Events

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine Seminar Series “From Organoids to Algorithms: Translational Platforms for Precision Oncology in Solid Tumors” Presented by Marianna Kruithof-de Julio, Ph.D. Professor of Experimental Urology, Director, Cancer Translational Research Program, Director, Organoid CORE, University of Bern, CH. Biography: Marianna Kruithof-de Julio is a Professor of Experimental Urology and Director of the Cancer Translational Research Program at the University of Bern. She leads the Urology Research Laboratory and the Organoid Core Facility, developing patient-derived organoid and organ-on-chip models to better understand cancer and support therapy decisions. Her work focuses on prostate, bladder, renal, and pancreatic cancers, combining advanced technologies such as spatial transcriptomics and AI-driven histopathology with functional drug screening. In addition to her research, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of Gene and is Founder of OnconiX, committed to translating science into practical solutions that improve patient care. Abstract: The complexity of solid tumors such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and bladder cancer (BLCa) demands integrative approaches that combine biological fidelity with computational power. Here we outline a multi-modal translational framework that leverages patient-derived organoids, spatial transcriptomics, microfluidic platforms, and artificial intelligence to accelerate personalized cancer therapy development. Feasibility trials in PDAC have demonstrated the successful acquisition of high-quality biopsies for downstream applications, including organoid generation and spatial profiling. These models recapitulate key histopathological and molecular features, enabling functional drug screening and predictive modeling. AI-based classifiers trained on transcriptomic data further stratify tumors by therapeutic response, even in cases where organoid derivation is not feasible. Complementing this, the iBloC (immune Bladder-on-Chip) platform introduces a microfluidic system tailored for bladder cancer, simulating tumor-immune interactions under physiologically relevant conditions. This chip-based model supports dynamic drug testing and real-time molecular analysis, bridging the gap between preclinical research and clinical application. Together, these platforms represent a scalable and clinically relevant pipeline for precision oncology, integrating experimental and computational tools to guide individualized treatment strategies.

Precision Medicine Research Conference Thursday, January 15, 2026 2-3PM Belfer Research Building, Room 1401 and via Zoom "Unraveling Connections Between Therapy and Immune Dynamics" Presented by: Taha Merghoub, PhD Margaret and German Sokol Professor in Oncology Research, Professor of Pharmacology, Professor of Immunology Research in Medicine, Deputy Director, Meyer Cancer Center Weill Cornell Medicine

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine – AI Clinic Join us for our first bi-weekly AI Clinic meeting on Wednesday, January 14th at 2:00pm ET. AI Clinic Info: These sessions aim to enhance how we use LLMs for complex tasks, including coding. They will serve as a collaborative space for hands-on troubleshooting, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning. Who is this for? This clinic is designed for our entire scientific and clinical community, with a special emphasis on trainees (students, postdocs, residents and fellows). It is the perfect forum for: Researchers and Scientists looking to apply LLMs to data analysis, coding challenges, or manuscript writing.Clinicians interested in exploring how AI tools can securely optimize research and workflows.Trainees seeking a supportive, hands-on environment to learn and get guidance on applying advanced LLMs to their specific projects. All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to advanced users. What participants can expect from these sessions: Collaborate with our most LLM-proficient team members (“Super-Users”) to troubleshoot and refine their work.Present real challenges they are encountering (e.g., coding issues, complex prompts, workflow optimization).Potentially share “micro-presentations” when someone discovers a new model, feature, or technique. Our goals are to: Build internal expertise and share best practices. Help participants overcome real technical challenges, and create a community of practice around practical AI use. We are currently seeking Super-Users (preferably two to lead each session) who demonstrate expertise in coding and experience with AI tools such as GPT-5/Codex, Claude Sonnet 4.5/Claude Code, and Gemini 2.5 Pro. We are also seeking participants who are looking for troubleshooting guidance. Reach out to Victoria Cummings (vjc4001@med.cornell.edu) should you have any questions or inquiries.

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine Seminar Series "The Highs and Lows (-plex) of Spatial Biology in Autoimmune Research" Presented by M. Caleb Marlin, PhD Senior Scientist and Imaging Project Manager, Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Description: Spatial biology is a growing field of impactful technologies and analysis tools that allow researchers to understand the cellular and molecular makeup of a given tissue in its native spatial context. This understanding provides a unique opportunity to answer questions that no other field of study can investigate. There exists a wide range of imaging technologies that identify different numbers of markers and/or different analytes altogether. Leveraging these seemingly disparate technologies together provide us with a more holistic understanding of the tissue in clinically meaningful ways. Here, Dr. Marlin will discuss how the Guthridge/James lab at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is working with both high- and low-plex datasets to better understand afflicted tissues in autoimmunity. Bio: Dr. Caleb Marlin is a Senior Staff Scientist and Imaging Project Manager in the labs of Drs. Judith James and Joel Guthridge in the Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Their research focuses predominantly on understanding the underlying mechanisms contributing to autoimmune diseases like Lupus, Sjogren’s Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis. With deep-phenotyping capabilities and single-cell technologies, in combination with their biorepository and local clinics, their group combines large informatics approaches with clinical data to better understand these diseases and better treat patients afflicted with autoimmunity.

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine - AI Working Group "AI for Clinical Genomics" Presented by Quaid Morris, PhD Professor, Computational and Systems Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Institute

Precision Medicine Research Conference Thursday, December 18, 2025 12-1PM Belfer Research Building, Room 1401 and via Zoom "The Importance of DREAMing BIG" Presented by: Jonathan Zippin, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Dermatology Weill Cornell Medicine Presented by: Jeanyoung Kim, MD Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology Weill Cornell Medicine * This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™*

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine Seminar Series "Multi-omic and Functional Landscapes of Melanoma Converge on Clinically Actionable Features" Presented by Mitch Levesque, PhD Full Professor of Dermato-Oncology, University of Zurich, Switzerland Co-Head of Research, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland Bio: Professor Mitch Levesque is Full Professor of Dermato-Oncology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland and Co-Head of Research in the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital Zurich. His group focuses on understanding how tumor heterogeneity and the immune microenvironment influence treatment resistance and response in melanoma. As Head of the Skin Cancer Biobank, Prof. Levesque leads one of Europe’s most comprehensive melanoma collections, integrating clinical, molecular, and functional data to accelerate biomarker discovery and precision oncology. His research has contributed to identifying molecular predictors of immunotherapy response and mechanisms of adaptive resistance to targeted therapies, with findings published in Nature Medicine, Cancer Cell, and Cell. A founding member of the Skintegrity.CH consortium and the Tumor Profiler program, he promotes close collaboration between clinicians, pathologists, and data scientists to bring high-dimensional analyses into patient care. He is also co-founder of Oncobit AG, a spin-off translating blood-based biomarker technologies for real-time monitoring of cancer therapy.

Join us for an engaging sushi lunch seminar to discover how Standard BioTools’ portfolio, including the XT Pro CyTOF and Hyperion XTi Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC), can be combined with spatial transcriptomics to unlock new dimensions of biological insight. In this session, you’ll learn how same-slide spatial multi-omics empowers deeper understanding of tissue biology, enabling precise mapping of tumor microenvironments and immune landscapes. Agenda: • Meet the Team – Connect with Standard BioTools and discover the CyTOF and IMC portfolio • Application Highlights – See how CyTOF drives deeper insights in cancer research and how IMC reveals clinically relevant protein expression • Spatial Multi-Omics – Learn how IMC can be combined for same-slide multiomics, unlocking powerful new insights into tumor biology, immune landscapes, and drug development

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine - AI Working Group "Multimodal Large Language Models for Dermatology Triage" Presented by Nuran Golbasi B.S. Medical Student & Research Fellow, Weill Cornell Medicine

Precision Medicine Research Conference Thursday, November 13, 2025 1-2PM Belfer Research Building, Room 1401 and via Zoom "Precision Medicine in Breast Cancer" Presented by Vered Stearns, MD Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine * This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™*