MidWest Drug Development Conference
ONLINE EVENT | Oct. 4-5, 2021
2021-10-04 08:00:00
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Registrations are now open!

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GOAL OF THE FORUM

The goal of the Midwest Drug Development conference is to provide industry and investors a single event to learn about cutting edge Midwestern therapeutic technologies and start-up companies.

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COVERAGE

The 2021 MWDD conference will offer feature technologies from most major Midwestern universities. Previous participating universities include Nebraska and the Nebraska Medical Center, Wisconsin’s WARF, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa, Iowa State, Iowa, Mayo Clinic, Note Dame, Kentucky, Cincinnati Children’s, Missouri, Oklahoma, Purdue and Colorado.

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TARGETED NETWORK

Ample spaces dedicated to networking will be available for university, industry and investor guests who want to engage in one-on-one partnering discussions regarding their technologies.

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Technologies

Featured technologies & Speakers

List is tentative, and subject to change at any time.

SEARCH:

Agmatine-based pain treatment avoids opioid addiction

University of Minnesota

The search for better analgesics has focused on non-addictive alternatives. Agmatine, the decarboxylated product of arginine, is a potential candidate for novel therapeutics.

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BMP-2 RNA enhances bone regeneration

University of Iowa

Inventors at the University of Iowa have developed an RNA-based therapeutic that can be used in medical and dental applications.

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Clinical trials show promise for Innocell cancer vaccine

PhotoPharma (Colorado State University)

PhotonPharma’s Innocell involves sampling a patient’s tumor cells, inactivating them so that they are unable to replicate, then administering them back to the patient.

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DHODH inhibitors to treat hematological malignancies

Ohio State University

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a key enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway.

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Dual-biomarker targeting agent helps diagnose, treat prostate cancer

University of Missouri

A dual diagnostic and therapeutic compound binds GRPr and PSMA with high specificity and sensitivity.

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Engineered bacterial strain eliminates drug resistance in GI tract

Medical College of Wisconsin

Medical College of Wisconsin inventors have developed a novel biotherapeutic for eliminating antibiotic-resistant enterococci from the GI tract.

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Gene therapy improved with new AAV hybrid vector system

University of Missouri

Novel dual- and tri-AAV hybrid vector systems increase the upper size limit of gene constructs from <5kb to <15kb.

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Human chimeric antigen receptor neutrophils to treat cancer

Purdue University

Researchers at Purdue University have developed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) neutrophils for the targeted treatment of cancer.

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Humanized antibodies to treat diabetes, range of tissue injuries

University of Minnesota

SerpinB13 is a protease inhibitor linked to autoimmune inflammation and Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

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MSC CARs engineered with a CAR enhances immunosuppression

Mayo Clinic

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs), have been used in cell therapy for treatment of various inflammatory conditions. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) engineered MSCs have the potential to create an MSCs with higher immunosuppression activity and in-vivo persistence.

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Nanoparticles deliver bioactive molecules

University of Wisconsin (WARF)

A new hybrid nanocapsule uses a silica, metal and organic framework designed to deliver protein, nucleic acid or hydrophilic drugs.

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New approach enhances vaccination

Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Vaccines must elicit immune responses of a sufficient magnitude and quality to prevent or treat disease. While existing vaccine technologies are capable of achieving this goal for many diseases, these strategies have thus far proven inadequate against global threats like HIV and cancer.

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New approach has potential to cure pulmonary arterial hypertension

Drax Therapeutic Inc. (Indiana University)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) affects 200, 000 people annually and there is no cure for this condition.  Researchers at Indiana University and University of Illinois at Chicago, have identified a potential drug for curing PAH.

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New approach improves CAR T cancer therapies

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a novel regimen by which oncolytic virotherapy can be used as a potent immunological adjuvant to improve the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy against solid tumors.

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New approach improves drug delivery for dental applications

University of South Dakota

Microparticles based on hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, or calcium citrate and cross-linked gels loaded with a drug such as eugenol or arginine are able to occlude dentinal tubules and release on-demand a cargo drug to the oral cavity and to the pulp of the tooth, providing both desensitizing, antibacterial or any other effect depending on the drug cargo.

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New cell therapy battles bacterial infections

Validus Cellular Therapeutics (Colorado State University)

For patients and doctors battling resistant infections, Validus Cellular Therapeutics is developing VCT-001, a novel preclinical stage anti-infective therapy unlike current small molecule antibiotics, which are susceptible to resistance and are limited accessing infections.

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New compound inhibits pancreatic cancer

EQon Pharmaceuticals (Indiana University)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the highest mortalities of all malignancies, with aggressive biology, resistance to therapeutic agents, and a mere 5-year survival of 8-9%.

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New mitochondria-targeted therapeutics will help lung, other cancers

Medical College of Wisconsin

Medical College of Wisconsin inventors have developed novel small molecule therapeutics that will help treat small cell lung cancer, among other cancers.

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New treatment for Status Epilepticus ‘starves’ problematic neurons

University of Wisconsin (WARF)

This technology uses 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) as a novel treatment for Status Epilepticus (SE).

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New vaccine approach targets ETEC-related diarrhea

Kansas State University

Researchers at Kansas State University have developed a structure-based multiepitope fusion antigen (MEFA) technology for vaccines against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) bacteria.

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Non-viral formulation delivers lubricin genes

University of Iowa

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis weakens the regulation of lubricin gene and increases shear stress within the joints.

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Novel antibiotics target beta-lactamase

University of Missouri

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed novel inhibitors of beta-lactamase, a bacterial enzyme that provides resistance to β-lactam antibiotics.

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Novel antiviral therapeutics target SARS-CoV-2 infections

University of Kansas

Remdesivir is currently the only FDA-approved drug for treating COVID-19. While remdesivir improves recovery time, it does not significantly reduce death rates in hospitalized adults. Researchers at the University of Kansas have produced novel antivirals that shows promise as a COVID-19 treatment.

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Novel mPGES-1 inhibitor targets pain, inflammatory diseases

University of Kentucky

It has been proposed that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), known as the principal proinflammatory prostaglandin, is implicated in pain response and also plays a role in inflammatory diseases.

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Novel selective HDAC6 inhibitors show promise for cancer and beyond

University of Colorado-Boulder

The researchers of the University of Colorado developed a series of hydroxamic acid derivatives as HDAC6 selective inhibitors.

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Paclitaxel prodrug enhances anticancer efficacy

University of Wisconsin (WARF)

A new formulation of paclitaxel fuses the drug to an oligo-lactic acid (oLA) encapsulated in a PEG-PLA micelle.

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Prevent, alleviate side effects of radiation or radiotherapy

University of Colorado-Boulder

Using C. elegans as an animal model to study radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE), researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have identified a highly conserved cysteine protease, cathepsin B, as the first RIBE factor.

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ProGel delivers meds for long-term local effect

Ensign Pharmaceutical (University of Nebraska Medical Center)

ProGel is a platform technology with a diverse spectrum of drug payloads, such as steroids, statins, antioxidants, opioids, chemotherapeutics, and hormones.  Ensign Pharmaceutical’s initial product focuses on managing osteoarthritis pain, incorporating a potent steroid, dexamethasone, into the formulation.

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RNA-binding protein inhibitors slow tumor growth in metastatic cancers

University of Kansas

Despite recent therapeutic advances in cancer treatment, metastatic cancer remains the primary cause of cancer deaths.

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Selective GRK5 inhibitors can treat heart failure, breast cancer

Purdue University

Researchers at Purdue University have developed selective small molecule inhibitors of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) for preventing heart failure and treating breast cancer.

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Serine protease inhibitors treats eosinophilic esophagitis

Cincinnati Children's Hospital

A critical component of normal esophageal function is a protective epithelial barrier that prevents damage to the underlying tissue due to outside environment exposure such as foreign antigens and microorganisms.

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Small molecule chaperones restore acid-β-glucosidase activity

Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Gaucher disease (GD) is an inherited disorder where the body does not make enough glucocerebrosidase (GCase), an enzyme that breaks down fatty chemicals in the body.

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Small molecule shows first-in-human MoA for salivary gland cancers

SuviCa (University of Colorado-Bolder)

SVC112 is a late-preclinical stage asset with potent single agent activity in genetically-defined models of salivary gland cancer, a neglected and orphan disease with no approved targeted or immunotherapy agents.

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Small molecule Wnt modulators to treat Alzheimer’s

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a small molecule modulator for use in treating and preventing a variety of Wnt-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic and ischemic brain injury, as well as bone loss disorders.

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Therapeutic cancer vaccine platform is customizable

Ohio State University

B cells are primarily known for their robust adaptive immune response through antibody production; however, they are often overlooked among the body’s professional antigen-presenting cell (APC) populations.

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Therapeutic targets metastatic prostate cancer

Purdue University

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a targeted therapeutic option for treating metastatic prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the United States.

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TTK kinase inhibitor to treat hematological malignancies

Ohio State University

The TTK kinase is critical for proper function of the spindle assembly checkpoint, and its upregulation is associated with poor clinical outcomes in a variety of cancer types.

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Unique cadherin peptides enhance brain delivery of therapeutic molecules, antibodies

University of Kansas

Therapeutic proteins have been used to successfully treat a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.

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Vasculonics develops new therapy for acute kidney and chronic diabetic kidney disease with clinical candidates

Vasculonics (Indiana University)

Vasculonics is an Indiana-based biotech formed out of technology licensed from Indiana University.

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Number of participants is limited!

Don't miss your chance. Find the next big thing in Omaha

Register Now!
Schedule


Tentative Schedule

Monday
Oct. 4, 2021
9 a.m. — 10 a.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Selective GRK5 Inhibitors
    (John Tesmer, Purdue University)
  • DHODH Inhibitors for Hematological Malignancies
    (Chad Bennett and Jerry Hilinski, Ohio State)
  • Dual Specific CAR T Cells for Cancer Therapy
    (Richard Vile, Mayo)
  • Small Molecule PRMT5 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
    (Tao Lu, EQon Pharmaceuticals — Indiana)

10 a.m. — 11 a.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Novel mPGES-1 Inhibitors for Pain and Inflammatory Diseases
    (Chang-Guo Zhan, University of Kentucky)
  • ProGel System for the Treatment of Pain and Inflammatory Diseases
    (Dong Wang, Ensign Pharmaceutical — University of Nebraska Medical Center)
  • Strategically Substituted Agmatine Molecules for the Treatment of Pain
    (Carolyn Fairbanks, University of Minnesota)
11 a.m. — Noon (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Small Molecule Chaperones for the Restoration of acid-β-glucosidase Activity
    (Justin Levy, Cincinnati Children’s)
  • New treatment for Status Epilepticus starves problematic neurons
    (John Nagel, WARF)
  • Serine Protease Inhibitors for the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
    (Reid Smith, Cincinnati Children’s)

1 p.m. — 2 p.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Engineered Bacterial Strain for Eliminating Drug Resistance in GI tract
    (Landon Olp, Medical College of Wisconsin)
  • Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Bacterial Infections
    (Ethan Mann, Validus Therapeutics — Colorado State)
  • Novel Antibiotics Targeting Beta-Lactamase
    (Brian Buntaine, University of Missouri)
  • Antiviral Compounds Against SARS-CoV-2 infection
    (Jingxin Wang, University of Kansas)
2 p.m. — 3 p.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Human Chimeric Antigen Receptor Neutrophils
    (Xiaoping Bao, Purdue University)
  • Novel Selective HDAC6 Inhibitors for Cancer
    (Xuedong Liu, University of Colorado Boulder)
  • RNA-binding Protein Inhibitors for Metastatic Cancers
    (Liang Xu, University of Kansas)
  • Compounds for the Prevention of Radiation and Radiotherapy-based Side Effects
    (Ding Xue, University of Colorado-Boulder)
3 p.m. — 4 p.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations

  • BMP-2 RNA System for Bone Regeneration
    (Sarah Sapouckey, University of Iowa)
  • Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Bioactive Molecules
    (Rafael Diaz, WARF)
  • Microparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery to Teeth
    (Abu Ahammadullah, University of South Dakota)
Tuesday
Oct. 5, 2021
9 a.m. — 10 a.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations

  • Novel Enzyme Therapeutics Targeting Childhood Dementia
    (Ron Bruntz, University of Kentucky)
  • Small Molecule Wnt Modulators for Alzheimer’s Disease
    (Yonghe Li, Mayo Clinic)
  • Cadherin Peptides for the Enhanced Delivery of Therapeutics to the Brain
    (Teruna Siahaan, University of Kansas)
10 a.m. — 11 a.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Gene Therapy Approach for Metastatic Prostate Cancer
    (Marxa Figueiredo, Purdue)
  • SVC112 a Translation Elongation Inhibitor for the Treatment of Cancer
    (Tin Tin Su, SuviCa — University of Colorado-Boulder)
  • GRPr-PSMA Targeting Agents for Cancer
    (Brian Buntaine, University of Missouri)
  • Mitochondrial Targeted Small Molecules for Oncology
    (Landon Olp, Medical College of Wisconsin)

11 a.m. — Noon (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Non-viral Formulation for Delivery of Lubricin Genes
    (Hozhabr Mozafari, University of Iowa)
  • Dual Hybrid AAV Vector System for Gene Therapy
    (Brian Buntaine, University of Missouri)
1 p.m. — 2 p.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • DGMS-RAR7 for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    (Roberto Machado, Drax Therapeutics — Indiana University)
  • Humanized Antibodies for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
    (Jan Czyzyk, University of Minnesota)
  • Modulator of Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase for the Treatment of Kidney Disease
    (Jon Northrup, Vasculonics — Indiana University)
  • Engineering MSC CARs with a CAR for enhanced immunosuppression
    (Saad Kenderian, Mayo Clinic)
2 p.m. — 3 p.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Paclitaxel Prodrugs
    (John Nagel, WARF)
  • MUC16 Antibody for the Treatment of Cancer
    (Surinder Batra, University of Nebraska Medical Center)
  • TTK Kinase Inhibitors for Hematological Malignancies
    (Jerry Hilinski and Celeste Alverez, Ohio State)
  • Cancer Vaccine Strategy
    (Jon Weston, PhotonPharma — Colorado State)
3 p.m. — 4 p.m. (CDT)
Technology Presentations
  • Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Platform
    (Damian Gerald and Reena Shakya, Ohio State)
  • Vaccine against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
    (Aarushi Gupta, Kansas State University)
  • Perforin Inhibitor for the Enhancement of Vaccine-elicited Responses
    (Stephen Waggoner, Cincinnati Children’s)

More details are coming soon!

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NewsNewsNews

Latest News

Presentation schedule set for 2021

OMAHA, Nebraska (Sept. 21, 2021)—The schedule of planned presentations for the 2021 MidWest Drug Development conference has been released.

Publishing the schedule helps registered participants plan partnering meetings that could propel Midwestern innovation into deeper stages of development. The partnering system will be the same software used at BIO and JPM. One-on-one partnering will be open Oct. 4-8.

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MWDD moves to a virtual event in 2021

OMAHA, Nebraska (Aug. 17, 2021)—Due to rising concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 MidWest Drug Development Conference will move to a 100-percent virtual event.

The two-day conference will still be on Monday, Oct. 4 and Tuesday, Oct. 5, but all events will be online. Register here: https://www.mwdrugdevelopment.com/tickets/.

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Sponsorship, presentation slots nearly full

https://www.phrma.org/en

OMAHA, Nebraska (July 29, 2021)—The final slate of participants and sponsorships for the 2021 MidWest Drug Development Conference are nearly filled as several major institutions have lined up to participate in the event.

Sponsored in part by PhRMA, a massive international trade association that advocates and supports pharmaceutical companies, the conference will feature 18 major Midwest institutions.

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View all news

Number of participants is limited!

Don't miss your chance. Find the next big thing in Omaha

Register Now!
VenueVenueVenue

Venue & Contacts

The Midwest Drug Development Conference will be an all online-only event in 2021!

Contacts

Event Coordinators

Matt BoehmIndustry & University Liason

matt@mwdrugdevelopment.com | 402-559-2468

Michael DixonSponsors & Donors

michael@mwdrugdevelopment.com | 402-559-2468

Send us a message

    More details for 2021 are coming soon!

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    sponsors

    Our Sponsors and Partners

    Sponsorship Packages

    Platinum Sponsor

    • Table in prime location (6’ table)
    • Four free registrations
    • Full-page ad in program
    • Logo placement on website and in conference materials
    • Named sponsor for one lunch or reception

    Gold Sponsor

    • Exhibitor table (6’ table)
    • Three free registrations
    • Half-page ad in program
    • Logo placement on website and in conference materials
    • Named sponsor for one breakfast

    Silver Sponsor

    • Exhibitor table (6′ table)
    • Two free registrations
    • Quarter-page ad in program
    • Logo placement on website and in conference materials
    • One category three item included

    Exhibitor

    • Exhibitor table (‘6 table)
    • One free registration
    • Logo placement on website and in conference materials

    CUSTOMIZE YOUR PLAN!

    À la carte options are also available, such as meal sponsorships and advertising placements. Contact Michael Dixon to learn more.

    Become a sponsor!

    Learn more about how you can help bring academic research to the marketplace!

    More Info

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    MIDWEST DRUG DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
    Bringing together industry and the best university drug development researchers in the Midwest
    An Online Event
    Oct. 4-5, 2021

    Latest News
    • Presentation schedule set for 2021 September 21, 2021
    • MWDD moves to a virtual event in 2021 August 17, 2021
    • Sponsorship, presentation slots nearly full July 29, 2021
    • Registrations are now open for 2021 March 25, 2021
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