The Chain: Protein Engineering Podcast

Hank Greely, JD is a leading expert in law, and particularly its applications in scientific advancement, and the ethical concerns brought about by gene editing, specifically. Recent events, including the He Jiankui case, have captured international attention as the scientific community, national governments, and citizens of the world ask, “How far is too far?” when it comes to gene editing. Dr. Greely lends his insight into the case and shares the biggest lessons we can learn and apply to future advancements. 

Today’s episode continues the conversation with the 2019 and 2020 PEGS Young Scientist Keynote speakers, focusing on the challenges of their day to day work, the translation of major biotherapeutic and vaccine projects into the clinic and tips for young scientists considering careers in the field. 

Today’s episode features a conversation with the 2019 and 2020 PEGS Young Scientist Keynote presenters. We explore their work in protein science, its impact on global health and some exciting initiatives now underway in their labs. 

Some scientists dream of genes. Cenk Ündey dreams of intelligent data flow through the value-added chain of biotherapeutic protein development. Ündey is an Executive Director of Process Development at Amgen. He sits down with The Chain to describe a system of streamlined and effective data management at every step: From molecule delivery to working with suppliers. Thanks to advanced computing power, broader datasets, and improved storage, this dream is closer to realization than ever before. 

One of the greatest afflictions associated with cancer is its spread throughout the body and organs, known as metastasis. What if a therapeutic could be engineered to block the pathway of metastasis, thus blocking cancer’s progress? This is precisely the crux of Dr. Jamie Spangler’s research. Her group has, first, delineated cancer’s pathway, and, secondly, has engineered multi-specific antibodies that potently block metastasis. Dr. Spangler’s work combined with anti-cancer therapies shows exciting promise in the fight to overcome the ravages of cancer. In this podcast, Dr. Spangler discusses her work in considerable detail, and also describes her personal journey and transformation into protein science. 

Javin Oza observed the separation of scientists and engineers on university campuses, at conferences, and in classrooms. Yet he also noted that advances in biochemistry require perspectives from both bioengineers and lab scientists. Oza’s current research aims to bridge the gap between these thought-approaches to bring about advancements in cell-free protein synthesis. He speaks with The Chain about barriers to implementing CFPS, what resources are available for the transition to cell-free systems, and advice for young protein scientists. 

Dr. Paolo Arosio Professor of Biochemical Engineering at ETH Zurich speaks to Nandini Kashyap, Conference Director at CHI about his love for building blocks and how he is applying microfluidics to solve challenges in biologics product development. They discuss the role of protein aggregation and developability in taking the molecules from a sequence to a drug product. 

Versatope Therapeutics, Inc. was recently awarded up to $17.9 million by the NIH to develop a universal influenza vaccine. CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Christopher Locher walks us through the early days of Versatope, and how it has come to be a key player in the fight for influenza prevention. He shares the story of a start-up from inception to the front lines of vaccine development. 

Today’s episode explores the growing field of systems immunology, and how new informatics tools will be used in this discipline to discover and develop the next generation of biotherapeutics for cancer, infectious diseases and other conditions. 

Dr Parren speaks about advances in the field of T cell engaging bispecifics. Recent advances in bispecific antibody production and  clinic successes have resulted in increased interest, but several disadvantages remain when targeting via CD3, the most common approach. CD3 is present on all T cells which means there is poor specificity and activity, and also toxicity.At Lava Therapeutics, Paul and his colleagues are targeting A specific effector T-cell subset via the γδT cell  (gamma delta T cell) marker Vδ2. These γδT cells are a homogeneous population of pro-inflammatory effector T cells that are able to recognize and attack tumour cells with increased efficacy and safety. previously it has been shown that the high presence of these γδT cells in tumors correlates with increased survival. Lava Therapeutics’ first product will enter the clinic at the end of next year.