American Thoracic Society 2025 Hosted Session
SCIREQ is hosting a free in-person session on May 20, 2025 from 4-5 PM PST at The Howard SF located on 661 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Speakers:
- Dr Johannes – Calico Life Sciences
- Dr Harry Karmouty – The University of Texas Health Science Center
Getting to "The Howard SF" from the ATS Venue
Speaker Spotlight !
Please register below to attend!
Dr. Johannes Riegler – Calico Life Sciences LLC
Biography: Johannes Riegler leads a preclinical imaging group focused on understanding aging and age-related diseases. Using high-resolution MRI, micro-CT, ultrasound, and bioluminescence imaging, they study physiological changes in animals.One focus area for the group is the development of non-invasive methods to track structural and functional lung changes in aging and fibrosis models.
Discussion Title: Longitudinal characterization of lung structure and function in mouse fibrosis models.
Micro-CT easily detects changes in lung tissue density caused by inflammation and fibrosis. Longitudinal micro-CT allows for measuring initial lung injury before treatment, which is crucial in models with variable injury, like intratracheal bleomycin administration.
Combining micro-CT with oxygen transfer and lung mechanics assessments (using flexiVent) provides a comprehensive evaluation of lung pathology as well as efficacy for potential therapeutic interventions.
Dr Harry Karmouty-Quintana – UTHealth Houston
Biography: Harry Karmouty-Quintana, PhD, is a pulmonary researcher studying mechanisms of lung fibrosis, with a focus on hyaluronan and the transcription factor SIX1. He holds a BSc and PhD from King’s College London and completed postdoctoral training at the Meakin’s Christie Labs at McGill University. He is currently an Associate Professor with Tenure at UTHealth Houston.
Discussion Title: Identifying novel mechanisms and testing new drugs to treat lung fibrosis using the flexiVent
Dr Darmouty-Quintana will demonstrate the sensitivity of the flexivent to detect alterations in lung function that precede histological changes. He will also demonstrate how the flexivent helped identify SIX1 as a novel mediator in the pathophysiology of lung fibrosis.
New Research Platform for Precision Cut Lung Slices
Precision-Cut Lung Slices (PCLS) help researchers understand pathophysiological mechanisms associated with various respiratory diseases. The physioLens is a scientific platform that provides accurate physiological and image-based outcomes in a reproducible fashion. It includes an automated microscope and fluid handling system.
The physioLens features:
- Automation: The physioLens is capable of capturing images anywhere on slices in a 6 well plate and apply doses without user intervention. Images are analyzed in real-time to provide bronchoconstriction data.
- Dosing: Agonists are provided to the slice without user intervention by a dosing nozzle, that can provide a 95% media exchange in less than 20 seconds. In addition, eight dosing bottles are provided to complete a detailed dose response automatically.
- Image analysis: Images of airways are automatically processed to capture the lumen contours and then calculate bronchoconstriction.
- Slice Scanning: Navigating a slice is not necessary with our airway configuration wizard complete with full slice mapping. Fine tune the positions of interest with our click-and-drag XY navigation.
In Vivo and In Vitro Smoke Exposure
We are proud to introduce our new expoCube, adding robust in vitro exposure to the automated inExpose system.
The expoCube provides a novel ALI (air liquid interface) culture exposure system, integrating with the inExpose’s existing exposure generators such as the integrated cigarette smoking robot and industry leading e-cigarette extensions.
The expoCube features:
- Reproducibility: Efficient, uniform, and precise exposure of particulates onto target cells and tissues.
- Precision: Optimized flow paths using advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling.
- Deposition: Patented thermophoresis, increasing the deposition efficiency of small particles without imparting unnatural electrostatic charges onto the aerosols.
in vivo Respiratory Mechanics Measurements
The flexiVent lung function solution is widely regarded as the gold standard for in vivo respiratory mechanics measurements. It goes beyond traditional resistance and compliance mechanics of pulmonary ventilation, and captures crucial details about the mechanical properties of conducting airways, terminal airways and parenchyma.
The flexiVent achieves the highest sensitivity and reproducibility by precisely controlling experimental conditions.
