Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for December
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OKRA Forum: Ranjit Singh Atwal
Thu, Dec 05, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ranjit Singh Atwal, Moderna Global Fellow and Research Assistant Professor in Kelley Laboratories at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Talk Title: LeaPFrog: Highly Scalable Cell Profiling for Druggable Target Discovery and Therapeutics Development
Abstract: Registration is required for this event: https://northwestern.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017315250267/WN_6P8qnb64Qn-VQM84m3tbXA
Large-scale genetic perturbation and cell profiling technologies have revolutionized the field of molecular biology and has the potential to transform many aspects of healthcare and biotechnology in the coming decade. Nowadays, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-scale functional genetic screens are being routinely used to identify key genetic regulators of a phenotype of interest. However, the identification of genetic modifications that lead to a phenotypic change requires sorting large numbers of cells, which increases operational times and costs and often limits cell viability. To fully realize the potential of whole-genome CRISPR screening, advances in high-throughput cell sorting technologies are needed. Over the last 5 years, our research group has developed the use of immunomagnetic cell sorting facilitated by microfluidic chips as a rapid and scalable screening platform (termed LeaPFroG) for efficiently and accurately analyzing large numbers of CRISPR-edited cells. I will present how we have leveraged the high-throughput cell sorting capabilities of our LeaPFroG platform as a discovery engine to identify and validate novel checkpoint inhibitors for modulating tumor cell/immune cell interactions and elucidating allele-specific functional regulators of previously undruggable proteins. Lastly, I will outline how the experiences and lessons from these functional studies are being applied to the identification of cellular determinants impacting the mesangial cells in IgA Nephropathy.
Biography: Dr. Ranjit Singh Atwal is a Moderna Global Fellow and Research Assistant Professor in Kelley Laboratories at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Dr. Atwal received his Ph.D. from McMaster University (Canada) and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Genomic Medicine and faculty member at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His research investigations are focused on expanding the use of large-scale phenotypic screening technologies to address unmet needs across diverse biological realms. Current research investigations include the identification of functional regulators of undruggable proteins, rare-cell enrichment based in vivo phenotypic CRISPR screening to identify genetic regulators of metastasis and the use of tissue-selective delivery systems for therapeutic genome editing applications. He is also a founding scientist of a pre-seed startup focused on translating findings at the bench towards the development of targeted therapeutics. As part of the NU-OKRA/NUGokidney Resource Development Core, he is supporting the adaptation of the LeaPFroG platform to enable rapid enrichment of disease-relevant population of kidney cells to empower functional studies to better understand the mechanisms of kidney disease.
Host: Northwestern University & University of Southern California George M. O'Brien Kidney Resource Center
More Info: https://northwestern.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017315250267/WN_6P8qnb64Qn-VQM84m3tbXA
Webcast: https://northwestern.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017315250267/WN_6P8qnb64Qn-VQM84m3tbXAMore Information: Webinar graphic - 12.05.24.png
WebCast Link: https://northwestern.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017315250267/WN_6P8qnb64Qn-VQM84m3tbXA
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Greta Harrison
Event Link: https://northwestern.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017315250267/WN_6P8qnb64Qn-VQM84m3tbXA
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Alfred E.Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering - Seminar series
Fri, Dec 06, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Carla Woods, President of Mann Healthcare Partners and Board member of USC Viterbi
Talk Title: Medical Device Companies: From Idea to a Business, and Everything in Between
Abstract: When an idea is born for a product, few face the opportunities and challenges of Medical Devices. Due diligence and planning are paramount to success. Most of the success of a new idea is not the idea itself, but all that goes into driving a successful venture and understanding how to fit the product in a dynamic existing and highly regulated environment. The opportunity that ideas generate in the medical space is to help people with health issues and improve or even save lives. These opportunities also generate jobs and economic success for collaborators, investors and businesses. Getting there involves mitigating risks, overcoming obstacles, and crossing “the valley death.” This requires investment, knowhow and talent of all types coming together. This talk will walk through examples and considerations to set up the development of an idea for success!
Biography: A USC graduate in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship, Carla has been developing and marketing medical devices for over twenty years. At Advanced Bionics Corporation, she was a key executive building the company up to and through its acquisition by Boston Scientific. She began her career at Pacesetter Systems where she planned new technology applications and product needs for pacemakers. During her tenure at Advanced Bionics/Boston Scientific, she led the business development, product development, industrial design, education, clinical research and marketing for the company and its products including the Precision Spinal Cord Stimulator, the BION® microstimulator, implantable infusion pumps, and the cochlear implant. For these products she holds over 60 U.S. patents. Carla was the recipient of the Boston Scientific Patent Milestone Award and the Advanced Bionics Business Leadership Award. She was a senior executive on the company's intellectual property review board and was the shareholder representative in the Boston Scientific acquisition of Advanced Bionics. In 2007, she became the Vice President of Program Development and Strategic Planning for the Alfred Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering. Carla is on the Board of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and has served on the board of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, AMI Institutes at USC and Purdue University, the Center for Global Innovation at the USC Marshall School of Business, the National Pain Foundation and the Fulfilment Fund.
Host: Peter Yingxiao Wang- Chair of Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 109
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Carla Stanard