Watch this insightful webinar on tumor fibrosis, where we will explore the latest advancements in cancer research with leading experts in the field.
This webinar will provide a unique opportunity to hear from experts in the field and gain valuable insights into the latest advancements in tumor fibrosis research. Join us to learn about cutting-edge approaches to developing new therapeutic targets, and the use of biomarkers for patient stratification and evaluating treatment efficacy.
Tumor Fibrosis and Clinical Outcomes: Underlying Mechanisms – Dr. Saurabh Gupta
The Collagen Landscape in Cancer: Fibroblast Activities and New Biomarkers – Dr. Nicholas Willumsen
Unique and unexpected role of collagens in cancer – Dr. Raghu Kalluri
Question from the chat
Expert line-up
Dr. Raghu Kalluri (Professor and Chairman, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center), is an expert in the cellular microenvironment and will discuss, among others, the unique and unexpected role of collagens in cancer.
Dr. Saurabh Gupta (Senior Director, Clinical Biomarkers Oncology, Precision Medicine), Bristol-Myers Squibb, is a clinical drug development and biomarker research expert and will provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of tumor fibrosis and the association with clinical outcomes.
Dr. Nicholas Willumsen (Director, Oncology, Nordic Bioscience), will focus on the development and validation of blood-based biomarkers to quantify tumor fibrosis in serum from cancer patients and discuss how this may inform on cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) activity and subtyping.
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700 Publications and 25+ Years of Research – Lessons for Today’s Clinical Studies
We are excited to invite you to a unique session in the ECM Pharmacology Symposium series, featuring a special presentation by Dr. Morten Karsdal, the Chair of the ECM Pharmacology Congress. This webinar will take us on a journey through 25 years of groundbreaking research and over 700 publications, highlighting how these insights can be applied in today’s clinical studies to improve patient outcomes.
ECM remodeling is a fundamental driver of more than 50 chronic diseases, contributing to over 35% of deaths in the Western world. To restore organ function, we must understand and quantify ECM turnover—a crucial step in advancing patient care.
In this webinar, Dr. Karsdal will highlight the most influential findings from global collaborations and his own research, focusing on the balance between tissue formation and degradation in both healthy and diseased organs. With three letters of support from the FDA over the past three years emphasizing ECM biomarkers, this session will showcase real-world applications of ECM modeling in patient treatment.
Dr. Karsdal will share key findings from his own research and collaborations, highlighting how the structure of healthy organs changes when affected by disease. By examining the balance between tissue formation and degradation, we gain crucial insights into the progression of chronic diseases. The common mechanisms of ECM turnover in the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, skin, joints, and intestines also apply to solid tumors, making ECM modulation a critical factor in treatment strategies. With FDA letters of support emphasizing ECM biomarkers and turnover, this session will showcase compelling real-world examples of how controlling ECM remodeling can directly benefit patients.
Scientific topics
We prepared nine key topics of the most prominent ECM research of the past 25+ years that you can apply in today’s clinical research.
These topics will explore how ECM remodeling influences disease progression, the role of biomarkers in precision medicine, and the impact of targeted interventions across multiple chronic conditions.
1. The central role of ECM remodeling in over 50 diseases
Diagnostic, prognostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers of pathological remodeling of the basement membrane and interstitial ECM
Which pathologies are tissue formation or tissue destruction disorders?
How may we use that to improve clinical study design and patient segregation – Key lessons learn from 25 years of biomarker research
2. Collagen formation outperforms liver biopsies in predicting outcome
Collagen formation provides independent prognostic information in addition to the biopsies
The difference between disease status and activity
3. Linking human genetic mutations to skin diseases
Human genetic mutations linked to collagen type 6, 7 and 17 in systemic sclerocis (SSC), hidradenitis suppurutiva (HS), and atopic dermatitis (AD).
4. Doubling of response rates in solid tumors by serological assessment
Doubling of response rates in solid tumors by serological assessment of type 3,5,8,11 and 12 collagens
The myCAF collagens
5. The collagen hormone Endotrophin & the cardio-renal axis in the metabolic syndrome
Understanding the organ death trajectory in obesity/metabolic syndrome of the heart, kidney and liver
Endotrophin predicts outcome in CKD and HFpEF
Understanding fibroblast activities as the central common denominator for outcomes
6. Endotyping fibrostenosis with genetically validated biomarkers
Deconstructing IBD endotypes with human genetically validated biomarkers & biomarkers related to endoscopy scores and remission
7. Quantifying tissue destruction in auto-immune disorders
We need to stop tissue destruction to be efficacious and reach ACR100 scores
8. Respiratory diseases in COPD and IPF
Linking endotypes with disease trajectories that are treatable and actionable in drug development
Elastin and collagen degradation/formation are prognostic for exacerbations, decline of lung function and death
9. Identification of treatable and druggable endotypes in osteoarthritis
The difference between an illness and disease
Providing better drug development paths for selected treatments.
Dr. Morten Karsdal
Dr. Morten Karsdal joined Nordic Bioscience in 2001 and became CEO in June 2010, leading the company to significant advancements in biomarker development and disease biology.
Dr. Karsdal is a KOL in extracellular matrix research, with more than 700 publication and an impressive H-factor of 100.
Dr. Karsdal is an honorary professor of inflammation research at the University of Southern Denmark, where he continues to supervise PhD students, fostering the next generation of researchers.
Dr. Karsdal chairs the Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress, an important forum for advancing drug development by focusing on the extracellular matrix (ECM) as a key factor in most chronic diseases. He is renowned for his deep expertise in fibrosis, rheumatology (including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), diabetes, and other chronic conditions, particularly in relation to ECM and biomarker research.
Dr. Karsdal has led the development of FDA-approved and supported molecular diagnostics, as well as more than 100 commercialized biomarker assays, including ELISA assays and high precision automated platforms.
He has extensive experience in clinical trial design and the clinical application of biochemical markers, often serving as a consultant to major pharmaceutical companies for the use of serological biomarkers in clinical trials.
In 2016, he and his research team authored the first edition of “Biochemistry of Collagens, Laminins and Elastin,” published by Elsevier Science. The book, now in its 3rd edition as of 2023, is a key resource on collagens and structural proteins, with a focus on their applications in chronic diseases.
We are also excited to inform you about our upcoming in-person event, The Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress, taking place in Copenhagen in June 2026. This congress will be a unique opportunity to gather with leading experts in the field and explore the latest advancements in extracellular matrix research and pharmacology.
Please stay tuned for updates as we prepare to bring you another engaging and educational webinar experience. Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to connecting with you soon!
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Watch “Translational Science in Pulmonary Fibrosis: From patients to cells and back—increasing success in drug development,” to learn more about what drives pulmonary fibrosis, with insights from machine learning and translational biomarkers.
Leveraging machine learning for patient stratification and advanced analytics – a COPD case study | Line Egerod
Investigating fibrosis mechanisms – what drives fibrosis in the lungs? | Dr. Naftali Kaminski
Utilizing translational biomarkers for drug development in fibrotic lung diseases | Dr. Federica Genovese
Roundtable discussion and Q&A
Scientific topics and speakers
The session will begin with an investigation into the mechanisms driving lung fibrosis, examining key processes that underlie this progressive condition. We will then delve into the role of machine learning in pulmonary research, highlighting its application for patient stratification and advanced analytics through a COPD case study.
Finally, discussions will focus on the use of translational biomarkers in drug development, offering insights into more targeted and effective therapies. This webinar is designed for researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals interested in the latest translational strategies for tackling pulmonary fibrosis.
Dr. Naftali Kaminski
Dr. Naftali Kaminski is the Boehringer-Ingelheim Endowed Professor of Internal Medicine and Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Yale School of Medicine since 2013, with prior leadership at the University of Pittsburgh.
He is a global leader in genomic research for chronic lung diseases, including Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), COPD, severe asthma, and sarcoidosis, pioneering transcript profiling and omics integration for precision medicine.
Dr. Kaminski’s research has identified novel therapeutic targets in IPF, such as metalloproteases (MMP7, MMP19), phosphatases (SHP2, MKP5), and antifibrotic roles for thyroid hormone signaling. His team’s discoveries include the role of microRNAs (e.g., let-7, mir-29, mir-33) in lung fibrosis and the development of predictive blood-based biomarkers for IPF risk stratification and transplant prioritization.
Dr. Kaminski has authored more than 340 peer-reviewed publications in top journals, including Nature Medicine, NEJM, Science Translational Medicine, and Lancet Respiratory Medicine, while consistently securing NIH funding since 2000.
Recognized for his contributions to pulmonary research, he received awards such as the Marvin I. Schwarz Award (2010), the ERS Gold Medal for ILD (2016), and the ATS Amberson Lecture Award (2022), among many others. He is a Fellow of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and has served in leadership roles within ATS, including as Chair of the Assembly on Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Kaminski is passionate about training the next generation of physician-scientists in genomics, bioinformatics, and systems biology, mentoring numerous successful MDs and PhDs in launching independent, well-funded careers. He continues to influence clinical and translational lung disease research as an associate editor for Thorax, BMJ, and through leadership in pulmonary genomic medicine.
Dr. Federica Genovese
Dr. Federica Genovese is the Director of Cardiovascular and Renal (CVR) Research at Nordic Bioscience. She also heads the Translational Research group.
She joined Nordic Bioscience in 2011 and assumed the role of Group leader of Kidney research in 2015 and then became Director of CVR in 2019.
Dr. Genovese focuses on developing serologically assessed markers to evaluate extracellular matrix remodeling in patients with cardiovascular and renal diseases, aiding in prognostic and pharmacodynamic evaluation.
Her team has produced the bulk of data on endotrophin, measured by the PRO-C6 assay, a fibroblast activity marker and a pro-fibrotic molecule, utilized as risk marker of adverse outcomes in multiple fibro-inflammatory diseases.
Dr. Genovese has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating her extensive contributions to the field.
Her H-index is 28, her I10-index is 42, and her research has garnered over 3400 citations as of November 2024.
Line Egerod
Line Egerod is a PhD student in the Hepatic and Pulmonary Research Team at Nordic Bioscience based in Copenhagen.
Before joining Nordic Bioscience in 2022, she worked as a machine learning engineer in Oxford, UK, and Silicon Valley, CA, US, gaining experience across various disease areas.
She is the main data steward for the ECLIPSE cohort, one of the largest and most comprehensive COPD studies to date.
Her research focuses on using interpretable machine learning models alongside inflammation and extracellular matrix biomarkers to uncover opportunities for patient stratification and personalized profiling in COPD.
Working closely with pharmaceutical companies worldwide, she and her colleagues have supported clinical research that has contributed to multiple clinical studies and publications in high-ranking scientific journals.
In this webinar leading experts will discuss the critical role fibroblasts play in metabolic disorders. The presentations will highlight recent research findings and explore the therapeutic potential of modulating fibroblast activity to improve patient outcomes.
Agenda
Opening of the session
Metabolic activation of ECM production of fibroblast and the relation to outcomes in heart, liver and kidney diseases – Dr. Morten Karsdal
Metabolic activation and de-activation of fibroblasts in MAFLD by weight loss. The weight-dependent angle – Dr. Jörn M. Schattenberg
Pharmacological modulation of fibroblast activation and the benefit for patients –Dr. Diana J. Leeming
General discussion and questions
Scientific topics
We will explore key aspects of fibroblast activity in metabolic health, starting with the metabolic activation and deactivation of fibroblasts in MAFLD (Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease). It highlights the weight-dependent factors influencing these processes and the impact of weight loss on fibroblast behavior in MAFLD.
The discussion then moves to the metabolic activation of extracellular matrix (ECM) production by fibroblasts and its effects on heart, liver, and kidney diseases. Finally, it addresses the potential benefits of pharmacological interventions in modulating fibroblast activation, offering therapeutic possibilities for patients with these conditions.
Dr. Jörn M. Schattenberg is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Department of Medicine II at Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg and the University of the Saarland in Germany.
Dr. Schattenberg completed his post-doctoral training at Albert-Einstein College of Medicine in New York, focusing on signaling pathways involved in acute and chronic liver injury, particularly in metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, and Infectious Disease.
His research specializes in translational sciences and clinical trials in Hepatology, with a focus on new technologies and approaches for the prevention, screening, and treatment of metabolic liver disease.
Dr. Schattenberg is involved in multinational, EU-funded research consortia exploring biomarkers and novel treatment methods for liver diseases.
He is a member of the Policy, Public Health, and Advocacy Committee of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL).
He serves on the Editorial Boards of “Hepatology” and “Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics” and is an Associate Editor for “JHEP Reports.”
Dr. Diana J. Leeming
Dr. Diana Julie Leeming is the Senior Director of Fibrosis, Hepatic, and Pulmonary Research at Nordic Bioscience.
She joined Nordic Bioscience in 2004 and assumed the role of Director of Fibrosis in 2010, later being promoted to Senior Director in 2024.
Dr. Leeming focuses on developing serologically assessed markers to evaluate extracellular matrix remodeling in patients with pulmonary or hepatic fibrosis, aiding in diagnosis and pharmacodynamic evaluation.
She is a principal inventor of the PRO-C3 assay, a fibrogenesis marker utilized in multiple clinical trial studies.
Dr. Leeming has authored over 280 peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating her extensive contributions to the field.
Her H-index is 61, her I10-index is 174, and her research has garnered over 11,825 citations as of March 2024.
Dr. Morten A. Karsdal
Dr. Morten Karsdal joined Nordic Bioscience in 2001 and became CEO in June 2010, leading the company to significant advancements in biomarker development and disease biology.
Dr. Karsdal is an honorary professor of inflammation research at the University of Southern Denmark, where he continues to supervise PhD students, fostering the next generation of researchers.
Dr. Karsdal chairs the Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress, an important forum for advancing drug development by focusing on the extracellular matrix (ECM) as a key factor in most chronic diseases. He is renowned for his deep expertise in fibrosis, rheumatology (including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), diabetes, and other chronic conditions, particularly in relation to ECM and biomarker research.
Dr. Karsdal has led the development of FDA-approved and supported molecular diagnostics, as well as more than 100 commercialized biomarker assays, including ELISA assays and high precision automated platforms.
He has extensive experience in clinical trial design and the clinical application of biochemical markers, often serving as a consultant to major pharmaceutical companies for the use of serological biomarkers in clinical trials.
In 2016, he and his research team authored the first edition of “Biochemistry of Collagens, Laminins and Elastin,” published by Elsevier Science. The book, now in its 3rd edition as of 2023, is a key resource on collagens and structural proteins, with a focus on their applications in chronic diseases.
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Join us for an insightful webinar, where experts will shed light on the multifaceted role of fibrosis in various health conditions.
This webinar offers a unique opportunity to gain comprehensive insights into the role of fibrosis in driving outcomes across various health conditions with a common component, providing valuable knowledge for researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals alike.
Agenda
Fibroblast Activity Kills: The Basics of Extracellular Matrix in Health and Disease in Predicting Outcomes – Dr. Morten A. Karsdal
The Extracellular Matrix of Cancers and The Modulation of the ECM – Dr. Raghu Kalluri
Collagen biomarkers of Liver, Heart, and HCC Outcome – Dr. Diana Julie Leeming
Q&A Break
Liver Fibrosis and HCC – Cause or Consequence? – Dr. Scott Friedman
Questions from the chat
Overview and speakers
Our presentations will cover a wide array of topics, starting with an exploration of the fundamentals of the extracellular matrix in health and disease, emphasizing the impact of fibroblast activity on outcomes. The complex relationship between liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will be explored, examining whether fibrosis is a cause or consequence of this condition.
Further discussions will delve into the extracellular matrix of cancers and the modulation of the ECM, providing insights into the interplay between fibrosis and cancer outcomes. Lastly, we’ll explore collagen biomarkers and their role in predicting outcomes related to liver, heart, and HCC.
Dr. Scott L. Friedman is the Dean for Therapeutic Discovery and Chief of the Division of Liver Diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is renowned for his pioneering research into the underlying causes of scarring, or fibrosis, associated with chronic liver disease, which affects millions worldwide.
Dr. Friedman was among the first to isolate and characterize the hepatic stellate cell, the key cell type responsible for scar production in the liver, leading to significant advancements in the field.
His groundbreaking work has led to the development of new anti-fibrotic therapies for liver disease that are currently reaching clinical trials, contributing to the translation of basic science into clinically meaningful advances. Dr. Friedman’s research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1985, and he received his first faculty NIH grant (RO1) in 1986 at the age of 31.
He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the International Hans Popper Award in 2003 for his outstanding contributions to the understanding and treatment of liver disease.
Dr. Friedman’s leadership as Chief of the Division of Liver Diseases at Mount Sinai has led to significant expansion, including increasing the faculty from 5 to 25 individuals and overseeing the creation of the largest liver fellowship in the United States.
He is a fellow of multiple prestigious medical societies, including the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, among others.
Dr. Raghu Kalluri
Dr. Kalluri is a medical researcher focused on the cellular microenvironment and exosomes in health and disease.
He has mentored over 200 research trainees and led numerous education and training initiatives at Harvard and MD Anderson Cancer Center.
He is co-Director of the MSTP, Assistant Dean of the graduate school, and Director of the Office of Mentoring and Training of Scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research has focused on extracellular matrix (ECM) biology, specifically basement membrane biology, and the discovery of several new ECM-derived endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors.
He has contributed to our understanding of the role of TGF-β and BMP-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition and mesenchymal to epithelial transition in organ fibrosis and cancer progression. His research has led to the identification of new therapeutic targets to combat organ fibrosis and the subsequent expansion of research on the cellular microenvironment to solid tumors, specifically pancreatic cancer.
His research group has published over 350 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and his work has been translated into three successful Phase I clinical trials for cancer and the launch of five biotechnology companies.
Dr. Morten A. Karsdal
Dr. Karsdal chairs the Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress, an influential forum dedicated to advancing drug development by identifying changes in the ECM as common denominators in chronic diseases.
Dr. Morten Karsdal joined Nordic Bioscience in 2001 and has been serving as CEO since June 2010.
He is a prolific author, with more than 650 peer-reviewed articles to his name, accumulating over 34,000 citations and an h-index of 95.
He is renowned for his expertise and commitment to biomarker development, extracellular matrix biology, and disease research, particularly in fibrosis, rheumatology, and diabetes. He possesses extensive experience in clinical trial design and the clinical application of biochemical markers, consulting for major pharmaceutical companies.
As an honorary professor of inflammation research at the University of Southern Denmark, Dr. Karsdal supervises PhD students and contributes to advancing scientific knowledge in the field.
In 2016, he authored the first edition of “Biochemistry of Collagens, Laminins and Elastin,” published by Elsevier Science, which is now in its 3rd edition, providing a comprehensive overview of structural proteins and their relevance in chronic diseases.
Dr. Karsdal’s leadership and contributions to the Nordic Life Science community were recognized with the Arthur D. Little Nordic Life Science Award in 2023, highlighting his outstanding management and leadership achievements.
Dr. Diana Julie Leeming
Dr. Diana Julie Leeming is the Senior Director of Fibrosis, Hepatic, and Pulmonary Research at Nordic Bioscience.
She joined Nordic Bioscience in 2004 and assumed the role of Director of Fibrosis in 2010, later being promoted to Senior Director in 2024.
Diana leads a team of 20 scientists and technicians dedicated to the development and clinical application of extracellular matrix (ECM) biomarkers in hepatic and pulmonary diseases with a fibrotic component. Her role involves overseeing the development of novel ECM biomarkers and implementing them in preclinical drug testing and clinical trials.
Dr. Leeming focuses on developing serologically assessed markers to evaluate extracellular matrix remodeling in patients with pulmonary or hepatic fibrosis, aiding in diagnosis and pharmacodynamic evaluation.
She is a principal inventor of the PRO-C3 assay, a fibrogenesis marker utilized in multiple clinical trial studies.
Dr. Leeming has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating her extensive contributions to the field. Her H-index is 61, her I10-index is 174, and her research has garnered over 11,825 citations as of March 2024.
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Watch this webinar focused on tissue remodeling, inflammation and biomarkers for pulmonary diseases. Our panel of experts will shed light on the tissue changes occurring in pulmonary diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and how this is affected by the intricate interplay between fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and immune cells.
Extracellular Matrix is an Active Agent in Lung fibrosis – Dr. Janette Burgess
The Role of the Epithelium in Pulmonary Fibrosis – Dr. Gisli Jenking
Prognostic and Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers for ECM Remodeling, Immune Cell Activity, and Endotyping – Dr. Jannie M. B. Sand
General discussion and questions
Scientific topics and speakers
The speakers will take you on a journey from discovering novel biomarkers to implementing them in clinical trials and clinical practice. They will discuss why blood-based biomarkers are needed for pulmonary diseases, and how biomarkers of ECM remodeling and immune cell activity may aid in the identification of novel endotypes and improvement of drug development.
Here’s a sneak peak of Dr. Janette Burgess’ talking points:
How changes in the composition of the ECM in lung fibrosis impact cellular function
How the ECM organization changes in lung fibrosis, and implications for disease driving processes
How matrix stiffness is altered in fibrosis and the cellular responses to these changes
How the above changes can be incorporated in model systems in vitro to expand our understanding of disease underlying mechanisms
Dr. Janette Burgess
Janette Burgess is a Professor of Extracellular Matrix in Disease Pathogenesis at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands.
She completed her Bachelor of Science (with honours) at the University of Adelaide, Australia, in 1991, and earned her PhD in Hematology at the University of New South Wales in 1998.
After a post-doctoral position at the University of Sydney focusing on the respiratory system’s structural changes in disease, she developed a keen interest in lung pathology.
In 2015, Janette was awarded a Rosalind Franklin Fellowship to join the University Medical Center Groningen, where she is now a tenured Professor.
Her research centers on understanding the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in lung pathology, investigating changes in lung tissue and airway structures during disease development.
Using primary human lung cells, tissue samples, and patient clinical information, her work aims to characterize ECM changes during lung diseases and uncover the underlying mechanisms.
Janette Burgess employs novel in vitro cell models, ex vivo human lung tissue models, and advanced microscopy imaging techniques to unravel the complex regulation of the ECM, exploring its potential as a therapeutic target for lung diseases.
Her research bridges basic science with the practical goals of preventing and treating human lung diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.
Dr. Jannie M. B. Sand
Dr. Jannie M. B. Sand is the head of the respiratory research department at Nordic Bioscience, having joined the company in 2010.
She holds a Master of Science in Molecular Biomedicine and a PhD in Clinical Research from the University of Copenhagen.
Dr. Sand’s research is dedicated to biomarker development and understanding lung tissue changes in chronic lung diseases, with a specific focus on pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
With over a decade of experience in biomarkers of lung tissue remodeling, she has authored over 50 articles, abstracts, and book chapters.
Her team at Nordic Bioscience focuses on developing non-invasive tools for specific lung disease processes, aiming to enhance understanding of pathologies and therapeutic effects.
The tools developed by Dr. Sand’s team include biomarkers for fibrogenesis, lung tissue destruction, basement membrane repair, and immune cell activity.
Their work spans both clinical and preclinical research, with a translational approach to bring tools to the broader community.
The team’s research has successfully identified prognostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers and explores the identification of novel endotypes in chronic lung diseases.
Dr. Gisli Jenkins
Professor Gisli Jenkins is an NIHR Research Professor and holds the Margaret Turner-Warwick Chair of Thoracic Medicine at Imperial College London.
He serves as the Head of the Margaret Turner-Warwick Centre for Fibrosing Lung Diseases at the National Heart and Lung Institute, located at the Guy Scadding Building at the Brompton Campus.
Dr. Jenkins has honorary contracts with both the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
His primary research focus is on Interstitial Lung Diseases, with a particular emphasis on Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Prof Jenkins and his team strive to comprehend the biological foundations of pulmonary fibrosis, aiming to translate this understanding into improved outcomes for patients.
He is the Principal Investigator of several longitudinal observational studies, including the PROFILE study, the INJUSTIS Study, the UKILD Post COVID ILD study, and the DEMISTIFI Multi-Morbidity consortium.
Prof Jenkins serves as the pulmonary fibrosis working group lead for the Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership in Respiratory Medicine, the PHOSP-COVID study, and the HEAL COVID platform study.
Recognitions include the ERS Gold Medal in Interstitial Lung Disease in 2020, Fellowship of the European Respiratory Society in 2022, and the role of President of Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was also awarded the BTS Meritorious Service Award for 2022.
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This webinar focuses on the intricate interplay between fibroblasts and arthritic diseases. Our panel of experts will unravel mechanisms behind tissue damage and repair, discussing fibroblast activation, collagen overproduction, and scar tissue formation.
Discover how blood-based biomarkers of extracellular matrix destruction offer insights into treatment effectiveness and patient well-being. Our speakers will also give insights into PRIME cells’ role in heralding rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups and delve into the molecular underpinnings of symptoms like pain and morning stiffness.
Agenda
Fibroblast Activation in Arthritis – Dr. Adam Croft
PRIME cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares – Dr. Dana Orange
Identification of Fibrotic and Fibrolytic Endotypes in Rheumatic Disease Cohorts – Dr. Anne Bay-Jensen
We will explore how measuring tissue damage through blood markers can offer insights into treatment effectiveness and patient experiences. A segment is dedicated to PRIME cells, fibroblast-like entities in blood that signal rheumatoid arthritis flares. We will also delve into the molecular basis of symptoms like pain, morning stiffness, and flares in rheumatoid arthritis.
This webinar spotlights the buzz around developing fresh therapies targeting fibroblasts and fibrosis in arthritic diseases. By sharing the latest research, we aim to shed light on the specific roles and types of fibroblasts driving disease progression and outcomes.
Scientific topics and speakers
In this edition of the ECM Pharmacology Symposium Series, we’re diving into the realm of fibroblasts and their relevance in arthritic diseases. These cells are key players in disease progression, responsible for crafting collagen and extracellular matrix proteins that build the foundation of tissues. In arthritic conditions, activated fibroblasts kick into overdrive, generating excess matrix components, leading to the formation of scar tissue, or fibrosis, with potential impact on joints and tissues.
We will explore how measuring tissue damage through blood markers can offer insights into treatment effectiveness and patient experiences. A segment is dedicated to PRIME cells, fibroblast-like entities in blood that signal rheumatoid arthritis flares. We will also delve into the molecular basis of symptoms like pain, morning stiffness, and flares in rheumatoid arthritis.
This webinar spotlights the buzz around developing fresh therapies targeting fibroblasts and fibrosis in arthritic diseases. By sharing the latest research, we aim to shed light on the specific roles and types of fibroblasts driving disease progression and outcomes.
Dr. Adam Croft
Dr. Adam Croft is a Professor of Translational Rheumatology at the University of Birmingham and also serves as a Consultant Rheumatologist at University Hospitals Birmingham.
He holds a senior research fellowship from the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research.
Dr. Croft’s research program encompasses the entire spectrum of inflammatory arthritis, spanning from children to adults.
His goal is to establish connections between synovial tissue pathology and specific disease outcomes and treatment responses.
He places a strong emphasis on the discovery of novel and actionable therapeutic targets, leveraging cutting-edge single-cell profiling technologies.
Dr. Croft’s research is particularly focused on understanding the role of tissue resident fibroblasts in perpetuating inflammation in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and finding therapeutic strategies to target these cells effectively.
Dr. Dana Orange
Dr. Dana Orange, MD, MSc, holds the position of Associate Professor of Clinical Investigation at Rockefeller University and serves as an Assistant Attending of Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
She earned her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, and obtained her MSc from Rockefeller University.
Dr. Orange completed her Internal Medicine Residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital and her Rheumatology Fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
Her research is dedicated to unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis, including pain, morning stiffness, and flares.
Dr. Anne Bay-Jensen
Dr. Anna Bay-Jensen serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Director of ImmunoScience at Nordic Bioscience, where she has been part of the team since 2008, starting as a post-doc and advancing to leadership roles.
She is recognized for her hard work, innovative thinking, and leadership in the development of novel biomarkers that support precision medicine, an ongoing journey.
Dr. Bay-Jensen’s research primarily focuses on biomarkers related to rheumatic diseases, with a particular emphasis on joints and rheumatoid arthritis, a field she has dedicated two decades to.
She has an impressive academic record with 10,459 citations, an h-index of 60, and an i10-index of 191, reflecting her significant contributions to the field.
Her research has highlighted the importance of extracellular matrix remodeling as a common denominator in connective tissue diseases and the development of novel combinations of post-translational modification (PTM) neo-epitopes as tissue-specific biochemical markers.
This webinar focuses on the intriguing interplay between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and neutrophil activity, with a special emphasis on the insights provided by the unique CPa9-HNE serum calprotectin.
Our experts will unravel the biological processes of mucosal damage and healing in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and how it relates to neutrophil activity and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Specifically, we will delve into the role of mucosal damage, intestinal fibrosis, and fibro-inflammation, and how they impact ECM remodeling and integrity.
The role of neutrophil activity in tissue destruction – Dr. Morten A. Karsdal
Mucosal damage and intestinal fibrosis in IBD – Dr. Florian Rieder
Fibro-inflammation in IBD a new frontier and how to quantify it – Dr. Joachim Høg Mortensen
Questions from the chat
Scientific topics and speakers
In this edition of the ECM Pharmacology Symposium Series, we will address the mechanisms of neutrophil activity in chronic diseases, in particular on fibro-inflammation in inflammatory bowel diseases, focusing in particular on fibro-inflammation and mucosal damage.
We will also present the latest methods for quantifying fibro-inflammation in IBD, such as the novel serum calprotectin biomarker CPa9-HNE, and discuss the implications of these findings for patients. In addition, we will look at current and future treatment options for IBD and the potential impact of these advances on patient outcomes.
This webinar is an excellent opportunity for researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals to gain valuable insight into the latest developments in IBD research and treatment, and to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay of neutrophil activity, mucosal damage and fibro-inflammation in IBD.
Dr. Rieder’s clinical focus is patients with IBD with a special emphasis on the field of pathogenesis, prediction, and therapy of intestinal fibrosis.
Dr. Rieder has published over 150 articles (h-index 52) and book chapters and he has been awarded the Sherman Emerging Leaders award.
He is the lead author of the ECCO guidelines on Ulcerative colitis and the first ECCO clinical consensus on ‘Diagnosis and Management of Intestinal Fibrosis’. He is a past associate editor of Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology.
Dr. Rieder serves as an abstract reviewer for all major GI conferences and on several editorial boards of medical journals.
Dr. Rieder has significant ties to the ECCO, having served as the chair of Y-ECCO, a member of the ECCO operational board, a prior Y-ECCO committee member, and a member of the scientific committee.
He was the past chair of REACH-IBD and is currently the Co-Chair of the Professional Education Committee of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Dr. Rieder is the leading Principal Investigator (PI) of the international Stenosis Therapy and Research (STAR) Consortium, which aims to test anti-fibrotic medications in stricturing Crohn’s disease.
Dr. Joachim Høg Mortensen
Dr. Mortensen joined Nordic Bioscience in 2013 and currently serves as Head of Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases.
The group’s research activities span from biomarker discovery to preclinical and clinical trial exploration focusing on the development and validation of blood-based biomarkers to quantify fibro-inflammation which covers neutrophil activity, mucosal damage and intestinal fibrosis in serum of patients with gastrointestinal diseases e.g. inflammatory bowel disease.
The group’s primary focus is to evaluate pharmacodynamics changes, efficacy and monitoring of response to various treatments using biomarkers reflecting fibro-inflammation.
Biomarkers are developed to support and understand fibro-inflammation-associated IBD disease progression and response to treatment, where the biomarkers are applied from target selection to clinical trial monitoring.
Dr. Morten A. Karsdal
Dr. Karsdal chairs the Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress, an influential forum dedicated to advancing drug development by identifying changes in the ECM as common denominators in chronic diseases.
Dr. Morten Karsdal joined Nordic Bioscience in 2001 and has been serving as CEO since June 2010.
He is a prolific author, with more than 650 peer-reviewed articles to his name, accumulating over 34,000 citations and an h-index of 95.
He is renowned for his expertise and commitment to biomarker development, extracellular matrix biology, and disease research, particularly in fibrosis, rheumatology, and diabetes. He possesses extensive experience in clinical trial design and the clinical application of biochemical markers, consulting for major pharmaceutical companies.
As an honorary professor of inflammation research at the University of Southern Denmark, Dr. Karsdal supervises PhD students and contributes to advancing scientific knowledge in the field.
In 2016, he authored the first edition of “Biochemistry of Collagens, Laminins and Elastin,” published by Elsevier Science, which is now in its 3rd edition, providing a comprehensive overview of structural proteins and their relevance in chronic diseases.
Dr. Karsdal’s leadership and contributions to the Nordic Life Science community were recognized with the Arthur D. Little Nordic Life Science Award in 2023, highlighting his outstanding management and leadership achievements.
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The session will include a stimulating talk by Dr. Morten Karsdal on understanding the mysteries of the different types of collagens. Dr. Alexander Lynge Reese-Petersen will then spotlight collagen type VI and its relationship to various pathologies, as well as the pharmacological and biological properties of the dangerous hormone Endotrophin.
Scientific topics
Extracellular matrix (ECM) dysregulation is the founding cause of tissue fibrosis, a process driving more than 50 pathologies and most chronic diseases. Fibrosis may develop both consequent to either an increase in tissue formation or a decrease in tissue degradation.
Understanding the ECM and the central components of the basement membrane and interstitial ECM will lead to a better understanding of disease mechanisms and to novel treatment strategies. This may be a central part in precision medicine strategies to target the right patients.
ECM remodeling is the common denominator of all fibro-inflammatory disorders
Collagens have signaling molecules that we need to understand to understand how the ECM affects cells in fibrosis and tissue turnover
Endotrophin and other collagen fragments (Vastatin, Tumstatin and Endostatin) are potential signaling molecules derived from the processing of the collagens in the ECM
Understanding ECM turnover may lead to better insight into disease mechanisms and better biological understanding of individual patients
Dr. Alexander Reese’s presentation will cover:
ECM biomarkers are elevated in chronic pathologies and have prognostic significance for outcome. How can we best use this to guide drug development?
Endotrophin, a collagen hormone in multi-organ diseases
Endotrophin in HFpEF, a potentially treatable high-risk endotype
Use of the tissue turnover profile for patient selection
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