Continuing Education

Sunday AM

Non-Invasive Imaging As a Problem Solving Tool and Translational Biomarker Strategy in Toxicologic Pathology

Co-Chairs: Richard A. Peterson, DVM, PhD, DACVP, GlaxoSmithKline and Kathleen L. Gabrielson, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Non-invasive imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance, computed tomography, ultrasonography, and positron emission tomography are gaining acceptance as important modalities in toxicologic pathology. These non-invasive technologies allow non-terminal time course evaluation of functional and morphologic changes. These modalities can also be used as in vivo translational biomarkers between preclinical animal models and patients in the clinic. This continuing education session will give an overview of the technical modalities as well as pertinent examples of use of the technology to support drug development/discovery as well as animal model work.

Topics

Theoretical Principles

Kathy Gabrielson, DVM, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Application of Modern Imaging Technology to Safety Assessment

G. Allan Johnson, PhD, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Translational Molecular Imaging for Oncology

Martin Pomper, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Ultrasound Imaging in Drug Discovery: The Good, The Bad, and The Promising

Robert W. Coatney DVM, MS, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, PA

Application of X-Ray Computed Tomograph Imaging to Safety Toxicology

Chris Winkelman, DVM, PhD, Merk & Co., Inc., West Point, PA

Career Development Workshop

Sunday, June 20, 2010
8:00 AM–12:00 NOON
(Free Event, registration required)

Career Development Workshop Flyer

Managing Your Career in a Changing Environment
Presented by the STP Career Outreach and Continuing Education Committees

The workshop will provide interactive sessions covering the challenges of managing one’s career as a toxicologic pathologist in changing economic and scientific environments. Specifically we plan to address how the economic environment, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, is likely to shape future opportunities and how the changes in the science and practice of pathology and drug development influence the performance expectations for a toxicologic pathologist. After this brief introduction, the discussion will focus on how to anticipate and react to change, particularly those changes that require changing employers. In those segments of the workshop, speakers will lead discussion on how to stay current scientifically, and, should conditions require that you seek new employment, how to define yourself so that your resume will be noticed and how to negotiate leaving a position. Speakers will also discuss how to deal with the mechanics of life (applying for unemployment, arranging for health insurance) should termination become inevitable. During these discussions, speakers will be expected to engage the audience to provide specific examples of how they have dealt with these issues.

Sunday PM

Hemostasis

Chair: Dale Baker, DVM, PhD, DACVP, DABT, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Co-Chair: Jacqueline Brassard, DVM, PhD, DACVP Allergan Inc.

Hemostasis abnormalities of either thrombosis or bleeding uncommonly occur during pharmaceutical drug development, but when they do they can be challenging to understand or circumvent either clinically or in rational chemical design. This continuing education session will review the evolving understanding of hemostasis and outline the key molecules that contribute to the finely regulated system. The course will then explore unexpected findings by displaying examples and discuss the approach to investigating the defect. Presenters will utilize examples of derangements and engage audience participation through polling and spontaneous comments to fully discuss the perturbations and possible explanations. Though examples will be from pharmaceutical drug development, the approach would effectively serve in any investigative initiative of an observed hemostatic disorder.

Topics

Current Understanding of Hemostasis

Marjory Brooks, DVM, Cornell University—College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY

Drug-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Underlying Predispositions

Jacqueline A. Brassard, DVM, PhD, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA

Intersection of Hemostasis and Inflammation

Brunhilde Felding-Habermann, PhD, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA

Considerations when Evaluating Hemostasis in various Animal Models and LaboratoryAnimal Species

Marjory Brooks, DVM, Cornell University—College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY

CRO Clinical Pathologist Regarding Issues with Hemostasis in GLP Studies and Limitations/Problems

Jeffrey McCartney, DVM, Charles River Laboratories, Senneville, QC, Canada

Case Evaluation (with polling from audience)

Dale Baker, DVM, PhD, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. South San Francisco, CA

Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing

Co-Chairs: Karl Jensen, PhD, US EPA and Brad Bolon, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVP, DABT, FIATP, GEMpath, Inc.

Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT) Neuropathology is a cornerstone of DNT testing, yet current neuropathology methods used in DNT screening do not always adequately detect injury to the growing brain. This session will review current DNT neuropathology practices and explain innovative, more sensitive morphologic measurements that can be made in vivo and in embedded neural specimens using known examples of developmental neurotoxicity in animal models. The session will include a panel discussion of neuropathologists and regulators who routinely gather and interpret DNT neuropathology data to provide an update on current “best practices” in the field.

Topics

Overview of the Role of Neuropathology and Morphometrics in Developmental Neurotoxicity Assessment

Wolfgang Kaufmann, BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany

New Developments in the Application of Stereology to Developmental Neurotoxicity Assessment

Hans Jorgen Gundersen, Stereology & Electron Microscopy Research Laboratory and MIND Center, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

Magnetic Resonance Microscopy (MRM) of the Developing Brain

G. Allan Johnson, PhD, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Application of MRM to Defining Toxicant-Induced Abnormalities in the Developing Brain

Kathy Sulik, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Panel: A Regulatory Perspective on New Developments in Morphometric Approaches to Developmental Neurotoxicity Assessment

Susan L. Makris, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, Robert H. Garman, DVM, Consultants in Veterinary Pathology, Murrysville, PA, Georg Krinke, MVDr, CSc, Consultant, Frenkendorf, Switzerland and Peter B. Little, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Charles River Laboratories PAI, Durham, NC

Monday PM

Career Development Lunchtime Series

Monday, June 21, 2010
12:30 PM–1:30 PM
(Free, registration required)

The Value of a Research Degree to a Career as a Toxicologic Pathologist: The Debate Continues

Panelists and audience members will discuss this issue from a variety of angles, including topics such as:

• Cost vs. reward in obtaining an additional advanced degree
• Relevance of research to different toxicologic pathology careers
• Are there skills you learn during grad school that you can't get any other way?
• And many more!