Conference Day One

7:30 Check-In & Coffee

8:30 Chair’s Opening Remarks

  • Jon Levenson Chief Scientific Officer, FireCyte Pharmaceuticals

8:40 Fireside Chat: Reflecting on Lessons Learned from PhII/III Failures to Drive Urgency for Novel CNS Biomarker Research

  • Terina Martinez Executive Director, Critical Path For Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases (Cp-Rnd), Critical Path Institute
  • Fernanda Cerqueira Senior Associate Director, Michael J. Fox Foundation

Synopsis

  • Evaluating past failures to identify key missteps, avoid repeating errors, and foster collective learning that propels the field forward with greater cohesion
  • The blood-based biomarker revolution: Reviewing the latest progress to increase accessibility, sensitivity and scalability
  • Evaluating the latest progress in neuroimaging technologies: Enhancing clinical value, navigating constraints, and integrating with fluid-based approaches 

9:30 Driving Precision Medicine in Neurology Through Biomarker-Driven Development

  • Holly Soares Vice President & Global Head of Neuroscience & Rare Disease Biomarkers, Roche

Synopsis

  • Exploring biomarker strategies across neurodegenerative therapeutic programs, including Alzheimer’s and rare diseases
  • Insights into the application of targeted antibody therapies in advancing clinical development strategies

10:00 Morning Break & Speed Networking

Synopsis

As this community unites, this session will provide valuable networking time with your peers, enabling you to forge new and lasting connections.

Tackling Sample Acquisition & Quality for Highly Precise & Improved Assay Validation

11:00 Optimizing Sample Quality for Improved Clinical Biomarker Reliability, Reproducibility & Data Integrity

Synopsis

  • Addressing poorly characterized commercial samples; lack of clinical metadata and Biobank limitations (low volume, poor metadata, inconsistent storage)
  • Ensuring the stability of proteins, nucleic acids, and other key analytes during storage and handling in clinical workflows
  • Addressing the antibody issue: variability in commercial reagents with unverified clones and poor specificity impacting clinical assay performance

11:30 Panel Discussion: Exploring Sensitivity, Specificity, Credibility & Efficiency of Different Biomarker Detection Platforms for Technological Calibration

Synopsis

  • Assessing the sensitivity levels of different techniques for biomarker measurement, such as aptamer-based proteomics assays, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
  • Exploring how individual biomarkers are suited to different measurement approaches 

12:15 Lunch Break & Networking

Mapping Out the Future of Biomarkers: Emerging Trends & Strategies for Next-Gen Neuroscience Research

1:30 NExT – Neuro Expert Toolbox

Synopsis

  • Introduction to Fujirebio Neuro Centre of Excellence – a collaborative environment which welcomes input from experts and partners around the world
  • Learn about NExT – toolbox enables partners and customers to access Fujirebio’s expertise at every stage of biomarker development
  • From pioneering work in Alzheimer’s diagnostics to a broader vision across the full spectrum of neurological conditions

2:00 Roundtable Discussion: Breakthrough Biomarkers on the Horizon to Stay Ahead of the Curve in Diagnostics & Therapeutics

Synopsis

Join leaders from across academia, industry, and tech to explore the most promising novel and emerging biomarkers transforming neuroscience research:

  • Circular RNA: Potential roles in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis and detection
  • Cryptic protein markers: Uncovering hidden drivers of disease and therapeutic response
  • Exosome-derived biomarkers: Tapping into extracellular vesicles for CNS signal access
  • Immune cell biomarkers: Peripheral immune signatures reflecting neuroinflammatory processes
  • Intracellular biomarkers: Tracking cellular-level changes linked to disease progression
  • Preventative vaccines approach for neurodegenerative approaches

2:45 NULISA Neurology Biomarker Platform – Brain-derived pTau217 and High-plex Neurodegenerative Disease and Neuroinflammatory Biomarker Analysis

Synopsis

  • NULISA™: Ultra-sensitive femtogram level detection with barcode-based high-plex biomarker analysis
  • First brain-derived (BD) pTau217 assay for highest accuracy blood-based Alzheimer's detection
  • CNS Disease Panel: Unique in its coverage of hundreds of proteins involved in neurodegeneration, inflammation, vascular and synaptic dysfunction. New BD-Tau181,217, 231, total assays
  • Inflammation Panel: Comprehensive coverage of cytokines and key immune markers underlying neuroinflammatory disease
  • NULISA platform: Unmatched ability to translate targeted neuroimmune proteomic discoveries into low-plex quantitative assays on the same ARGO HT System
  • ARGO HT System: Fully automated instrument for running single-, low-, and high-plex assays
  • NULISA IVD and ARGO DX in development with funding from Gates Ventures and DxA

3:15 Afternoon Break & Networking

Unified Effort: Collaboration From Academia to Industry & Everything in Between to Identify a Common Goal & Accelerate Biomarker Innovation

4:00 Bridging the Disconnection Between Academia & Clinical Reality to Bridge Translational Gaps & Create a United Language

  • Jon Levenson Chief Scientific Officer, FireCyte Pharmaceuticals

Synopsis

  • How to optimize researchers’ data for seamless clinical translation
  • Aligning priorities: Discovery science vs commercial deliverables

4:30 CNS Biomarker Innovation: What Does it Mean for the Patient?

Synopsis

  • Highlighting the importance of advanced diagnostic tools for patient enrolment
  • Reviewing clinical experience to optimize clinical recruitment and retention
  • From invasive diagnostic procedures to novel omics technologies highlighting what’s truly most important for the patient

5:00 Chair’s Closing Remarks

  • Jon Levenson Chief Scientific Officer, FireCyte Pharmaceuticals

5:15 End of Conference Day One