Translational Research Symposium Speaker Spotlight: Professor Christoph Hagemeyer

A/prof Christoph Hagemeyer

Monash University's 5th annual Translational Research Symposium is being hosted by its three metropolitan clinical schools on 21 June 2019. The symposium will host a diverse group of medical researchers presenting their work into translational research. RSVP here.

Associate Professor Christoph Hagemeyer is Head of the Nanobiotechnology Laboratory at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases.
A/Prof Christoph Hagemeyer is a Senior Research Fellow of the NHMRC, Head of the NanoBiotechnology Laboratory at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (Monash University) and an adjunct A/Prof of Nanotechnology at RMIT. He studied Chemistry in Germany and obtained a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Freiburg (Germany). He made contributions to the field of Cytochrome P450 metabolism in the brain before moving into cardiovascular research developing anti-thrombotic fusion proteins and novel imaging probes. He has particular expertise in the use of small recombinant single-chain antibodies for molecular imaging and drug delivery. His main current research theme is the development of "bio-better" antibodies with added functionality using the novel Sortase Bio Click technology developed in his laboratory. He has published widely in leading journals (Circ Res, Adv Mater, Angew Chem..) on vascular biology, recombinant antibodies and nanotechnology and has been supported throughout his career by national and international fellowships and grants.

Associate Professor Hagemeyer's presentation abstract can be found below:
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Chasing activated platelets - from bench-to-bedside

Cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of death worldwide. Novel diagnostics and therapeutics are urgently needed to identify patients at risks and treat them in the emergency situation (myocardial infarction and stroke).

Platelets are cell fragments derived from megakaryocytes and play a major role in haemostasis, thrombosis and inflammation. The integrin GPIIb/IIIa is the most abundant platelet receptor on the platelet surface and the target of approved clinical drugs. However, these drugs bind to the receptor regardless of the activation state thereby interacting with all circulation platelets.

Using phage-display and recombinant antibody technology, we have developed confirmation-specific single-chain antibodies against GPIIb/IIIa that exclusively bind to activated platelets. This specificity allows the selective imaging of thrombosis and inflammation with a very high signal to noise ratio as well as the safe delivery of thrombolytic drugs and inhibitors of the coagulation system. We can demonstrate therapeutic efficacy at a much lower dose compared to non-targeted drugs thereby significantly reducing side effects.

In conclusion, conformation-specific antibody drug conjugates hold great promise to provide major advances in diagnosis and therapy of vascular disease.
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We look forward to welcoming A/Prof Hagemeyer for the Symposium!

More information:
Translational Research Symposium

• Date: Friday 21 June 2019
• Time: 8:30 for 9:00am start - 5:30pm close
• RSVP here

Find out more about the symposium and our speaker program.

If you are a graduate student or early career researcher, you may be interested in the Young Investigator poster competition. See here for more details and to RSVP.