Webinar: Blood plasma-derived extracellular vesicles
A minimally invasive tool for predicting response to cancer treatment - GeneTex
Online
Abstract:
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, are nanosized structures released in the extracellular space. EVs are released by many cell types, are present in all body fluids, and are involved in intercellular communications. EVs embody the status of the producer cells. Thus, they may serve as i) indicators of health or disease states, ii) minimally invasive biomarkers for disease diagnosis, or iii) predictors of therapeutic response. Despite the importance of EVs, current EV isolation methods have limitations. Dr. Okeoma’s webinar will describe how her lab developed particle purification liquid chromatography (PPLC) as a superior EV isolation tool and applied it to discover that circulating blood plasma-derived EVs (BEVs) hold promise as minimally invasive biomarkers for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. Her findings have direct relevance to clinical management of breast cancer and likely other malignancies.
The Okeoma laboratory investigates how host factors expressed in host cells or present in the extracellular milieu, such as extracellular vesicles and extracellular condensates, regulate response against infective agents and disease pathogenesis. The lab’s translational experiments use primary cells, animal models, and human clinical specimens to study spatiotemporal regulation of host factors and their effects on clinical outcomes. Integrative scientific approaches including multimodal datasets, computational modeling, Omics technologies, and cellular and molecular biology experimental tools are employed. Discoveries made through this area of research will expand our knowledge and may establish a foundation for development of new tools and strategies for treatment and prevention of diseases. Dr. Okeoma’s laboratory provides an environment that encourages, nurtures, and values diversity, inclusivity, and innovation. Her laboratory is funded by multiple active grants with additional pending grants.
Speaker: Chioma M. Okeoma, Ph.D., is Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Medicine at New York Medical College (NYMC) Valhalla, NY and a Fellow of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM.
When: Tuesday, 29 November 2022,16.00 CET
Where: Online (free)