May 2, 2025

Riggs School Research Symposium

Welcome to the 2025 Riggs School Research Symposium!

The KGI Riggs School Research Symposium combines research talks and poster presentations with student capstone presentations, culminating in one multidisciplinary event showcasing all degree programs in the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences. Researchers from academia and industry will share their experience and developments in the biomedical sciences and engineering. The expected attendance is 200+ students and faculty from KGI and other local colleges and universities, plus industry leaders and friends of KGI.

Keynote Speakers

John Witte

Title: Using Genetics to Improve Disease Screening: An Application to Prostate Cancer

View Bio & Abstract

Patrice Gilooly

Title: Leap of Faith - My Biotech Journey

View Bio & Abstract

Schedule & Agenda

Friday, May 2, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sheldon M. Schuster Campus Center, Keck Graduate Institute | 517 Watson Drive, Claremont, CA 91711 View maps & parking

8:00–8:30 AM	Check-in (517 Entrance) and Light Continental Breakfast (The Chan Family Café and Patio) Sponsor
8:30–8:45 AM	Welcome and Introductions by President Abousalem, Provost Megan Prosser and Dean Angelika Niemz Location: Sheldon M. Schuster Campus Center Founders Room (517-165)
8:45–9:30 AM	Keynote speaker: John Witte (Professor, Stanford University) — Using genetics to improve disease screening: an application to prostate cancer Location: Sheldon M. Schuster Campus Center Founders Room (517-165)
9:30–9:35 AM	Break / Transition
	TEAM MASTER'S PROJECTS & TEAM DESIGN PROJECTS Learn More (TMP)\|Learn More (TDP)		RESEARCH TALKS Learn More
	535-35	535-152	517-165
9:35–10:25 AM	9:35–10:00 CBC VitaWeft — Optimization and Development of Bioprinter for Expanded Market	9:35–10:00 TDP — Designing a Commercial-Scale Biomanufacturing Process for BlinQ, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) for Metastatic Breast Cancer	9:35–10:05 Jonathan Felix (PhD Candidate) — Interrogating the Fitness Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain Mutants’ Interactions with ACE2
9:35–10:25 AM	10:00–10:25 Bright Path Labs — Data Integrity Verification and FDA ANDA Preparedness Using Advanced AI Methods	10:00–10:25 TDP — Terraform: an Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma	10:05–10:20 Christopher Perucho (Masters Student) — Evolutionary Implications of Cross-Species Transmission: Computational Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Binding
10:25–11:20 AM	Coffee Break (The Chan Family Café and Patio) and Poster Session I - Even Numbers (Sheldon M. Schuster Campus Center) Sponsor
	TEAM MASTER'S PROJECTS & TEAM DESIGN PROJECTS Learn More (TMP)\|Learn More (TDP)		RESEARCH TALKS Learn More
	535-35	535-152	517-165
11:20 AM–12:35 PM	11:20–11:45 Alexion — Market Assessment of Device and Combination Products	11:20–11:45 TDP — Design and Development of AndromiX, an AAV6 Gene Therapy for Severe Hemophilia A	11:20–11:50 Barbara Bailus (Assistant Professor, KGI) — Backstage Passes to the Brain: Delivering Therapeutics Past the Blood Brain Barrier
	11:45–12:10 KGI — Brand Resonance Analysis for Keck Graduate Institute	11:45–12:10 D-Cube — D-Cube Pricing & Valuation	11:50–12:05 Melissa Mendez (Masters Student) — Regulatory Challenges and Future Directions for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Drug Development
	12:10–12:35 Claremont Bio — Development of QMS Documentation for Global Market Compliance and Manufacturing Alignment of Claremont BioSolutions' SPX8 System	12:10–12:35 QuantumShield — Optimal U.S. Site Selection for Sodium-Ion Battery Production Facility	12:05–12:35 Kent Young (PhD Candidate) — How to manufacture a better autologous CAR-T cell therapy product
12:35–1:30 PM	Lunch (Oasis Courtyard) Sponsor
1:30–2:15 PM	Keynote speaker: Patrice Gilooly, (retired former Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance & Operations at Regeneron) — Leaps of Faith - My Biotech Journey Location: Sheldon M. Schuster Campus Center Founders Room (517-165)
2:15–2:20 PM	Break / Transition
	TEAM MASTER'S PROJECTS Learn More		RESEARCH TALKS Learn More
	TMP 535-35	TMP 535-152	517-165
2:20–3:35 PM	2:20–2:45 PDA — PDA Quality Culture Assessment Tool Analysis	2:20–2:45 Abzena — Monoclonal Antibody Platform Process Optimization	2:20–2:50 Eliot Bush (Professor, Harvey Mudd College) — Reconstructing the History of Genomic Island Insertions in Clades of Microbes
	2:45–3:10 Merck & Co., Inc. — Strategic Asset Management of Operations Research Benchmarking, Technology and Best Practices for Long Term Strategic Decisions	2:45–3:10 Waters — Production, Purification and Characterization of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Particles for Gene Therapy Applications	2:50–3:20 Josephine Chu (PhD Candidate) — Hepatic amyloid precursor protein is localized in mitochondria and may be a source of peripheral amyloid-beta: Implications in alcohol-dependent Alzheimer’s Disease
	3:10–3:35 Mozarc — Optimization and Simplification of Mozarc Medical Design Control QMS	3:10–3:35 Pfizer, Inc. — Demonstration of New Use Case for Digital Assistants in Clinical Trials	3:20–3:35 Andrew Parker (Masters Student) — Content Analysis of Price Communication in Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Television Advertising
3:35–4:30 PM	Refreshments (The Chan Family Café and Patio) and Poster Session II - Odd Numbers (Sheldon M. Schuster Campus Center)
4:30–4:45 PM	Closing Remarks - Location: Sheldon M. Schuster Campus Center Founders Room (517-165)

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Sponsors

John Witte

Title: Using genetics to improve disease screening: an application to prostate cancer

Bio

John Witte is a Professor of Epidemiology & Population Health, Biomedical Data Sciences, and Genetics at Stanford University. He is the Vice Chair of Epidemiology & Population Health and co-Leader of the Population Sciences program in the Stanford Cancer Institute. Before Stanford he was on the faculty at UC San Francisco and at Case Western Reserve University. He is an internationally recognized expert in genetic epidemiology, focused on developing and applying machine learning methods to decipher the genetic basis of cancer and other complex traits. His work has used comprehensive genome-wide studies of germline genetics, transcriptomics, and somatic genomics toward determining who is most likely to be diagnosed with clinically relevant disease and require additional screening or specific treatment. John Witte has mentored over 50 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, serves on the executive committees of multiple graduate programs, and has directed National Institutes of Health funded pre- and post-doctoral training programs in genetic epidemiology for over 20 years.

Abstract

Biomarkers are commonly used to screen for numerous different diseases. For instance, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are commonly used to screen men for early signs of prostate cancer. However, many of these biomarkers are highly heritable, making it difficult to distinguish between high levels due to genetic predisposition versus high levels due to early-stage disease. In addition to diluting useful prognostic signals, the use of heritable biomarkers puts individuals with naturally elevated biomarker levels at risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, unnecessarily exposing them to side effects and imposing avoidable financial costs. To address this, we show how one can use machine learning to perform robust genetic personalization of biomarkers with an application to PSA and prostate cancer. In particular, we demonstrate that the accuracy of prostate cancer screening can be significantly improved by removing “genetic noise” from PSA levels, and that this can further allow for developing a polygenic risk score predictive of aggressive disease. This personalization framework holds promise for improving any non-causal yet heritable disease biomarker.

Patrice Gilooly

Title: Leaps of Faith - My Biotech Journey

Bio

Patrice Gilooly is a senior quality executive with over 30 years of experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, spanning early clinical through commercial launch and post-marketing phases. Patrice was most recently Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance and Operations for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a multi-national, fully integrated biotechnology company that develops highly specialized parenteral therapies for serious unmet medical needs such as age-related macular degeneration, atopic dermatitis, asthma, cancers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. During Patrice’s 27-year career with Regeneron, she contributed to the company growth from a $100 million market capitalization to over $100 billion and was primarily responsible for the company’s GMP Quality Assurance program and personnel globally. This responsibility spanned multiple functions and geographies, including a global team that grew from approximately 20 US-based to over 1000 QA professionals across North America, Europe and Asia as well as oversight of dozens of contract manufacturing organizations (CMO). She was instrumental in growing the quality culture and strong compliance mindset for a clinical phase and small-scale manufacturing organization to a global leader in large scale commercial biologics manufacturing. She was also involved in the approval of over 10 biologic license approvals (BLA) for fusion proteins and monoclonal antibody therapies as well as an emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 therapy.

Abstract

This presentation will reflect on a transformative 30-year career in the biotechnology industry, highlighting pivotal moments, technological advancements, and evolving trends. From early-stage clinical development to the commercialization of groundbreaking therapies, the journey spans critical innovations in drug discovery, facility design, quality system maturity, operational excellence and organizational development. Key lessons learned in navigating regulatory landscapes, fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations, and driving innovation will be shared, along with insights into the future trajectory of biotech. The presentation aims to provide a comprehensive view of the industry’s progress and the personal and professional growth that has accompanied a dynamic and rewarding career.