an HIV-encoded antisense long non-coding RNA; its role in viral transcription regulation; and the epigenetic mechanism by which it functions.

Epigenetics Market Analysis--From Research Trends to Clinical Trajectory
Enal Razvi, Managing Director, Select Biosciences Inc, United States of America

This presentation provides a snapshot of the Epigenetics marketplace from research trends, competitive landscape, and the penetrance of epigenetics towards the clinic as biomarkers and therapeutics. Data and analyses will be presented based on our continuing industry coverage of this space.

Close of Day One

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

Exosomic microRNAs Orchestrate the Biology of the Tumor Microenvironment
Muller Fabbri, Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, United States of America

This lecture will focus on the role of cancer-secreted exosomic microRNAs in the biology of the tumor microenvironment. MicroRNAs can be secreted by cancer cells in exosomes and trigger a pro-tumoral inflammatory response. This discovery identifies new molecular anti-cancer targets.

Exosome-mediated Transfer of microRNAs Plays a Crucial Role in Multiple Myeloma Pathogenesis
Aldo Roccaro, Senior Scientist, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, United States of America

It is known that cell-to-cell communication is partially mediated by exosomes. However, it has not been conclusively demonstrated the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell (BM-MSC)-derived exosomes in supporting hematologic tumor growth and progression, through transfer of their microRNA content to the tumor clone. We therefore dissected the role of exosomal BM-MSC-microRNAs in regulating MM pathogenesis.

Lunch & Networking in Exhibition Hall

Poster Viewing Session

miRNA Biomarkers in Colorectal Neoplasia
Ajay Goel, Director, Epigenetics and Cancer Prevention, Baylor University Medical Center, United States of America

miRNA biomarkers are emerging as promising diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in colorectal neoplasia.

miRNAs Associated with Aggressive Forms of Prostate Cancer
Aurora Esquela Kerscher, Assistant Professor, Eastern Virginia Medical School, United States of America

MicroRNAs are promising biomarkers for aggressive prostate cancer using a novel fluid source called expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) in urine, which is obtained non-invasively in the clinic. EPS-urine miRNAs also play functional roles in the prostate in promoting cancer progression and could be effective therapeutic targets for this disease.

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

Close of Conference