In the dynamic landscape of gene and cell therapies (CGTs), an accurate understanding of cell product biodistribution is pivotal to monitoring safety and efficacy. This requirement can be met by the emergence of digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR), a technology enabling precise DNA quantification. The heightened sensitivity of dPCR over other technologies distinguishes target DNA from the genomic background, which is crucial for efficiently monitoring biodistribution in animal models. Our presentation introduces a dPCR workflow tailored for assessing the biodistribution of human CAR-T therapy and leukemia cell lines in rodents. This innovative approach showcases our dPCR workflow's potential to optimize precision and reliability, setting a benchmark for preclinical assessment of investigational cell therapies.

About the speaker
Stephen K. Horrigan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer
Noble Life Sciences
Dr. Horrigan is an accomplished molecular geneticist known for his contributions to the development of innovative approaches for using genomic profiles and biomarkers to enhance drug discovery and development. Prior to joining Noble, Dr. Horrigan was the Vice President of Research at Avalon Pharmaceuticals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clinical Data, Inc. During his tenure at Avalon, he held several positions of increasing responsibility within the research organization while directing both internal and collaborative research programs. He also played a key leadership role in developing the company’s unique genomic biomarker-driven R&D platform. Dr. Horrigan has strong expertise in the cellular control mechanisms of cancer and the use of biomarkers for the discovery and development of therapeutics and has multiple publications and patents in this area. Prior to joining Avalon, Dr. Horrigan was an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center, where he led a research group focused on cancer genomics and the application of biomarkers in cancer diagnostics. He has also held positions at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine and the University of Chicago School of Medicine.
Date of recording:February 20, 2024
Duration:60 minutes
Categories
Webinar
Pharma / Biopharma
Cancer (other / various)
dPCR
Digital PCR