Breakout Discussions

Breakout Discussions are informal, moderated, small-group discussions, allowing participants to exchange ideas and experiences and develop future collaborations around a focused topic. Each discussion will be led by a facilitator who keeps the discussion on track and the group engaged. To get the most out of this format, please come prepared to share examples from your work, be a part of a collective, problem-solving session, and participate in active idea sharing.

Wednesday, October 12, 10:10-10:55 am

TABLE 1: Advances in CAR T Therapy

Host: Adrian Bot, MD, PhD, CSO, Executive Vice President, R&D, Capstan Therapeutics

Future direction of CAR T Therapy
In vivo approaches
Reducing COG
Improving safety

TABLE 2: Affinity Designs of the Two Arms of Bispecific Antibodies

Host: Hui Zou, PhD, CSO, Phanes Therapeutics, Inc.

Optimal affinity designs for dual TAA targeting bispecifics, balancing between efficacy and safety
Leveraging the affinity difference of the two arms to enrich bispecific antibodies to the tumors
Increasing the affinity of the CD3 arm in a bispecific to overcome low TAA density or poor T cell activation
Reducing the affinity of the CD3 arm in a bispecific to mitigate CRS

TABLE 3: Challenges and Future Directions for Current CD3 Engagers

Host: Alexandre Simonin, PhD, Director, mAb Discovery, Numab Therapeutics AG

Challenges: Cytokine release syndrome, activation-induced T cell death, poor efficacy in solid tumors
Future directions: Low affinity CD3 engagers, activatable CD3 engagers, combinations with CPI

TABLE 4: Choosing the Right Preclinical Model

Host: Tullia C. Bruno, PhD, Assistant Professor, Immunology, University of Pittsburgh & Hillman Cancer Center

TABLE 5: Emerging Cellular Therapies and Institutional Readiness

Host: Doaa Ayoubi, PhD, Director, Investigational Drug Services, New York University

Emerging cellular therapies and institutions readiness
Challenges with focus on oncology
Pharmacy education
Site prep for cellular therapy and clinical trials

Friday, October 14, 8:00-8:55 am

TABLE 6: Gamma Deltas and Emerging Cell-Based Therapies

Host: Lawrence Lamb, Jr., PhD, Executive Vice President & CSO, IN8Bio

Advances in Gamma Deltas - antibody and cell-based approaches
New approaches to cellular immunotherapy
Overcoming the TME
Combination approaches

TABLE 7: Challenges in Immune Evasion through Antigen Presentation Defects

Host: Xiaole Shirley Liu, PhD, CEO, GV20 Therapeutics

What tumor types have prevalent mechanisms of antigen presentation defects?
How to increase antigen presentation through MHC class I?
How to increase antigen presentation through MHC class II?
How to develop clinical biomarkers for tumors with antigen presentation defects?
Why don't NK cells kill cancer cells with MHC Class I defects?

TABLE 8: Translating Novel IO Therapies into the Clinic

Host: Edward (Ned) Patz, PhD, CEO, Grid Therapeutics; Professor, Radiology, Duke University