(July 18, 2018)

Sponsored by

Webinar Description:

Conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods only provide insight into a limited number of markers of interest. With high spatial heterogeneity and biological complexity, resected tumor samples present a significant characterization challenge, particularly when samples are scarce. Multiplexing in a single, intact tissue sample is required to identify cell types, understand biological pathways, and map cellular interactions.

The past decade has seen the introduction of multiplexed immunofluorescence to establish the spatial relationships between various immune cells in tumor biology, in context. Histopathologists not only need to detect these multiple cell populations identified by specific protein markers, but also need to determine how they interact spatially, through a complex array of signaling markers. From upstream discovery, down to translational and clinical implementation, this multiplexing in situ need translates into high single-digit, even double-digit numbers of protein markers, to be imaged on single biopsy sections. Addressing this need, especially acute in immuno-oncology, Ultivue provides significant benefits of shorter panel validation, whole slide imaging at higher throughput without requiring dedicated instrumentation.

Ultivue has developed a fully optimized, automated staining protocol on the Leica BOND RX platform. Such walkaway automation enables the staining of up to 30 slides per 4 to 5 hour run, with high reproducibility run-to-run and exceptional operator-to-operator consistency. Using our predefined UltiMapperTM I/O 5-plex kits on the BOND RX for research use only, Discovery, Translational and Clinical Research labs can implement easy and convenient multiplexed staining. Avoiding any linear unmixing after image acquisition, the UltiMapper I/O whole slide images are directly analyzed using the IndicaLabs HALO software, to derive cell counts, marker co-localization and proximity data. HALO therefore provides the analytical tools to tap into convoluted biomarker signatures and answer complex biological questions posed by the tumor micro-environment.

Learning Objectives

• Benefits of the Ultivue technology and value proposition of the UltiMapper I/O kits
• UltiMapper I/O automated workflow on the Leica BOND RX
• Downstream image analysis using IndicaLabs’ HALO

Speakers:

Stephanie Hennek, PhD
R&D Team Leader, R&D
Ultivue

Dr. Stephanie Hennek is an R&D Team Leader at Ultivue. As one of Ultivue's first employees, Stephanie led the establishment and implementation of Ultivue's InSituPlex technology for highly multiplexed tissue imaging. As an expert in bioanalytical chemistry, she serves as the technical lead for product development of UltiMapper kits and principal investigator on expanding technology application areas for Ultivue. Stephanie received her bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence University and obtained a PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University where she studied molecular interactions at interfaces. Prior to joining Ultivue, Stephanie completed a postdoctoral fellowship with David Walt at Tufts University where she worked on single molecule assay development for single cell analysis and breast cancer diagnostics.

Traci DeGeer
Global Product & Innovation Manager-BOND RX
Leica Biosystems Melbourne

Traci DeGeer is the Global Innovation and Product Manager BOND RX at Leica Biosystems. Prior to joining Leica, she served as the Discovery Training Manager for Roche Molecular Systems where she develops training programs researchers and Roche training sites worldwide. She received her bachelors of science in Biology from Radford University in Virginia. She is certified both as a HT and a HTL and has her QIHC. At the start of her career she worked in the clinical setting as a Histotechnologist, Lead Histotechnologist. She then moved to Ventana Medical Systems in 2004 as a technical customer care executive and 8 months later into training. Traci has performed numerous workshops at both the state and national level on a variety of different topics. She is an active member of the NSH where she serves as chair of the Education and CEU committees.

Adam Smith
Strategic Accounts Manager – North America
Indica Labs

Adam is a Strategic Accounts Manager at Indica Labs, Inc. He earned a BS in Biology from Ursinus College in 2004. Adam began his professional career as a biologist in the Safety Assessment department of Merck Research Laboratories in the fall of 2004. During his time at Merck he developed skills in the pathology labs from necropsy to immunohistochemistry. In 2006, Adam worked as part of a team at Merck to implement and perform a GLP validation of their digital pathology system, connecting pathologists at multiple global sites. He worked as the digital pathology lead for Merck’s Safety Assessment group, and developed image analysis protocols that have aided in establishing the safety profiles of several compounds. In 2015, Adam joined Indica Labs as an application scientist, providing training and workflow support to customers world-wide.