February 25 - March 1, 2023
San Diego, CA, USA
February 25 - March 1, 2023
San Diego, CA, USA
This year’s scientific program will bring you more than 150 scientific talks spanning nine educational tracks within life sciences, technology and laboratory automation. Sessions will build off of the innovative, life-changing and sometimes surprising discoveries from over the last year.
We’re excited to bring the in-person exchange of research and ideas back to San Diego, February 25 - March 1. Watch this section for complete details on 2023 keynote speakers, educational tracks, the scientific podium program and short course information.
Special thanks to the SLAS2023 Program Chair: Kristen Nailor (Genentech) and Robyn Rourick (Genentech).
Monday, February 27
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Josh Smith, Ph.D.
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Does AI Accelerate the Discovery of Therapeutics and Biomarkers?
Podium presentations at SLAS2023 are organized into nine educational tracks. Track and session titles and descriptions and names of track chairs and session chairs follow below.
The Scientific Program Committee selects speakers based on the innovation, relevance and applicability of research. If your proposed topic does not squarely fit into the focus of one of these tracks, please submit it for committee consideration regardless. The committee members use their judgment and experience to select presentations that best address the interests and priorities of today’s life sciences discovery and technology community.
The Event Scheduler is now available! For the most up-to-date session listings, search the SLAS2023 program by day, title, presenter or educational track. Session titles are current as of November 1.
The Editors of SLAS Discovery and SLAS Technology have hand-selected a list of pre-reads that will give SLAS2023 attendees a glimpse of the research that will be represented within each educational track of this year's program.
Access SLAS Discovery Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Pre-Reads
Track Chairs: Elnaz Atabakhsh, Ph.D., Critical Path Institute and Diane Nazzal
The qualitative and quantitative characterization of endogenous and exogenous analytes in biological systems are the basis of drug discovery and development. This track will highlight important developments in bioanalytical technologies, including advances in label free technologies, applications of target and mechanism deconvolution techniques and omics approaches to biomarker analysis.
Sessions include:
Access SLAS Discovery Bioanalytics and Biomarkers Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Bioanalytics and Biomarkers Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists podcast episodes:
A Lesson in Small Molecule Biomarkers: Mo Jain, M.D., Ph.D. (CEO and Founder, Sapient)
A New Way of Screening: Oksana Sirenko, Ph.D. (Senior Scientist, Molecular Devices)
Track Chairs: Davide Gianni, Ph.D., AstraZeneca and David Brierley, Ph.D., GlaxoSmithKline
This track will focus on recent innovations across the assay development and screening discipline, including the adoption of novel technologies and the implementation of effective, innovative screening campaigns and hit triage strategies. Attendees will learn about the development of robust, physiologically relevant biochemical, biophysical and cellular assays that are crucial for identifying novel targets and active ligands that engage their targets directly. There will be an emphasis on recent case studies where cutting-edge assay approaches have increased the success rates of screening for target discovery and lead identification campaigns. Additional attention will be paid to emerging screening efforts that have been coupled with next-generation therapeutic modalities and novel mechanisms of action to broaden the scope of target classes that can be drugged. Taken together, the overall track will highlight advances in the fields of assay development and screening that enhance efforts to identify, validate and characterize novel targets and potential leads molecules.
Sessions include:
Access SLAS Discovery Assay Development and Screening Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Assay Development and Screening Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following online content in APPLIED:
Or, check out a related episode of New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists:
An Exploration in Cell Imaging and Photonic Innovation: Roland Terborg, Ph.D. (Shinephi)
Track Chairs: Lorena Kallal, Ph.D., GlaxoSmithKline and Daniel Sipes, M.S., Plexium
This track focuses on the innovative use of biological or chemistry applications, tools, technologies and techniques as they pertain to automated high-throughput screening, the advancement of laboratory processes or improvement of the quality and impact of experimental laboratory data. Emphasis is placed on advancements in chemically and biologically relevant technologies using engineering, analytical, informatics, and application to cutting edge automation-assisted research.
Sessions include/
Access SLAS Discovery Automation Technology Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Automation Technology Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists podcast episodes:
Accelerating Materials Innovation: Christoph Kreisbeck (COO, Kebotix)
Blue Ocean Strategy: Maciej Grajewski (SGPapertronics)
Saving the World With a Lab in a Box: Winston Chiu (KU Keuven)
Or, learn more about our new short course, Lab of the Future.
Track Chairs: Lynn Kaman, BioAgilytix and Ratnakar Potla, Ph.D., Genentech
Attendees will learn from industry and academic leaders about new cellular technologies and their application in the understanding of normal physiology and disease, and in the generation of disease-relevant models for drug discovery and pre-clinical development. The track will cover models used for illuminating functional genomics and for pharmacology, ADME or toxicity outcomes. The technologies covered will include the generation and use of patient-derived models, iPSC models, complex co-cultures, organoids, organ-on-chips, and microphysiologic models. The track will also include cellular therapeutics and cell technologies to support biologics and gene therapy approaches.
Sessions include:
Access SLAS Discovery Cellular Technology Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Cellular Technology Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following online content in APPLIED:
Or, check out a related episode of New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists:
Pharmacological Target Engagement, Validation, and InOrgan-on-Chip Technology | Innovative New Technology: Daniel Levner, Ph.D. (Emulate)
Track Chairs: Kate Hardy, MOMA Therapeutics and John Conway, M.S., 20/15 Visioneers
Data science and AI have become common topics in life sciences at an exponential rate. A decade ago, companies were infrequently knowledgeable about the applications for these technologies, whereas today we see large organizations focusing on data digitization strategies, small organizations with hugely aspirational computational goals, and even some drug discovery companies launching with a computational science platform as their primary differentiator. The conversation has decidedly shifted from "what if" to "when", and the competition is fierce - both to set your organization apart and to get the right expertise to wield the technology. This track will focus on how data science helps organize and make sense of life science data, and in return, how companies and groups can best support data science teams through literacy goals and pipelines for growth and hiring. Emphasis will be placed on stories from groups that leverage data science and AI in new and novel ways to both show successes and lessons for others to learn from, and to bring up new moonshot ideas that help our field continue to grow and nurture itself.
Sessions include
Access SLAS Discovery Data Science and AI Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Data Science and AI Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following online content in APPLIED:
Or, check out these related episodes of New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists:
Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence: Del Ray Jackson, Ph.D. and Rick Sidler, Ph.D. (Unchained Labs)
AI Automation Explosion: Various
You can also learn more about our new short course, Lab of the Future.
Track Chairs: Augusto Tentori, Ph.D., 10X Genomics and Eileen Seo, Ph.D., Arizona State University
Micro- and nano-technologies have leveraged their unique physics and their ability to interact with biological systems at matched length scales to advance novel insights into human health. With micro- and nanotechnologies now being scaled via automation, integrated with optical systems and assembled into structured materials, their impact to biological research and medical science is now larger than ever. This track will highlight recent advances in multi-omic, high-content platforms that enable insights at subcellular lengthscales and in the fabrication and application of novel micro- and nanomaterials.
Sessions include
Access SLAS Discovery Micro- and Nano-Technology Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Micro- and Nano-Technology Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists podcast episodes:
3D Bioprinting – Accelerating Drug Discovery: Andrew Ridley, Ph.D. (Cellink)
Scaling Up, Up and Away: Fellowship Follow-Up with David McIntyre
Having an Eye Inside Cells: Antonio Quilez (A4Cell)
More Complex Cultures: Per Setterberg and Professor Göran Landberg (Iscaffpharma)
Track Chairs: Shane Buker, Ph.D., Accent Therapeutics and Vladislav Zarayskiy, Ph.D., Monte Rosa Therapeutics
Our disease understanding has revealed targets that are challenging to treat with typical inhibitor approaches. The next generation of therapeutics needs novel drug-target strategies that transcend transcend traditional chemical space. This track will provide drug discovery scientists with the latest information on protein degraders and stablizers, nucleic acid-targeting molecules, nucleic acid therapeutics and other emerging modalities.
Sessions include
Access SLAS Discovery New Modality Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology New Modality Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following online content in APPLIED:
Track Chairs: Meromit Singer, Guardant Health and Matthew Spitzer, University of California, San Francisco
Omics technologies have become an integral part of science and medicine, from cutting edge discovery of biomarkers to a personalized approach to health and wellness including early detection and treatment of cancer. In this session we explore four main avenues where omics approaches have revolutionized cancer research, personal health and wellness, single cell and spatial technologies and drug discovery and therapy.
Sessions include:
Access SLAS Discovery Omics Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Omics Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists podcast episodes:
Solving Problems for the World's Good: Steven Graves (CEO and Founder, BennuBio, Inc.)
Pig-to-Human Heart Transplant | Fighting Infectious Diseases: Sivan Bercovici, Ph.D. (CTO, Karius)
Track Chairs: Herve Tiriac, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego and Alice Soragni, University of California, Los Angeles
The Precision Medicine & Diagnostics track focuses on approaches that aim to provide translatable insight into disease biology. This includes cellular, molecular, biochemical, engineering and bioinformatic strategies in diagnostics, screening and translational medicine. The session will emphasize the application of state-of-the-art, quantitative, high-throughput and high-resolution approaches to both cellular models and complex tissues. These strategies enable multiparametric computational analyses to reveal the complex interplay of genetics, cell types and drugs to advance precision medicine. Topics include improvements in stem cell-based disease modelling, bioengineering, molecular and cellular assays, bioinformatic and imaging approaches.
Sessions include:
Access SLAS Discovery Precision Medicine Pre-Reads
Access SLAS Technology Precision Medicine Pre-Reads
If you are interested in this track, you may also be interested in the following online content in APPLIED:
Or, check out a related episode of New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists:
Pig-to-Human Heart Transplant | Fighting Infectious Diseases: Sivan Bercovici, Ph.D. (CTO, Karius)
The SLAS2023 Short Course Program provides in-depth instruction on topics, issues and techniques related to the laboratory science and technology community. The Short Course descriptions will be added shortly.
Short Courses will be presented on Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26, 2023.
| One Day Courses |
| 3D Printing for Scientific Applications (Live Demo) |
| Assay Guidance Workshop for High Throughput Screening and Lead Discovery |
| Data Analytics with KNIME (Laptop Required) |
| Introduction to Biologics |
| Introduction to Laboratory Automation - SOLD OUT! |
| Lab-on-a-Chip: From Technology to Bioanalysis on Chip |
| Pharmacological Target Engagement and Validation |
| Phenotypic Screening: Why, When and How |
| Sample Management: Best Practice, Trends and Challenges |
| Streamlining Your Laboratory with Python: An Introduction |
| Half Day Courses |
| Advanced Flow Cytometry |
| An Introduction to Automated Science - SOLD OUT! |
| An Introduction to Mass Spectrometry and its Applications within Drug Discovery |
| Developing Microfluidic Systems for Biochemical and Cell-Based Assays - SOLD OUT! |
| Genome Editing Applications in Drug Discovery and Target Validation - SOLD OUT! |
| Level Up Your 3D Cell Culture: From Research to High Throughput - SOLD OUT! |
| Liquid Handling Essentials (Interactive Course) — Morning Course |
| Liquid Handling Essentials (Interactive Course) — Afternoon Course |
Contact Hannah Rosen, SLAS Scientific Manager.