December 11, 2014
11:00 to 12:00 EST

Sponsored by

Webinar Description:

Ionizing radiation, whether in the context of radiotherapy or from unplanned or purposeful environmental exposure (i.e. Fukushima or dirty bomb), results in a sequence of biological events that create a host of clinically significant consequences that range in severity from local tissue reactions to death. In the oncology setting, radiation therapy is often an integral part a patient’s treatment regimen whether administrated as monotherapy, or more commonly, in combination with chemotherapeutics. Effective management of toxicities associated with current concomitant chemoradiation regimens remains a significant unmet clinical need. Furthermore, as new oncology agents are developed, their potential synergism with radiation presents both opportunities for more effective tumor kill and challenges in terms of their impact on normal tissue collateral damage. Equally or even more testing is the development of effective interventions to mitigate the effects of uncontrolled radiation exposures that are associated with environmental disasters or even the possibility of a terrorist attack using a nuclear weapon or dirty bomb.

This webinar will review several sophisticated preclinical models in which radiation therapy/exposure is used to supplement novel cancer therapies to define treatment efficacy and toxicities. We will discuss translational models that have been effectively used to enable intervention strategies for a range of radiation-induced tissue toxicities. Finally, we will discuss the use of preclinical models to help in the development of treatment strategies in the event of a catastrophic radiation exposure event.

Learning Objectives:

Speakers:

Gregory D. Lyng, Ph.D.

Partner, Director of Research
Biomodels, LLC

As Director of Research, Dr. Lyng is responsible for the oversight of all of Biomodels' preclinical research programs. Additionally, he works closely with Biomodels' clients to ensure proper study design and utilization of the most appropriate and clinically relevant models of disease in which to test potential therapeutics. Dr. Lyng's scientific expertise lies in the areas of inflammatory disease, cancer supportive care, and diseases of the central nervous system. Since joining Biomodels in 2007, he has been instrumental in the expansion of both the number and clinical translatability of the disease models offered by Biomodels. Dr. Lyng received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University at Albany School of Public Health and his B.S. in Neuroscience from St. Lawrence University.

Maria L. Mancini, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator
Biomodels, LLC

In 2011 Dr. Mancini joined Biomodels as a Principal Investigator designing preclinical research studies in the areas of cancer and cancer supportive care, radiation countermeasures, and inflammatory diseases. Her expertise is in tumor biology and cancer signaling pathways and has been working on developing more specialized tumor models for preclinical research. Dr. Mancini received her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Maine in 2007 in the laboratory of Calvin Vary, PhD. Her doctoral work primarily focused on uncovering novel mechanisms of developmental angiogenesis through the use of genetics based animal models. Maria then accepted a post-doctoral appointment at Harvard Medical School/BIDMC in the laboratory of Alex Toker, Ph.D. from 2007-2011 where she generated a variety of transgenic mouse lines to study PI3K signaling in breast cancer progression.

Stephen T. Sonis, DMD, DMSc

Founder, Partner, Chief Scientific Officer
Biomodels, LLC

Dr. Sonis is a world-renowned expert in epithelial injury associated with cancer therapy. His development of predictive animal models has enabled the investigation of the biological basis of mucositis and has assisted in the development of potential therapies. The results of his studies on the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of mucositis have established the basis of the mechanistic paradigm for mucosal injury. Dr. Sonis’ interest in the genomic basis for toxicity risk and its pathology has led to innovative genomics-based analytical approaches to clinically actionable outcomes to personalize disease therapy. These studies have resulted in the identification of drug and toxicity specific SNP and gene networks which identify individuals at risk of treatment toxicities and define the genomic parameters which differentiate patients who respond to a specific drug treatment from those who do not. Dr. Sonis has published extensively on the clinical, biological, and health economic aspects of cancer and complications associated with its treatment. He is the author of over 200 original publications, reviews and chapters, 10 books, and 5 patents. Dr. Sonis has obtained degrees from Tufts University and Harvard University and completed his post-doctoral education (tumor immunology) at Oxford University. He holds appointments at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (Clinical Professor of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity), the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he is Division Chief and Senior Surgeon.

Cost: No cost!

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