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Evolving DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) technology to meet drug discovery needs

The DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) technology presents a disruptive hit identification platform that can vastly expedite the course of early-stage small molecule drug discovery. HitGen is a world leader in the development and practice of the DEL technology with over 500 DEL clients. This webinar will describe various DEL platforms that have been built and established at HitGen and present several success stories. Also, this webinar will introduce a self-service DNA-encoded library (DEL) kit, OpenDEL, which enables users to explore DEL selection campaigns without revealing the target identity. OpenDEL™ is a fully-open, transparent, small molecule screening kit, featuring complete disclosure of information for molecular structures, building blocks, scaffolds and compound encoding sequences, which can be widely applied in multiple areas, including drug discovery and AI-ML research.

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Alex Shaginian

Vice President of Business Development and Chemical Sciences, HitGen

Alex Shaginian received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and MBA in finance and strategy from Babson’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, graduating as a valedictorian of his MBA class. Alex began his industrial career as a Senior Scientist in medicinal chemistry at Ardea Biosciences (acquired by AstraZeneca for $1.3B), where he specialized in the design and synthesis of new drug candidates targeting HIV, cancer, and gout. In 2009 Alex joined GSK as a Principal Scientist and specialized in the development of novel on-DNA chemical transformations as well as design and production of DNA-encoded libraries. Among Alex’s notable achievements at GSK are pioneering a program that targeted novel chemical space with the DEL technology and the design and production of GSK’s largest and only 6-cycle library of 2.5 trillion macrocyclic peptides. In 2016 Alex joined HitGen, where he currently works as a Vice President of Business Development and Chemical Sciences. His primary responsibilities entail negotiating business deals, establishing new partnerships, analyzing DEL selection output, and generating hit proposals. Alex has co-authored over 15 scientific publications and patents.

Alyssa Grogan

Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Duke University

Alyssa Grogan is a Post-Doctoral Associate in the Department of Medicine/Cardiology at Duke University. Prior to her post-doc, she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, Baltimore where she investigated the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation in mice carrying a genetic mutation in the cytoskeletal protein, obscurin. Her current research in the lab of Dr. Howard Rockman at Duke University has focused on the allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Using the OpenDEL platform, she successfully conducted a DNA-encoded small molecule library screen and discovered a novel allosteric modulator of the beta-adrenergic receptor with promising therapeutic effects in the heart.

Holly Soutter

Director of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Dr. Soutter is Director of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Center for the Development of Therapeutics at the Broad Institute. She has over 20 years’ experience in biotech/pharma focusing on identifying and developing both small molecule and large molecule therapeutics. She was a group leader at X-Chem where she used DEL screening to identify molecules that bound therapeutic targets from a variety of target classes and therapeutic areas. She is co-inventor on multiple patents and made significant contributions to several programs that either made it into the clinic or became marketed therapeutics.

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Kari Abitbol

Head of Webinars & Client Success, Endpoints News

As head of the client success team at Endpoints News, Kari oversees campaign delivery and strategy for all advertising and client-directed webinars. She brings nearly 20 years of diverse experience across strategic communications, content development and operational leadership.