Exploring the Intersection of AI, Gene Editing, and RNA Therapeutics

160 East Tasman Drive,San Jose CA 95134

14 May, 2023

Description

1:00 - 1:30pm Event Check in and light lunch 1:30 - 2:10pm Generative AI for drug discovery Dr. Ho Leung Ng 2:10 - 2:50pm Root cure of neurodegenerative disease by Gene Editing Dr. Chenjian Li 2:50 - 3:30pm The Preclinical Safety Evaluation of RNA therapeutic products Dr. Renzong Xie Speaker Introductions Dr. Ho Leung Ng Dr. Ng is the founder of Rise Bio, a startup working on AI drug discovery for drug-resistant breast and prostate cancer. Dr. Ng was a Principal Scientist at Atomwise, a leading AI drug discovery company. Dr. Ng spent most of his career in academia, as a professor of biochemistry at Kansas State University and professor of chemistry at the University of Hawaii. Dr. Ng completed his PhD at UCLA and postdoc at UC Berkeley. He then worked as a Senior Scientist at ConfometRx under founder, future Nobel Laureate Brian Kobilka, on G-protein coupled receptor crystallography. Dr. Ng was the recipient of the US National Science Foundation CAREER Award for early career scientists. Dr. Ng’s current research focuses on generative models for drug discovery, quantum chemistry, closed loop automation for hit-to-lead and lead optimization, and identifying drug binding sites in proteins. Chenjian Li, Ph.D. Stanford University Dr. Chenjian Li is currently on the faculty of Stanford University. He has been a Chair Professor of Peking University. He is on the China Advisory Board of Eli Lilly and Company, and the China Advisory Board of Cornell University. Dr. Li is also a bio-tech entrepreneur who co-founded and successfully established Novita Pharmaceutical Inc., developing anti-cancer metastasis first-in-class drug which is in Phase II trial in USA. Dr. Li is an alumnus of Peking University Biology Department and Peking Union Medical College was the former Vice Provost of Peking University, Executive Dean of Yuanpei College, and Associate Dean of School of Life Science, Peking University. Prior to his return to China, he was an assistant professor and associate professor at Weill Medical College of Cornell University (2003—2009), and then Aidekman Endowed Chair of Neurology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2010—2013). Dr. Li's scientific achievement is in the field of molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurological diseases. Parallel to research, Dr. Li is devoted to education reforms for the next generation of global-citizen leaders, ranging from high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical student education. He was one of the organizers of the influential "Science Outreach Program" in USA. Since his move to China, he has played a leading role in important initiatives such as the establishment of Cambridge-PKU Center for China Study, inauguration of Rhodes Scholar program in China, reform of college admission by holistic evaluation, design and implementation of liberal education curriculum at PKU, etc. He received many awards for excellence in teaching, including a student-voted “Pied Piper Mater” at Weill Cornell Medical College in 2006, a student-voted “Best Teacher” at PKU in 2015, Outstanding Educator Award by the world-wide Chinese Biological Investigator Society in 2016, and Outstanding Teaching Award from Peking University Life Science in 2019. He also received 2001 National Book Award for the translation of Richard Feynman’s book into Chinese. Rengzong Xie, DABT Ph.D. Dr. Renzong Xie is currently VP of Toxicology from Medicilon. He has been serving in the pharmaceutical industry for more than thirty years, including twelve years of working experience in CDE in Taiwan. Dr. Xie was responsible for reviewing the pharmacological and toxicological test reports of IND and NDA applications, writing review reports and conducting risk assessments. He reviewed more than 200 IND cases, including 70 biologics drugs and more than 150 NDA cases, of which about 40 biologics drugs. He has also drafted the guidelines for CDE non-clinical safety trials of Taiwan, ICH S9 and E14/S7B, and several guidelines for non-clinical safety trials of Taiwan. In addition, Dr. Xie is also experienced in pharmacology and toxicology research, establishment of disease animal models, and the whole process of new drug development. These experiences will further promote the development of Medicilon toxicology research and improve the quality, efficiency and successful rate of project submissions. Before joining Medicilon, Dr. Xie served as a senior executive in Jiangxi Changpharma Inc., LongBio Pharma, and Oneness Biotech, and has excellent experience in new drug R&D and team management. Dr. Xie received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi, USA, Certified Toxicologist of the DABT, former member of the Drug Development Program Review Committee of the National Science Society of Taiwan, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Professor of Taipei Medical University and Biotech Industrial Academy. This event is organized by CBA board member Jessie Zhang, Xinxin Li and Dan Zhang