Rethinking Undruggable Targets: New Insights into RAS and Protein Interactions
This webinar is Day 1 of the "Illuminating New Frontiers-Cracking the Undruggable Code"
In this session, you will explore the latest research targeting the RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and learn about novel approaches being developed to manipulate and measure PPIs within RAS and other signaling networks.
Illuminating New Frontiers-Cracking the Undruggable Code
“Illuminating New Frontiers: Cracking the Undruggable Code" invites you on a groundbreaking journey across the evolving landscape of drug discovery. This three-day virtual event unites trailblazers in science and industry to explore how innovative approaches are reshaping our ability to tackle 'undruggable' targets. From the complexities of the RAS pathway and the intricacies of protein-protein interactions to the pioneering fields of targeted protein degradation/induced proximity and RNA targeting, each day illuminates a different frontier of therapeutic potential.
We stand at the cusp of a new era, where challenges become opportunities for breakthroughs that extend beyond conventional boundaries. This event is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in unveiling new therapeutic strategies, offering hope for untreatable conditions. Join us as we navigate the cutting-edge of science, inspiring a future where every target is within our reach, and no patient is left without options.
Day 1 - Rethinking Undruggable Targets: New Insights into RAS and Protein Interactions
In the realm of drug discovery, certain targets have long been deemed "undruggable" due to their complex nature and the technical challenges associated with modulating them therapeutically. Among these, the RAS pathway stands out as an important element in cell signaling implicated in numerous cancers and diseases. Historically deemed undruggable due to its complex biochemistry and lack of suitable binding sites, RAS has recently witnessed a paradigm shift. Recent innovations in molecular biology—coupled with breakthroughs in drug design and technology—have challenged the notion that the RAS pathway is undruggable, leading to the development and market approval of RAS-targeting therapeutics. Similarly, protein-protein interactions (PPIs)—key elements of RAS signaling—represent untapped therapeutic potential, offering avenues to intervene in disease processes in ways previously deemed infeasible.
In this session, we will explore the latest research targeting the RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and learn about novel approaches being developed to manipulate and measure PPIs within RAS and other signaling networks.
View other sessions of the series
Day 2: Next-Generation Therapeutics: The Power of Induced Proximity and Targeted Protein Degradation
Day 3 - Unlocking the Potential of RNA: New Paths for Targeting RNA
Speakers
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Arvin Dar, PhD
Benno C. Schmidt Chair of Cancer Research, Member and Professor, Chemical Biology Program
Sloan Kettering Institute, MSKCC
Presentation Title: Targeting Cancer Pathways with Chemical Switches and Molecular Glues
Arvin Dar is a member and professor in the Chemical Biology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Sloan Kettering Institute, where he is also vice director of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics. Dr. Dar graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BSc in chemistry, earned his PhD from the University of Toronto, and received postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. Prior to joining MSK in June of 2023, Dr. Dar led an independent research group at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for approximately 10 years. Dr. Dar’s research is focused on kinase structural biology and small molecule design and synthesis. His laboratory has discovered several leads for therapeutic development, including chemical switches and molecular glues to target genetically defined cancers driven by the RAS and WNT pathways. In addition, Dr. Dar co-founded Nested Therapeutics (nestedtx.com) to advance innovative therapeutics aimed at challenging cancer targets and to increase the number of patients that benefit from precision medicine. Dr. Dar has received numerous awards and honors for his research, including the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award, the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research award, Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance Award, Junior Faculty Award at Mount Sinai, and the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research ASPIRE Award.
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HyunHee Cho
Principal Scientist 1
Novartis BioMedical Research
Presentation Title: Evaluation of pERK Cellular Lumit Assay for HTS and Drug Discovery using Novartis Chemogenetic LMW Library
HyunHee Cho has been working at Novartis for 15 years in the high-throughput screening (HTS) group. While she co-lead multiple projects in collaboration with disease areas (DA) such as Oncology and Cardiovascular & Metabolism, she also co-lead the advisory team at the Novartis Cambridge site to support project teams with assay development, HTS, and automation needs to give the best chance of achieving the project screening objectives. Recently, Cho has been working on setting up platforms for chemical and genomic screens with human iPSC-derived Cardiomyocytes. HyunHee Cho holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Oklahoma City University.
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Tommy Turbyville, PhD
Principal Scientist
RAS Initiative - Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Sponsored by the NCI
Presentation Title: RAS in Membranes—Biology and Targeting
Tommy obtained his PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Arizona and has a primary interest in using imaging and creative approaches to understand cancer signaling and developing therapeutic strategies for fighting cancer. He has worked as a team leader within the NCI Ras Initiative for the last ten years, where his research is centered on comprehending the molecular mobility, residence time, and activation of RAS and its key effector RAF on the plasma membrane of cancer cells in real-time. The team employs cutting-edge techniques such as single molecule microscopy and tracking methods to achieve this while also employing cell-based proximity assays, such as NanoBRET, to target mutant RAS interactions with small molecules. The comprehensive investigation into RAS activity on membranes holds significant promise in the pursuit of innovative therapeutic approaches to target oncogenic RAS, thereby advancing our strategies for combating cancer.
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Marie Schwinn, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Promega Corporation
Presentation Title: Quantifying Endogenous RAS/RAF Dynamics in Live Cells
Marie joined Promega in 2010 and currently leads the Endogenous Biology Team within the Advanced Technologies Group. Her group is currently focused on designing genome editing tools and workflows to facilitate rapid generation of engineered cell models for the study of native biology. She has also contributed to the development of luminescence and fluorescence reporters for studying protein interactions, abundance, localization, and post-translational modifications. Marie earned her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she also holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Drake University.