Bryan Ruiz-Juarez

🔬 Calling all medicinal chemists! 🧪   Are you curious about the potential of generative AI in drug discovery? Don't miss our upcoming Flash Talk with Drug Hunter:   A Guide to Generative AI for Medicinal Chemists   📆 Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024 ⏰ Time: 11:00 am EDT / 5:00 pm CEST 🔗 Registration: https://lu.ma/290e2uvi   In this live talk, Ashwini Ghogare, PhD will discuss best practices medicinal chemists can use today to improve hit identification, hit expansion, and lead optimization with accessible, state-of-the-art AI tools. Plus, there will be plenty of time for live Q&A with audience members - I hope you can make it!   #GenerativeAI #MedicinalChemistry #DrugDiscovery

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🚨New Publication Alert🚨 I am excited to share my most recent publication “Loss-of-function W4645R mutation in the RyR2-caffeine binding site: implications for synchrony and arrhythmogenesis," published on June 17th in Cell Calcium. "To gain insights into regulation of RyR2 Ca2+-binding and its interaction with caffeine-binding site, we introduced W4645R-RyR2 point mutation via CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC CMs) and characterized their Ca2+-signaling phenotype compared to WT hiPSC CMs." This was one of many papers/articles I contributed to while working for the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Check it out and learn more:

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Cutting edge opportunity here.

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Among the multitude of single-cell technologies, which one should you choose? A comprehensive benchmarking study by a team from Genentech can help make that choice easier. They used PBMCs to evaluate the performance of droplet, microwell, and combinatorial indexing-based methods from various companies that offer single-cell technology. 07/08/24 edit: please see response from Singleron by Harlin Jhyont below in the comment. “This study provides a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of commercially-available scRNA-seq kits and sheds light on the various strengths and weaknesses of each kit with respect to time, cost, functionality and performance, which should facilitate an optimal and informed selection of a suitable scRNA-seq approach.” “Overall, 10x FRP exhibited the highest ranked performance followed by 10x 3’, BD, Scale, 10x 5’ / Parse (tie), Fluent, Honeycomb, and Scipio. Singleron was excluded from the cell-based comparisons due to unreliable cell calling; however, based on UMI count, gene count, and usable mapped reads, it exhibited the lowest performance at the library level.” https://lnkd.in/eTk3jYVQ #singlecell #science

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BioNTech has now launched an all-out affront against cancer that’s centered on 10 medicines that the biotech hopes will lead to multiple approvals between 2026 to 2030, and so Türeci made a return to ASCO. BioNTech is gearing up to share an interim analysis for its Genentech-partnered individualized cancer vaccine in the second half of 2025. That data could “open a regulatory path,” including accelerated approval, if the results are positive, Türeci said. The vaccine is being tested in colorectal, advanced melanoma and pancreatic cancers. The news that the experimental therapy developed by Summit Therapeutics and Akeso topped Merck’s Keytruda in a study in China gives weight to the concept of combining anti-PD1/PD-L1 with an anti-VEGF-A into one antibody, Türeci said. Meanwhile, as many cell therapy companies expand or pivot to autoimmune, BioNTech doesn’t plan to position its CAR-T projects toward developing treatments for autoimmune diseases for now.

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Today, the “T Cells Gone Wild” session at #Immunology2024 was too short but fun and enriching. Always a pleasure discussing insightful perspectives with fellow immunologists. If you’re interested in T cell metabolism and curious about GZMB+GLUT-1+ cells that are induced in a TCR and PI3K-dependent manner, check out our poster !!! #BD #AAI2024 https://lnkd.in/g2BtXVYx

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I learned a lot today during the first day of the CASSS – Sharing Science Solutions Cell and Gene Therapy Products Symposium 2024! There were several insightful talks addressing the evolution of analytical methods used in process development to meet regulatory expectations. As expected, the development of #potency methods and control strategies for #AAV was a significant topic. Also, the FDA's Nicole Verdun gave an excellent overview of the agency's current approach to regulating #CGTs. She covered topics like the use of accelerated approval for gene therapies given the possibility of using #biomarkers as endpoints to predict clinical benefits, and common #CMC pitfalls such as scaling manufacturing, potency assays, and #comparability studies. #genetherapy #innovation #technology #cgtp2024 #cgtp

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A breakthrough for lupus treatment? UC Davis Health is pioneering CAR T-cell therapy in a novel clinical trial for lupus, aiming to enhance the quality of life for those living with the autoimmune disease. Individuals with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disorder, face limited treatment options. Researchers at UC Davis Health are now exploring new avenues to tackle lupus, a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation and organ damage. UC Davis Health is one of just nine institutions globally and the sole one in the Western United States participating in this groundbreaking clinical trial. Learn more: [Link to the study](https://lnkd.in/gc3jCFvX)

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Our team is proud to present our most recent publication: 👉 For patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma, limited RAS pathway testing is standard of care for detection of primary resistance to anti-EGFR mAb therapy. 👉 We empirically evaluate the outcomes associated with a broader set of alterations that would biologically anticipate resistance (ERBB2, RTK, and RAS/PI3K) and found that empirical outcomes associated with these broader alterations similarly associates with limited clinical benefit from anti-EGFR therapy. 👉 Evaluating post-EGFR therapy specimens, we observe a greater prevalence in these alterations as well, temporally consistent with being resistance alterations. 👉 Because these alterations are not included in standard PCR panels, the results suggest greater utility for NGS testing at baseline for clinical decisions around anti-EGFR vs. anti-VEGF use. Ryon Graf, PhD, Matthew J. Emmett, MD, PhD, Samuel Klempner, Samantha Morley, Hanna Tukachinsky, and Alexa Schrock, PhD

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Dropblot, a single-cell Western blot, analyzing proteins in single cancer cells, even from archived samples, from Yang Liu & Amy Herr at Berkeley. I like the all-in-one chamber (lab-on-chip style) and it has Her2 which is also one of my proteins of interest 😁 It seems to work well, I would be very curious to use one. https://lnkd.in/geYUB9rG #CancerResearch #Proteomics #Microfluidics #SingleCellAnalysis #Biotechnology #MedicalResearch #Innovation #ScientificResearch #DropBlot #HealthcareTechnology

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Congrats to Lyu Lab's undergrate researcher, Emily Sontag, for receiving funding for your continuous research efforts in the lab: 'Molecular and Cultivation Assays of Human-Associated Methanogens'. I've loved watching you grow as a scientist and I'm excited to see where your skills take you!! Find her and other Plant and Microbial Biology students here: https://lnkd.in/gscvEnTd #research #biology #genetics #microbes #microbiology

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🔬 Excited to share our deep dive into the current gene therapy scene and the promising future of this groundbreaking technology! In our latest article, we explore the trends shaping gene therapy and its potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry, with a special focus on the thriving gene therapy ecosystem here in Los Angeles. A special thank you to the key opinion leaders who generously shared their insights for this article: - Dr. Nicholas Flytzanis from Capsida - Mr. Samir Malhotra from Civilization Ventures - Dr. Diana Browning from the Center for Gene Therapy at City of Hope - Mr. Ralph Valentine Crisostomo from UCLA Your expertise has been invaluable to our research. I also want to extend my gratitude to my amazing teammates and co-authors, Nikki Higa, Yasaman Moradi, and our consulting team lead, William Fried, for their enormous help and support throughout this project. Check out the full article to learn more about how gene therapy is set to change the future of medicine! 💡 #GeneTherapy #Biotechnology #Pharmaceuticals #Innovation #Healthcare #LosAngeles

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Applying AI to biopharmaceutical research. Another great student success from The LEADERs Program at Northeastern University Our LEADERs graduate, Xuezhu Cai, making impactful contributions at @Merck right out of the gate after receiving her PhD in Bioengineering. Another wonderful story about our students as new industry innovators! #AI #Machinelearning #PhDEducation #PharmaceuticalResearch

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I am excited to announce the publication of our latest research article! 🌟 Kudos to the team Whelton Miller, Carolyn Ashley, Miriam Velazquez, MS, MBA, CLCS, Patrick Sakyi, Prof Samuel Kwofie, and myself. Cervical cancer is a major global health issue and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women globally. Its onset and progression have been linked to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types (especially 16 and 18) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). More than 9/10 cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV. Our study focused on the in silico identification of potential inhibitors for HPV and EBV, which may have significant implications for cervical cancer treatment. We virtually screened for potential drug candidates targeting HPV16 E6, HPV18 E6, and EBNA1 proteins, identifying six promising compounds with strong binding affinities. Bayesian-based biological activity predictions also reinforced their potential antineoplastic and antiviral activities. These findings may open new avenues for cervical cancer immunotherapy. Next steps: experimental testing. Read the full study to explore our in-depth analysis and results: https://lnkd.in/gMMZeX5M #CervicalCancer #HPV #EBV #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #DrugDiscovery #MedicalResearch #Oncology

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Letting everyone in my network that I am still #opentowork. I have relocated to Boise for lower cost of living and am fully willing to relocate for a new position. I am also open for fully remote positions. Sadly, Boise doesn't offer much work for a #bioinformatics scientist in #genomics. I am hoping people in my network may be aware of openings in their organizations to which I might apply. As location is on my mind, here are place I am willing to relocate: * United States: California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine * Canada * Europe * Australia * New Zealand I very much would like the opportunity to live and work abroad. If anyone in my network has insights, or connection with someone with insights for a US citizen working abroad. #opentowork #bioinformatics #genomics #datascience #dataanalyst

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Tips and recommendations today on how to go about conjugating your own antibodies for use in flow cytometry. Yes, you can use kits. Sometimes it's simpler and better not to.

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All eyes on TIGIT Roche's TIGIT drug candidate, tiragolumab in combination with PD-L1 inhibitor Tecentriq® (atezolizumab), failed to outperform Merck's established PD-1 inhibitor, Keytruda® (pembrolizumab), in a key lung cancer trial (SKYSCRAPER-06). SKYSCRAPER-06 compared tiragolumab + Tecentriq (atezolizumab, another PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor from Roche) and chemotherapy to Keytruda and chemotherapy in previously untreated, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nSq NSCLC) patients. Survival data favored Keytruda, with a hazard ratio of 1.33 for overall survival (OS) and 1.27 for progression-free survival (PFS) at the first interim analysis (higher hazard ratio indicates the control, Keytruda, performed better). This negative outcome prompted Roche to halt SKYSCRAPER-06 and re-evaluate its broader TIGIT program. https://lnkd.in/etvjth_m Roche Genentech Merck #Keytruda #TIGIT #tiragolumab #lungcancer #NSCLC

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From their abstract: A more comprehensive understanding of the degrader catalytic mechanism of action can help aspects of compound development. To address this knowledge gap, we developed a workflow for the quantitative measurement of the catalytic rate of degraders in cells. Comparing a selective and promiscuous BTK degrader, we demonstrate that both compounds function as efficient catalysts of BTK degradation, with the promiscuous degrader exhibiting faster rates due to its ability to induce more favorable ternary complexes. By leveraging computational modeling, we show that the catalytic rate is highly dynamic as the target is depleted from cells. Further investigation of the promiscuous kinase degrader revealed that the catalytic rate is a better predictor of optimal degrader activity toward a specific target compared to degradation magnitude alone. In summary, we present a versatile method for mapping the catalytic activity of any degrader for TPD in cells.

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Really interesting approach to ADC therapeutics with conjugation to silencing mRNA.

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