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.
Agenda
- 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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