Newswise — The Global Biological Standards Institute (GBSI) targets the quality of research antibodies at a workshop at Asilomar next month in its ongoing efforts to improve reproducibility in preclinical research. Antibody Validation: Standards, Policies, and Practices brings together 100 leaders representing academia, antibody producers, pharma, funders, journals and policy makers to share perspectives, build consensus and recommend actionable solutions for improving accuracy in research antibody usage and validation. It is the first convening of all such stakeholder groups with the express purpose of developing antibody standards.
WHEN: September 25-27, 2016 Press Briefing Webcast, September 28, 9:00 a.m. PT; 12:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: Asilomar Conference Grounds Pacific Grove, California
Research antibodies are indispensable biological reagents in basic and translational laboratories and clinical settings around the world. They are increasingly used in a wide variety of biomedical applications, with global sales of $1.6 billion in 2011 estimated to increase to $2.6 billion by 2019. However, antibody quality varies drastically, and as such they are a major contributor to the life science research reproducibility crisis and currently there are no standardized and widely accepted guidelines for antibody validation.
PROGRAM AND PRESENTERS:To build consensus for research antibody validation standards, in advance of the workshop, GBSI engaged the scientific community in a survey as well as an online dialogue—GBSI Antibody Validation Online Discussion Group. The discourse, covering four themes: Creating Antibody Standards, Responsibilities of the Producers, Drivers for Adoption, and The Future of Antibodies, continues to progress online and will inform the outcomes of the workshop. In addition, preceding conferences addressing antibody validation in Europe and Asia will further build on the topics. Several attendees of those meetings will join the full representation of stakeholder groups meeting at Asilomar.
The workshop, hosted by GBSI and planned in conjunction with The Antibody Society, offers an ambitious agenda that includes 15+ forums and breakout sessions addressing: • The Science Behind Antibody Validation Standards• Finding Common Ground: Building Consensus • Producers and Service Providers in a Pivotal Role: QC/QA and Certification • Integration of Recombinant Antibodies • Incorporating Antibody Databases• Introducing Drivers for Adoption from Funders and Journals• Testing Rigor, Reproducibility, and Antibodies: The View from NIH • Roadmap for Moving Forward: Action Steps and Assignments
More than 40 leaders and innovators will facilitate the sessions and guide the discourse, including: • James Anderson, PhD, NIH• C. Glenn Begley, MBBS, PhD, Akriveia Therapeutics• Andrew Bradbury, MBBS, PhD, Los Alamos National Laboratory• Veronique Kiermer, PhD, PLOS Journals• Joshua LaBaer, MD, PhD, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University• Andreas Plückthun, PhD, University of Zurich • David Rimm, MD, PhD, Yale University• Mathias Uhlén, PhD, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden)
PRESS BRIEFING WEBCAST:A press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9:00 a.m. PT (12:00 p.m. ET) will be webcast. Leonard P. Freedman, PhD, President of GBSI and workshop chair, and other stakeholder experts will provide impressions of the workshop, highlights of the discourse and proposed next steps. Leadership is available for interviews scheduled pre and post workshop, and at limited times throughout the event.
SPONSOR SUPPORT:GBSI is grateful for workshop funding and other support by sponsors, National Institutes of Health* and Thermo Fisher Scientific, (platinum level); The Antibody Society, Abcam, Amgen, Bio-Techne, Gilead, (gold level); BioLegend, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cell Signaling Technology, Genentech, Rapid Novor, (silver level); and AbbVie, AdipoGen Life Sciences, Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities, Grifols, OriGene and Rockland Immunochemicals (bronze level).
About Global Biological Standards Institute (GBSI)GBSI, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of biomedical research by advocating best practices and standards to accelerate the translation of research breakthroughs into life-saving therapies. For more information and a list of workshop steering committee members visit GBSI.org; Twitter @GBSIorg.
Media Contacts: Carol Miller at email: [email protected] or phone: 202-306-0130 Nancy Retherford at email: [email protected] or phone: 317-460-6838
*Funding for the Antibody Validation workshop was made possible in part by an National Institutes of Health R-13 grant, GM 121024-01/G236SH. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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