Biologics Symposium 2023 | The Highlights

Leanne Wickens, a senior product manager at Promega UK, takes us behind the scenes of the successful Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

In this interview, Leanne shares her experiences organising the event, emphasising the growth in attendance and the introduction of live streaming for greater reach. She praises the diverse mix of speakers, including Promega R&D's Jamie Grailer, and the seamless integration of various biologics topics throughout the day. Her reflections provide a unique perspective on the symposium's success and the collaborative spirit that made it an enriching experience.

Jamison Grailer, a senior research scientist and group leader at Promega Corporation's R&D, shared his valuable insights at the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

In his presentation, he discussed Promega's innovative approach to vaccine potency testing in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Jamie Grailer, as he is sometimes called, highlighted the development of in vitro vaccine bioactivity assays using engineered cell lines as a proof-of-concept, focusing on reducing animal usage in research. This informative talk showcases Promega's efforts in generating TCR reporter cell lines for sensitive antigen detection, blending quantitative biochemical data with the physiological relevance of traditional models.

Ciaran Sewter, Head of Commercial Sales for Promega UK, shares his experience from attending the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

In this insightful interview, Ciaran talks about the dual value of the symposium - listening to the expert guest speakers discussing their work in the biologics area and the practical applications of Promega products and technologies in their research. Highlighting Jamie Grailer's input (a Senior Research Scientist from Promega Corporation, who is based in the US) and his talk, about new product developments, Ciaran reflects on the importance of these events for knowledge sharing and staying informed about industry advancements. His perspective underscores the symposium's role in fostering connections and learning within the biotech community.

Rebecca Mighell, a scientist from LabGenius, shared her work during the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

In her talk, Rebecca discussed the development of a T-cell activation assay using Promega's bioassay. Her work focuses on optimising T-cell engagers specifically for HER2×CD3 TCEs, achieving significant selectivity over clinical benchmarks. Her enthusiasm for presenting and engaging with other professionals highlights the symposium's role in fostering scientific discourse and innovation.

Patricia Lalor, Professor in Experimental Hepatology at Birmingham University, presented a compelling talk at the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

Focusing on the downstream consequences of antibody therapies, she explored the crucial role of the liver in the clearance of antibodies and how liver diseases affect receptor-mediated clearance. Her insightful presentation shed light on the complexities of liver disease, types of antibody therapies, and key cell types in the liver, offering valuable perspectives for those in the field of hepatology and biologics research.

Grant Harradence, a manager at Abzena, shared his professional insights in his presentation 'Selecting Stage Appropriate, MoA-reflective Cytotoxicity Assays for ADCs and Biologics' at the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

Grant's talk focused on the application of assay-specific approaches across different stages of the drug discovery process, including discovery, lead selection, optimisation, and potency assays. He used various case studies to illustrate the rationale behind each assay choice. His expert perspective on assay selection and its critical role in the ADCs and biologics fields offered valuable insights for professionals in the biotech industry.

Discover insights from Alistair Michel, a Senior Scientist at Reading Scientific Services Ltd, who is specialising in immunology and immunoassay projects, in this captivating segment from the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

Alistair delves into the analytical procedure life cycle within GMP regulation, sharing a case study that highlights the use of a custom T-cell line from Promega. His talk bridges the gap between complex GMP concepts and practical applications, making it an invaluable resource for professionals in the field. Attendees found Alistair’s talk insightful and like Alistair also enjoyed a great opportunity for networking and learning from diverse perspectives in the industry during the breaks.

James Lodge, Senior Scientist at GSK, shared his expertise on high-throughput antibody-dependent cytotoxicity assays at the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

Focusing on function-first antibody screening, James discussed the innovative approach of replacing traditional SPR screens with more physiologically relevant functional assays. His talk delved into the process of screening and selecting antibodies based on target biology, highlighting GSK's strategy of narrowing down from 500 antibodies to the most promising candidates.

In this interview, Bethan Archer, Principal Scientist at Immunocore, shares her valuable experience from attending the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

Bethan reflects on the benefits of networking and learning about new developments in the TCR field. She particularly highlights the insights gained from Jamie Grailer's talk, which offered a deeper understanding of emerging assays, cell lines, and products. Her perspective on the challenges and opportunities for collaboration in the biotech sector offers a unique glimpse into the professional development and learning experiences available at the symposium.

Harshimi Priya Saravanan, a research assistant at Healthy Stuff Ltd, shares her experience from attending the Promega Biologics Symposium 2023.

In this interview, she highlights the value of meeting fellow researchers and learning about various projects and facilities available for collaboration in the field of allergy and intolerance testing. Harshimi found the talks, particularly Jamie Grailer's, eye-opening and revealing broader aspects of Promega's capabilities beyond lab equipment. Her insights into networking opportunities and learning about different research approaches make this an interesting watch for professionals in the biotech and healthcare sectors.