USA: Functional Genomics and Drug Discovery Harvard Medical School Launches New Program on Genetics

To help catalyze the development of meaningful therapies, Harvard Medical School is launching a new program aimed at educating pharma and biotech leaders on the latest advances in genetics and how to optimize them for drug discovery and other therapeutic innovations.

Cambridge/USA — Slated to make its debut on June 4, the two-day program, “Functional Genomics and Drug Discovery: Strategic Approaches for Decision Making,” will bring together science and business leaders who make operational, strategic or investment decisions related to drug discovery and development. Case-based teaching and group discussions will provide insights in applications.

There has been increasing interest and investment in bringing discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic by applying genomics to drug discovery and development, the University claimed in a press release. However, with the exception of a small number of successes, much uncertainty would remain about how to best optimize these tools throughout the pharmaceutical value chain.

Stanley Y. Shaw, faculty director and associate dean for executive education at Harvard Medical School said that several recent advances, now provided emerging paradigms for how genomic approaches can help biotech and pharmaceutical companies streamline drug discovery and development. He added that the program would equip participants to harness these insights to drive innovation and propel the development of promising new therapies.

Sessions will be led by luminaries from both academia and industry, including Stanley Y. Shaw; George Church, professor of genetics, Harvard Medical School; Sally John, vice president, translation biology, Biogen Idec; Sekar Kathiresan, director, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, director, Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, and associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School; Robert Plenge, vice president, research & early development, Celgene; and Ramnik Xavier, chief, Gastroenterology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, institute member, co-director of the Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, and the Kurt Isselbacher Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

UK: Medical Science

Investigating Neurodegenerative Diseases

Program topic areas

• Applications of genetics in common and rare diseases

• Discovery and validation of new targets

• Moving from genes to function and phenotypes

• Identifying causal biomarkers for clinical development

• De-risking development by predicting potential adverse effects

• Patient segmentation to streamline clinical trials

• Strategic approach to companion diagnostics

• Regulatory implications of genetics-driven drug development

• Use of genetics for patient-centric research and development

• Future state: new technologies and approaches

For more information and to apply visit Harvard Medical School

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