Webinar

Exploring the critical roles of astrocytes in health and disease

25 September 2024

3:00pm

Register for this webinar to discover the latest astrocyte research and its implications for CNS drug discovery.

Join us for an in-depth webinar on astrocytes, a highly versatile and essential glial cell in the central nervous system (CNS). Two speakers will  provide valuable insights into the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in both health and disease and the challenges researchers face when modelling this complex biology in vitro.

Our first speaker will explore the critical functions of astrocytes in regulating energy metabolism, forming the blood-brain barrier, and facilitating synapse formation and maturation. Emphasising the pivotal role of calcium as the primary information carrier in astrocytes, this session will introduce an innovative astrocytic compound screening pipeline. This novel approach leverages recent advances in calcium signal analysis to investigate drug effects on astrocytes, potentially transforming therapeutic strategies that currently focus predominantly on neurons.

The second speaker will address the significant challenges researchers encounter when studying astrocyte biology in vitro. He will introduce a new addition to bit.bio’s CNS toolkit, designed to help researchers more effectively model brain complexity and gain valuable insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic developments.

 This webinar offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of astrocytes and their crucial role in the CNS. Gain insights from leading experts in the field and discover the latest advancements in astrocyte research including the latest ioCells development from bit.bio – deterministically programmed human iPSC-derived ioAstrocytes.

Key learning points: 

  • Learn about the essential roles astrocytes play in regulating energy metabolism, forming the blood-brain barrier, and supporting synapse formation and maturation.
  • Discover the latest advancements in astrocytic compound screening and their potential to transform therapeutic strategies.
  • Explore bit.bio’s deterministically programmed human iPSC-derived ioAstrocytes and their potential for advancing neurodegenerative disease research.

Register now to secure your place!

OUR SPEAKER

Jeremy Krohn – PhD candidate, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Charité Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program

Researches astrocyte biology for drug development. Passionate about reducing animal use in research and bridging the gap between academic research and therapeutic applications.

Tom Brown – Senior Product Manager, bit.bio

Manages the strategy and new product development of ioCells, ioDisease Model Cells and is the product management lead for ioAstrocytes.

FAQs

Is the webinar free?
Yes – there is no charge to watch the webinar, either live or on-demand.

When will the webinar take place?
The webinar will take place live on 25 September at 16:00 BST

I’m busy. Can I watch it later?
The webinar will become available to watch on-demand shortly after the live webinar takes place.

What are the benefits of attending live?
During the live webinar, you’ll be able to ask the speakers your questions, which will then be answered during the live Q&A session towards the end of the webinar.

How long will the webinar be?
This webinar will last for up to one hour.

What do I need to watch this webinar?
All you need is a computer with an internet connection. Be sure to use headphones if in an office environment.

Do I receive a certificate?
Yes, you will receive a certificate if you attend the webinar live. The certificate will be sent with your on-demand video link.