Professor Mark Howarth
University of Cambridge
Talk Title: Bacterial superglues to empower biologics discovery, cell therapy and disease prevention
Abstract: The investigation and application of protein function is often limited by dissociation. Our lab re-engineered an adhesion system from Streptococcus pyogenes to generate an irreversible peptide-protein interaction (SpyTag/SpyCatcher). This superglue is genetically-encodable and shows specificity in diverse cellular environments. We accelerated reactivity to the diffusion limit and generated variants switchable by light, pH or temperature. SpyTag allows rapid reformatting of antibodies with reporters or effector molecules. SpyMask inducible reactivity allows simple assembly of bispecific antibody panels, to change the output of receptor signalling in cells and discover new therapeutic synergy. SpyTag also enables simple reformatting of CAR-T cells, virus-like particles for vaccination, or viral vectors for gene therapy. We have developed an independent bacterial superglue called NeissLock, engineered from Neisseria meningitidis. NeissLock allows covalent reaction at the cell-surface to unmodified human proteins via an anhydride. Applications will be discussed towards cell therapy and for broad protection against emerging disease threats.
Biography: Mark Howarth is the Sheild Professor in Cambridge University Department of Pharmacology. His group has developed a range of protein superglues that are widely used in academia and biotech, leading to the concept of Click Biology. For this work he received the Royal Society of Chemistry Norman Heatley Award for chemical biology. He co-founded the vaccine company SpyBiotech and Gastrobody Therapeutics. 9 alumni from his lab have spun out their own companies. He is also the Translational Champion for his Department, working to develop entrepreneurship and to enhance industry/academia cooperation.
Dr Benjamin Taylor
AstraZeneca
Talk title: CAR-T and TCR-T cells
Biography: Ben Taylor is a Senior Director within the Cell Therapy Discovery unit in AstraZeneca. He leads a team in early R&D helping develop next generation cell therapies using gene editing technologies and advanced in-vitro cell biology. Prior to AstraZeneca in 2014, he completed a PhD at Imperial College and Postdoc at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology on epigenetic regulation and DNA mutagenesis in cancer.
Abstract: CAR-T and TCR-T cell therapies have transformed the treatment landscape for haematological malignancies. However, their application in solid tumours remains limited by the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. To address this, AstraZeneca has developed the "DIAL" framework—a strategic approach to guide the design and development of next-generation cell therapies. This presentation will introduce the DIAL framework and highlight our latest preclinical and clinical efforts aimed at enhancing therapeutic efficacy in solid tumour settings.
Dr Miles Congreve
Isomorphic Laboratories
Talk title: Artificial intelligence (AI) in determining protein structure and drug targets
Biography: Dr. Congreve is the CSO at Isomorphic Labs, joining in May 2022. Previously, he was CSO at Sosei Heptares (2008-2022; CSO 2019) and previously held senior leadership positions at Astex Therapeutics (2001-2008) and GSK (1993-2001). Dr. Congreve is an author of over 200 drug design publications. He has contributed to the discovery of 29 clinical agents, including 3 marketed drugs. He is a co-inventor of Ribociclib (Kisqali®), a first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer. He was recipient of the RSC Malcolm Campbell Memorial Prize (2015) and is an editorial advisory board member for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. In August 2025 Dr. Congreve was recognised in the TIME 100 AI list as one of the world’s most influential people in AI.
Professor Nick Lench PhD, FRCPath
Executive Director, MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA)
Talk title: Targeted, precision oligonucleotide therapies for rare diseases
Biography: Nick is Executive Director of the MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator based at Harwell Research and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK. Nick has extensive experience in rare disease genetics and genomic medicine and has worked in academia, industry and the NHS. Nick was a co-founder of Congenica, a leading international digital health company providing clinical decision support software for rare disease diagnosis and precision medicine. Prior to founding Congenica, Nick was Director of Genetics Services at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London and is an Honoray Professor in Genetics and Genomic Medicine at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UCL.
Abstract: Rare genetic diseases collectively affect approximately 7% of the population; however, effective therapies are only available for <5% of all rare diseases. Advances in genomic medicine and nucleic acid technologies have paved the way for targeted, precision therapies that address the root causes of many of these conditions. Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics—particularly antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)—offer a transformative approach by modulating gene expression, correcting splicing defects, or silencing pathogenic mutations at the RNA level.
The presentation will explore the current landscape and future potential of oligonucleotide therapies for rare diseases, highlighting recent clinical successes such as treatments for spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. It will also discuss the scientific, translational and regulatory challenges in developing personalized therapies for ultra-rare conditions, including N-of-1 studies.
I will highlight the work of the MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator with specific case studies from oligonucleotide design and target validation to preclinical testing and safety profiling. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary strategies to reduce toxicity and off-target effects and improve tissue-and cell-specific delivery for these exciting new treatments.
Joining the programme are:
Dr Emma Magavern, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Alessio Ciulli, University of Dundee
Professor Melissa Little, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Dr Arnaud Bastien, Bristol Myers Squibb
Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, Queen Mary University of London
