Speakers

Fran Sverdrup, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University

Partnering with Industry to Find a Treatment for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD): Rare disease research and translation of discoveries to the clinic is a challenging endeavor for academic scientists. In this presentation, Dr. Sverdrup will outline his inspiration to tackle FSHD and the effort to successfully attract pharmaceutical interest. The establishment and nurturing of a long-term partnership to the mutual benefit of both parties will be discussed.

David Griggs, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University

Academic Drug Discovery:  Plotting a Course for Successful Clinical Translation: Drug discovery performed in university-based settings is becoming an increasingly important source of lead molecules required to feed pharmaceutical pipelines. However, academic researchers often struggle to identify what must be done to ready their prospective product for outside investment and to find partners for clinical translation. Dr. Griggs will discuss his experience at Saint Louis University in forming and working with a startup company conducting clinical trials for organ fibrosis, and considers strategies to become a “partner of choice” in the evolving drug development landscape.

On the third Thursday of every month, ICTS Precision Medicine hosts a session featuring WashU faculty working in translational genomics/precision medicine areas. Talks are typically oriented toward biotechnology, diagnostics, informatics, start-ups and precision interventions based on medical genomics innovations.