Modeling Networks to Accelerate Biomedical Discoveries in Translational Medicine

Jake Y Chen

The University of Alabama, USA

Here we describe the challenges of using high-throughput sequencing data directly to solve translational medicine problems for complex polygenic diseases such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. It introduces the basic concept of building biomolecular networks, from protein-protein interaction building blocks to gene set and gene signature modules, also describing the common computational approaches to analyzing network components, from gene ranking to edge ranking. And how the advanced informatics development could help put together these network building blocks and unravel the complexity of disease biomarker discovery or drug discovery. Opportunities for future research and development efforts to accelerate translational medicine discoveries will also be described in the network medicine context.

Biography:
Dr. Jake Y Chen is a Professor of Genetics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He is also the Chief Bioinformatics Officer of UABʼs Informatics Institute and Head of the Informatics Section of the Genetics Department. He holds a BS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science and Engineering. He has more than 20 years of research experience in biological data mining, systems biology and translational bioinformatics, with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications. Prior to join UAB, he holds tenured faculty positions at Indiana University and Purdue University.

NIH and ISS-NL Coordinated Program in Tissue Chip Systems Translational Research in Space

Danilo A Tagle

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, USA

Microgravity has profound effects on the human body from insights gained from astronauts experience and biomedical research conducted onboard the International Space Station National Laboratory (ISS-NL). Microgravity affects the way cells aggregate, allowing them to form into 3-dimensional structures that more closely resemble tissues in the human body-providing improved models to study cell behavior and accelerating advances in tissue engineering. Microgravity may also enhance some properties of stem cells, such as their ability to survive, proliferate, form 3D aggregates and differentiate into various cell lineages for development into stem cell-based regenerative therapies. In collaboration with ISS-NL, the NIH-led Tissue Chips program enables the deployment of these engineered microphysiological systems towards improved disease modeling and testing of potential new drugs for earth-based use. The unique environment of the ISS-NL allows researchers to study cells in ways not possible on the ground and helping to advance the field of regenerative medicine.

Biography:
Dr. Dan A Tagle is an associate director for special initiatives at NCATS. He also recently served as acting director of the NCATS Office of Grants Management and Scientific Review and currently serves as executive secretary to the NCATS Advisory Council and Cures Acceleration Network Review Board. Prior to joining NCATS, Tagle was a program director for neurogenetics at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), where he was involved in developing programs concerning genomics-based approaches for basic and translational research in inherited brain disorders. Prior to joining NINDS in 2001, Tagle was an investigator and section head of molecular neurogenetics at the National Human Genome Research Institute and has been involved in the highly collaborative effort toward the positional cloning of genes for Huntingtonʼs disease, ataxia-telangiectasia and NiemannPick disease type C. He has served on numerous committees and advisory boards, including the editorial boards of the journals Gene and the International Journal of Biotechnology. Tagle obtained his Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1990. He was an NIH National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellow in human genetics in the laboratory of Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of Michigan. Tagle has authored more than 150 scientific publications and has garnered numerous awards and patents.

Robotic Pancreatic Surgery

Emilio Vincente Lopez

Sanchinarro University Hospital, Spain

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has achieved worldwide acceptance in various fields, however, pancreatic surgery remains one of the most challenging abdominal procedures. Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery has not gained broad acceptance due to the complexity of the procedure, the accuracy required to perform the operation and the steep learning curve involved. Indeed, the procedure has only achieved widespread consensus for distal pancreatectomy. In the field of major pancreaticoduodenectomies, the laparoscopic approach is still considered to be an extremely demanding method due to the challenge of reconstruction. The development of the robotic platform has overcome many of the disadvantages of traditional laparoscopy.

Robotic surgery (RS) gives the surgeon a three dimensional stereoscopic view of the operating field and restores hand-eye coordination that is often lost in traditional laparoscopy when the camera is offset to the plane of dissection. Given the limitations of current laparoscopic technology and the need for meticulous vascular control as well as complex reconstruction in pancreatic surgery, we hypothesized that RS would be particularly a good option for these procedures. We now report our experience with 70 consecutive robotic-assisted pancreatic resections.

We evaluate the safety, feasibility, cost and versatility of this platform in the hands of dedicated, high volume Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) surgeons.

Biography:
Dr. Emilio Vincente Lopez is a Professor of Surgery from Sanchinarro University Hospital and “Clara Campal” Oncological Centre, Madrid, Spain. He is also the chairman of Surgical Section from San Pablo University (CEU). He has done his PhD from Basque Country University (Spain). He has given 332 Lectures, published 282 medical journals. He received numerous awards for his work and he is honourable member of 15 medical societies.