Conference Day One | Wednesday, September 17

7:30 am Registration & Networking

8:20 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Advancing Sequencing Technologies & Automation for High-Quality, Safe CRISPR-Edited Development

8:30 am Utilizing Long-Read Sequencing & Automation to Enhance Preclinical Analytical Development

  • Wenwen Huo Principal Scientist & Senior Computational Biologist, Excision BioTherapeutics Inc.

Synopsis

  • Streamlining in-process testing to balance data collection with routine requirements, enhancing workflow efficiency
  • Leveraging long-read sequencing to capture large fragment rearrangements, providing comprehensive structural variant analysis
  • Implementing QC-friendly automation to improve efficiency and accuracy, enhancing quality control

9:00 am Advances in Next-Generation Sequencing for Precise Editing Outcomes

Synopsis

  • Confirming the site and off-site integration using NGS, ensuring precise editing outcomes
  • Understanding the limits of detection and quantification for NGS technologies, improving accuracy
  • Scaling NGS for detecting translocations, deletions, and other non-indel events, enhancing comprehensive analysis

9:30 am Audience Discussion: Harnessing NGS for Characterizing CRISPR Components & Drug Products

  • Cindy Liu Associate Director - Analytical Development & Molecular Group Lead, Prime Medicine
  • Matthew Laurie Scientist, Bristol Myers Squibb

Synopsis

  • Applying NGS to verify sequence identity and detect impurities in CRISPR components such as synthetic guides and AAV constructs
  • Ensuring product integrity and functionality through sequence-based analysis of editing efficiency and unintended modifications

10:00 am Morning Refreshments & Speed Networking

Innovating Analytics for LNPs & Novel Delivery Vehicles to Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy

11:00 am Characterizing Decorated LNPs for Effective Delivery

  • Isabelle Gusev Principal Scientist & Group Leader - Analytical Development, CMC, Tessera Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Characterizing targeted molecules on the surface of decorated LNPs in terms of density and functionality, ensuring effective delivery
  • Using biophysical methodologies to establish functional integrity of decorated LNPs
  • Quantifying empty versus full particles using non-invasive analytical methods, improving delivery precision

11:30 am RNP Control Strategy for CRISPR-Edited TIL Manufacturing

  • Hugh Gannon Associate Director, KSQ Therapeutics, Inc.

Synopsis

  • Regulatory expectations for RNP control
  • Analytics for RNP characterization
  • Implementation of RNP control strategy for clinical manufacture to improve gene editing efficiency and to minimize off-target editing

12:00 pm Panel Discussion: Evolving Perspectives on Delivery Vehicles & the Impact on CRISPR-Edited Therapies’ Analytical Development

  • Carl Co Senior Director - Analytical Sciences, Arbor Biotechnologies
  • Zack Zhang Director, Beam Therapeutics Inc.

Synopsis

  • Assessing the performance of various novel delivery systems in delivering CRISPR components, ensuring optimal therapeutic outcomes
  • Identifying and addressing the barriers to effective delivery, including immune response, off-target effects, and delivery efficiency, to enhance the precision and safety of CRISPR-edited therapies
  • What are the most promising delivery vehicles currently being developed?

1:00 pm Lunch

Innovations in Computational Methods & AI to Advance Off-Target Detection & Analytical Accuracy

2:00 pm Characterizing Novel CRISPR Editors for Next-Generation Therapeutics

  • TJ Cradick Chief Technology Officer, HuidaGene Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Developing Assays for Protein Engineering and Therapeutic Development
  • Novel assays for novel editors to establish data sets for regulatory filings

2:30 pm Session Reserved for Program Partner

Broken String Biosciences

3:00 pm Afternoon Refreshments & Networking

4:00 pm Standardizing Off-Target Analysis for Consistent Results

Synopsis

  • Implementing scalable and quantifiable QC approaches for sequencing fidelity, ensuring consistent results
  • Establishing standardized methods to avoid bespoke solutions for off-target analysis, enhancing reliability
  • Discussing what makes the FDA confident in the off-target profile of drugs for in vivo applications, improving regulatory compliance 

4:30 pm Innovating Off-Target Detection & Safety Profiles

  • Xiaoya Sun Analytical Development & Cell Therapy Scientist, Takeda Pharmaceutical

Synopsis

  • Evaluating the tolerable rates of off-target effects and their implications for safety, enhancing therapeutic safety
  • Analyzing methods to quantify empty versus full particles in LNP delivery, improving delivery precision
  • Integrating new technologies to enhance off-target detection and improve safety profiles, optimizing treatment outcomes

5:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks