SC3: SELECTION, SCREENING AND ENGINEERING FOR AFFINITY REAGENTS

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Washington)

ABOUT THIS COURSE:

A comprehensive overview of different display technologies as well as screening approaches for the selection of specific binders. In addition, it will discuss engineering strategies including affinity maturation and how to implement these strategies. Classical antibodies and antibody fragments as well as alternative binding scaffolds such as DARPins will be covered.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

Biologics such as recombinant antibodies and alternative binding scaffolds are routinely used in a wide variety of applications from basic research to clinical indications. This success has led to the development of a vast number of different selection, screening and engineering technologies for these molecules. This short course will give a comprehensive overview on different display technologies as well as screening approaches for the selection of specific binders. In addition, it will discuss engineering strategies including affinity maturation and how to implement these strategies. Classical antibodies and antibody fragments as well alternative binding scaffolds such as DARPins will be covered.

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND THIS SHORT COURSE:

• Get an insight into different display technologies (Phage Display, Ribosome Display, Yeast Display), their advantages and their use.
• Receive firsthand information about different screening technologies (high and medium throughput, plate-based vs. homogeneous assays, …) to identify specific binders.
• Learn how to engineer your binder with respect to high affinity or species cross-reactivity

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES:

Jonas V. Schaefer, PhD, Lab Head/Investigator II, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR)

Dr. Schaefer is heading an R&D laboratory supporting Novartis’ lead finding through the utilization of Encoded Library Technologies (e.g. DNA encoded libraries (DEL)), using various screening methods to select low-molecular-weight compounds against a broad variety of protein targets. Prior to this assignment, Jonas did establish and headed the High-Throughput Binder Selection Facility at the University of Zurich for many years, using automated Ribosome Display and various High-Throughput screenings to develop specific proteinaceous affinity reagents called DARPins. For over a decade, Jonas focused on the development of new methodologies and technologies enabling the improved generation, screening and validation of various

Jürgen Klattig, PhD, Associate Director, Discovery Alliances and Technologies, Morphosys AG

For almost 10 years, Dr. Klattig is heading research teams at MorphoSys. Currently he is Laboratory Leader Core Technologies. His team is responsible for generation of affinity reagents using the full set of MorphoSys’ proprietary phage display libraries, next generation sequencing, molecular biology and library generation. Prior to this, Dr. Klattig was Project Team Leader at MorphoSys in early discovery projects in order to develop therapeutic antibodies for various indications. Throughout the years, he and his teams successfully identified, characterized and engineered multiple antibody candidates, including MOR106, the first antibody from MorphoSys’ newest antibody library Ylanthia, that reached clinical development.