Pre-Conference Deep-Dive Day
Tuesday | July 26, 2022
Make the most of your attendance and gain additional unrivaled insights on this pre-conference workshop day. Choose the topics more relevant to your work:
Gamma Delta T
Workshop Day
Workshop Day
Workshop A
8.30am-10.30am
8.30am-10.30am
Weaponizing Gamma Deltas in the Tumor Microenvironment to Enhance Solid Tumor Therapy
Synopsis
- Outlining immune suppression mechanisms which currently limit gamma delta T cell activity in the solid tumor microenvironment
- Discussing strategies to activate, home, infiltrate, and survive in the tumor microenvironment
- Contrasting strategies such as combination therapies, microenvironment modulation, and armoring technologies to supercharge gamma delta cells against solid tumors
- Overcoming tumor evasion and epitope spreading through target identification and TCR signaling
- Combating tumor heterogeneity without damaging healthy tissues
Workshop B
11.00am-1.00pm
11.00am-1.00pm
Characterizing Gamma Delta Subsets to Interrogate Function & Therapeutic Application
Synopsis
- Classifying gamma delta T subsets and phenotypes
- Correlating phenotypes to clinical outcomes to create a framework for target product profiles
- Providing a comparison of subsets, outlining the function, localization, cytotoxicity, persistence, and target types of vd1 vs. vd2, and subsets beyond
- Examining how specific subsets are activated in vivo, how targeting mechanisms vary, and strategies to boost activity and site recruitment
- Identifying therapeutic indications for subsets based on biological understanding
Workshop C
2.00pm-4.00pm
2.00pm-4.00pm
Developing Off-the-Shelf Gamma Delta Cells for Allogeneic Therapy
Synopsis
- Sharing progress in the development of iPSCderived gamma delta T cells
- Discussing how gamma delta cells are attractive cell types for iPSC-based technology such as the allo-TCR mechanism of action
- Examining the phenotypic differences and similarities between endogenous gamma delta subsets and iPSC-derived gamma delta cells
- Studying the cytotoxic potential of iPSC-derived gamma delta cells
- Outlining engineering strategies to supercharge iPSC-derived gamma delta T cells and next steps in development
Gamma Delta T Biology 101 Bootcamp
Session A
8.30am-10.30am
8.30am-10.30am
Exploring the Natural Function & Biological Interactions of Gamma Delta T Cells In Vivo
Synopsis
- Outlining the discovery and initial development of gamma delta T cells as a therapy
- Discussing why gamma delta T cells are important immune cell subsets and therapeutic targets
- Describing the fundamental biology, signaling, and interactions of gamma delta T cells
- Determining the key gamma delta subsets and their differences
- Highlighting preclinical and clinical nuances between gamma delta, NK, and alpha beta T cells and how to utilize the differences to bridge the innate and adaptive immune system
Session B
11.00am-1.00pm
11.00am-1.00pm
Studying the Mechanisms of Action of Polyfunctional Gamma Delta T Cells
Synopsis
- Outlining known, and thus far unconfirmed but hypothesized, mechanisms of gamma delta T cell action
- Highlighting the key drivers of cytotoxicity of gamma delta cells and what drives killing, such as TCRs of NK-like cells
- Defining the phenotype of a cytotoxic gamma delta T cell
- Mapping the mechanisms by which gamma delta T cells recognize stressed vs. non-stressed tissue, vs. NK cell identification of self-vs. non-self
Session C
2.00pm-4.00pm
2.00pm-4.00pm
Elucidating the Mechanisms of TCR Recognition & Signaling
Synopsis
- Characterizing adaptive TCR functions
- Exploring strategies for receptor identification and characterization
- Determining the antigen profiles of target cells
- Determining the structural basis of antigen specificity
- Discussing multi-targeting of gamma delta cells
- Identifying ligands expressed by tumors and correlations to action from specific gamma delta T subsets
- Weighing the importance of targeting vs. activating gamma delta T cells and homing them to tumors