Lunch and Learn
Metabolism Meets Immunotherapy: Lessons from Obese Preclinical Models
April 10th, 11:30am-1:00pm
Residence Inn Boston Cambridge, 120 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142
Obesity is a growing global epidemic and a well-established risk factor for at least 13 types of cancer. Despite this, preclinical oncology studies are often conducted in young, metabolically healthy mice that fail to reflect the metabolic and immune complexities of the patient population. To bridge this gap, Diet-Induced Obese (DIO) mouse models offer a more clinically relevant platform for evaluating cancer therapies, particularly in the context of immuno-oncology.
Join us for an exclusive Lunch & Learn where we present cutting-edge data on how obesity-driven metabolic changes impact tumor growth, immune responses, and checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. Our findings highlight the importance of metabolomics, proteomics, and tumor microenvironment (TME) analyses in refining drug development strategies.
What You’ll Learn:
- Obesity accelerates tumor growth and alters the immune landscape in preclinical models.
- The impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-mPD-1 and anti-CTLA-4) in DIO mice compared to standard-diet controls.
- Key metabolic shifts, including pentose phosphate pathway dysregulation, that may influence therapy response.
- Why DIO models provide a more predictive and translationally relevant approach for evaluating immunotherapies.
- How global metabolomic profiling reveals obesity-driven changes in glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid pathways that affect tumor progression.
- How proteomic analysis uncovers alterations in key metabolic enzymes and immune-related proteins, providing mechanistic insights into obesity’s impact on drug response.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how metabolically challenged preclinical models can improve translational research and better inform clinical strategies.
About the Speakers:
Erin Trachet
Sr. Director, Scientific Engagement, TD2 Oncology
Erin Trachet has devoted her career to oncology research with a pharmacology focus. She has worked in both industry and the CRO (contract research organization) space for more than 23 years. In industry she was a part of several great small molecule programs, including Palbociclib (Pfizer’s CDK 4/6 inhibitor) and Dacomitinib (Pfizer’s pan-EGFR inhibitor). Here at TD2, she developed a collaborative, scientifically engaging environment where the Sponsor, Scientific Engagement, and the Execution Team all work together to drive the Sponsor’s program forward.
Tiffany Bernardo, PhD.
Business Development Manager, Panome Bio
Tiffany earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in Developmental Biology and Molecular Genetics where she focused on the role of PPARγ and lactate metabolism in early placentation. She specializes in applying untargeted metabolomics, proteomics, and multi-omic data integration to support biomarker discovery, drug development, and precision medicine. At Panome Bio, she collaborates with researchers across academia and industry to translate complex biological data into actionable insights.
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