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Conference Tutorials

TUTORIAL 2: PRECISION GENOME EDITING regulatory mechanisms and key checkpoints in the system to avoid overstim-
Presenter: Gang Bao, Rice University ulation of the immune cells. I will then discuss how tumors evade and the
Date/Time: Sunday, February 21, 12:30 – 2:00 PM immune system for their growth and metastasis, and the unique attributes of
Location: Hidalgo tumor microenvironment, followed by discussion of current emerging
Description: The ability to precisely modify genomes will revolutionize many strategies in cancer immunotherapies, including advantages and limitations of
areas in life, including healthcare, agriculture, energy and the environment. such strategies, as well as ongoing research in the field in developing much
With recent advent of engineered nucleases such as clustered regularly improved therapies for cancer patients. Finally, I will provide a broad
interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated perspective on cancer immunotherapy in the context of other therapeutic
(Cas) proteins, we now have very efficient molecular scissors that can cut strategies and where this area is heading. The goal of this tutorial is to provide
genomic DNA in cells at pre-selected locations and introduce controlled the audience with a broad introduction on the immune system and ways to
gene modifications according to the needs. This has led to the development harness the power of the immune system to treat cancer patients.
of precision genome editing, a new field in life sciences and engineering
focusing on precisely modifying genomes using engineered nucleases.
TUTORIAL 3: BIOMANUFACTURING WORKSHOP
In this tutorial I will discuss the basic features of engineered nucleases
Presenter: Kaiming Ye, Binghamton University, State University of New York
such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like (Tal)
Date/Time: Sunday, February 21, 2:15 – 3:45 PM
effector nucleases (TALENs) and CRISPR/Cas9 systems, and review some
Location: Navarro
web-based tools developed for target selection and off-target site
Description: Creation of highly organized multicellular constructs, including
prediction in designing engineered nucleases, and experimental tools for
tissues and organoids, will revolutionize tissue engineering and regenera-
quantifying nuclease activity and specificity. I will then illustrate the
tive medicine. The development of these technologies will enable the
application of genome editing for treating single-gene disorders such as
production of individualized organs for patient-tailored organ transplantation
sickle cell disease. The challenges in developing genome editing
or individualized tissues for cell-based therapy. These lab-produced high
strategies for treating human diseases are discussed.
order tissues and organs can also serve as disease models for pathophysio-
logical study and drug screening. The manufacturing of these organs and
tissues requires the assembly of multiple types of cells into a high-order
TUTORIAL 5: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER tissue structure that imitates in vivo embryo developmental environments.
Presenter: Andy Castillo, Rice University The development of a multicellular system for directed stem cell differentia-
Date/Time: Sunday, February 21, 12:30 – 2:00 PM tion has been proposed and explored for decades. Unlike single cellular
Location: Bexar/Travis differentiation system, multicellular system provides tissue niches that mimic
Description: Tremendous resources are invested in academic research at in vivo microenvironment where surrounding cells offer instructive niches
universities and research institutes across the world. Research, innovation, such as essential cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions to
and intellectual property (IP) are all valuable commodities resulting from this guide cell differentiation and maturation. Cell co-cultures might be the first
vast investment and academic technology transfer offices play a crucial role multicellular systems that have been successfully used for directing stem cell
in the protection and promotion of these commodities. This tutorial aims to differentiation. In light of their success in directing stem cell differentiation,
provide a general overview of technology transfer from an academic they have been limited to several special cases. Most time, they failed to
perspective. The tutorial will begin with an introduction to intellectual produce satisfied results due to their limitation in mimicking 3D tissue
property and the basics of IP protection. Discussions will also cover IP structures where multiple types of cells are arranged in a high order. It
obligations for federally funded research (Bayh-Dole Act), and understanding becomes clear that a complete stem cell differentiation and maturation
inventorship and IP ownership. The tutorial will wrap up with patenting system requires the capture of complexity and hierarchical structure of
strategies and an overview of licensing and commercialization of IP. Those tissues in order to achieve a strict temporal and spatial control of the
wishing to gain a general knowledge of protecting and commercializing their process. Several approaches including soft lithographical approach that
inventions and intellectual property are encouraged to attend. allows patterning cells in the hydrogel layer-by-layer have been attempted,
leading to only modest success due to its use of polymer master molds for
patterning. Recently, a new technology, i.e. additive manufacturing also
called 3D printing has emerged and has been widely used for printing
TUTORIAL 1: CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
machines, goods and even bioproducts including implants. The advantage
Presenter: Xian C. Li, MD, PhD, Houston Methodist Hospital and
of a 3D printing is its capability of arranging a complicated structure of an
Cornell University Medical College
object by layer-by-layer printing based on pre-determined patterns designed
Date/Time: Sunday, February 21, 2:15 – 3:45 PM
through computer-assisted-design (CAD). This lecture is to review the stat-of-
Location: Harris
the-art of these technologies and to discuss the future direction of the field.
Description: Cancer is emerging as a great threat to public health and
becomes a leading cause of death in the US. Consequently, our strategies
to treat cancer patients are pressing and also rapidly evolving over time,
and mobilizing the immune cells to eradicate cancer cells has generated TUTORIAL 4: ENTREPRENEURSHIP
tremendous excitement nowadays. Cancer immunotherapy is widely regard- Presenter: Ken Diller, UT Austin
ed as a “paradigm shift” in the field. Date/Time: Sunday, February 21, 2:15 – 3:45 PM
Location: Sam Houston
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In this tutorial, I will highlight the basic function of the immune system, the cell Description: This tutorial will present a combination of guidelines and
types involved, the principles of T cell immune responses, as well as personal experiences for academic scientists in pursuing entrepreneurial