Courses ALL | IQMPS

MPS Training Course

The objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive overview of complex in vitro models (CIVM), including microphysiological systems (MPS), and best practices from the perspective of pharmaceutical industry end-users for evaluating and applying these tools in drug discovery and development. This course covers the current and anticipated future use of CIVMs, including applications in efficacy, ADME, and toxicology studies, with an emphasis on preclinical assessments. Following completion of this course, attendees should have a holistic understanding of the factors pharmaceutical companies consider when characterizing and qualifying CIVM and designing experiments to apply these models for specific contexts of use.

For this course, CIVM will be defined as any model beyond traditional 2D cell culture which may include several of the following design aspects: a multicellular environment within a biopolymer or tissue-derived matrix; a 3D structure; the inclusion of mechanical cues such as stretch or perfusion of media and cells; and or inclusion of immune system components.

Course Outline

The course is broken down into four modules. Each module is composed of several sessions and concludes with a summary session capturing the key points as well as addressing additional questions attendees may have. The date and time of each session will be announced as confirmed. Recordings will be made available after each session for those unable to attend.

Module I

Introduction to CIVM and MPS

Over the past decade, CIVM have become increasingly more diverse in design, capabilities, and sophistication, reaching a point where industry can now begin to apply these tools across drug discovery and development. While the rigor of qualification required to apply these models are largely dependent upon the specific context of use, there are fundamental technical and methodological considerations to be taken into account when designing CIVM experiments. This module will provide an overview of CIVM and how they are being used in drug discovery and development, and offer insights into how CIVM data may eventually be used in concert with in-silico modeling. This module will also outline key technical considerations, such as cell sources, statistical design, confounding device variables, and construction methodologies. The module will close with an overview of high-level qualifications considerations, such as recapitulation of known drug response and comparability to gold standards.

Module II

Established CIVM / MPS (Organ-Specific Sessions)

CIVM designed to recapitulate organs most frequently impacted by off-target toxicity, such as liver and GI, and therapeutic targets that are difficult to model in vitro, such as lung, have received the greatest attention for their potential to improve clinical translatability. This module will provide a detailed overview of those CIVM models with which the field has the most experience. Each session will focus on a different organ system and utilize case studies to illustrate how pharmaceutical end users are applying these models for internal decision-making and the unique considerations and challenges for qualifying these models for each context of use.

Module III

Context of Use-Specific Applications of CIVM / MPS

The qualification and use of CIVMs is highly dependent on the context of use. This module will focus on use cases with unique specifications such as modalities dependent on the recapitulation of unique organ physiology such as immune cell engagers, gene therapy, and other novel molecules. In these cases, further specialization of CIVM may be required to appropriately assess the efficacy and safety of these molecules. At the same time the use of CIVM is particularly useful in these instances as typically molecules in these categories are not applicable to traditional in-vivo approaches.

Module IV

CIVM / MPS in Development

The CIVM field is rapidly evolving and additional capabilities to model complex organs and organ system interactions are being rapidly introduced into use. In this module we will discuss some of these new advancements and the promise they hold to interrogate human relevant Safety, ADME and Pharmacology questions. Case study examples of these novel models will be presented alongside considerations for critical features in these newer CIVM models.

Liver (Part I)

Coming soon. Check back in Spring 2024.

Date / Time

To Be Announced

Duration

90 minutes

Liver (Part II)

Coming soon. Check back in Spring 2024.

Date / Time

To Be Announced

Duration

90 minutes

GI

Coming soon. Check back in Spring 2024.

Date / Time

To Be Announced

Duration

90 minutes

Kidney

Coming soon. Check back in Spring 2024.

Date / Time

To Be Announced

Duration

90 minutes

Lung

Coming soon. Check back in Spring 2024.

Date / Time

To Be Announced

Duration

90 minutes

Module II Summary

Coming soon. Check back in Spring 2024.

Date / Time

To Be Announced

Duration

120 minutes

Past Sessions

Introduction to CIVM and MPS

This session will provide an overview of the objectives and content of the IQ MPS Affiliate Training course followed by an overview of MPS platforms and how the pharmaceutical industry is currently using these and other Complex In Vitro Models.

Date/Time

July 13, 2023 at 2:00:00 PM

Duration

90 minutes

Watch Here

Technical Considerations for Experimental Design (Part I)

This session will cover the key components that should be considered when developing a MPS model, such as the context of use, and physical and biological inputs (including cells, matrices and media). Furthermore, the concept of good experimental design for MPS will be presented using a case study example.

Date/Time

July 20, 2023 at 2:00:00 PM

Duration

90 minutes

Watch Here

Technical Considerations for Experimental Design (Part II)

Basic 2D monolayer cultures can fail to predict in vivo pharmaceutical candidate properties such as efficacy, ADME, or toxicity as they lack the necessary physical and biochemical cues found in vivo. MPS aim to fill this gap by exploiting advances in material sciences, microfabrication processes, and engineering to recreate the in vivo environment. In this session, technical design considerations of MPS are discussed with respect to: - Material considerations - Fluid dynamics in systems with flow - Mechanical stimuli were applicable - Device qualification and operation - Body-on-a-chip configuration - Immune cell incorporation

Date/Time

August 3, 2023 at 2:00:00 PM

Duration

90 minutes

Watch Here

IQ MPS

IQ Microphysiological Systems Affiliate

MPS Training Course

Course Outline

Upcoming Sessions

Liver (Part I)

Liver (Part II)

GI

Kidney

Lung

Module II Summary

Past Sessions

Introduction to CIVM and MPS

Technical Considerations for Experimental Design (Part I)

Technical Considerations for Experimental Design (Part II)

MPS Training Course

Course Outline

​

Upcoming Sessions

Liver (Part I)

Liver (Part II)

GI

Kidney

Lung

Module II Summary

Past Sessions

Introduction to CIVM and MPS

Technical Considerations for Experimental Design (Part I)

Technical Considerations for Experimental Design (Part II)