PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP DAY

Tuesday May 23, 2023

All times in EDT

9.00-11.00am

Workshop A: Pinpointing Suitable Models for Novel Compounds to Garner Successful Translation to Clinic

Identifying indications where your compound is most likely to succeed is key, and good preclinical models are in short supply in the Hippo Pathway Space. Here, the team from Fred Hutch unveil a host of preclinical modeling programs that have been specifically tailored for targeting Hippo pathway in a multitude of indications. Yap gene fusions are found in many cancer types and they are able to determine which of them are sufficient to induce tumors, and what mechanisms drive oncogenesis. These mouse models can be used to identify and test therapies in vivo aimed at YAP/TEAD stability and interaction.

Bring the pharmacology of your lead candidate compound and together with the team from Fred Hutch, decipher which models will enable most efficacy.

Attend this workshop to:

Uncover mechanistic insights glioblastomas, lung cancer, and the other cancer types and how this has been translated into hippo pathway models
Match your leading drug candidate compound targeting TEAD to suitable preclinical models or dysregulated hippo pathway

Workshop Leaders:

Alice Berger
Associate Professor
Innovators Network Endowed Chair, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Eric Holland
Senior Vice President & Director Human Biology Division
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

11.00 Lunch Break & Networking

12.00-2.00pm

Workshop B: Advancing Discovery of Novel Protein Targets Upstream of the Hippo Pathway

Emerging literature has demonstrated the ability to target numerous proteins within the Hippo pathway and as evidence toward successful targeting of the pathway for therapeutic intervention grows, it is essential that we evaluate and optimize our ability to identify and drug novel protein targets within Hippo to capitalize on this ‘soon to be’ druggable pathway. Here we will examine the existing genetic screens and methodologies enabling identification of new targets within the Hippo pathway, and review future technologies and perspectives which will propel the landscape of druggable targets, and the potential of new proteins for therapeutic intervention.

Attend this workshop to:

Identify novel druggable targets using genome wide CRISPR/Cas screens and SiRNA approaches
Delineate the chemical components of novel targets to inform compound generation
Debate future perspectives for new Hippo targets and therapeutic interventions against indications of unmet clinical need

Workshop Leader:

Steen Hansen
Associate Professor
Harvard Medical School

2.00 Afternoon Break & Networking

3.00-5.00pm

Workshop C: A Deep-Dive into Identification of Inhibitors of TEAD to Bolster your Drug Development Pipeline

TEAD Inhibition remains the key method of targeting the Hippo pathway for targeted drug development in YAP dependent cancers. Here we will provide pharmacological insight into potential future drug development candidate inhibitors for TEAD.

Attend this Workshop to:

Visualize crystal structures of TEAD binding residues with potential candidate compounds
Review the therapeutic opportunities and limitations of TEAD palmitoylation inhibitors in cancers
Uncover molecular mechanisms which confer potential therapeutic resistance

Workshop Leaders: