DC Discussion Group

Sonia Vallabh
Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University

Sonia Vallabh co-leads the initiative to develop preventive drugs for prion disease at the Broad Institute. She comes to this work with a personal mission. In 2010, Vallabh watched her 52-year-old mother die of a rapid, mysterious, undiagnosed dementia. One year later, Vallabh learned that her mother’s disease had been genetic prion disease, and that she herself was at risk. Vallabh underwent predictive genetic testing and learned that she had inherited the causal mutation, placing her at very high risk of developing the same disease. There was no prevention, treatment, or cure available. Vallabh quit her previous career in law and consulting, and, together with her husband, Eric Minikel, re-trained as a scientist in order to devote her life to finding a way to stop her disease before it starts.

At the Broad, Vallabh is focused on developing preventive drugs for prion disease. Lowering of prion protein (PrP) is a genetically well-validated strategy for delaying the onset of prion disease, and it lends itself to measurement of PrP as a biomarker available before the disease process has begun. Vallabh is working on the discovery and preclinical development of PrP-lowering drugs, credentialing of PrP in cerebrospinal fluid as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for such drugs, and establishment of a clinical pathway for preventive drug development. She co-leads a natural history study at Massachusetts General Hospital devoted to the assessment of fluid biomarkers in individuals at risk for genetic prion disease, and helped to launch the Prion Registry to promote and enable research participation in her community.

Vallabh holds a BA from Swarthmore College, a JD from Harvard Law School, and a PhD in biological and biomedical sciences from Harvard University. She trained in Stuart Schreiber’s laboratory at the Broad. In 2016, she served as a patient representative in the White House Precision Medicine Initiative.

Introduction to Bioassay Development: CMC Strategy and Practical Application | Morning Session

Monday, January 27, 2025
Morning Facilitators: Patrick Hussmann and Scott Umlauf, AstraZeneca

The 2025 WCBP Symposium Workshop will provide practical knowledge on bioassay method development, with a particular emphasis on potency assays. Method development and lifecycle management will be covered in the context of the unique role of bioassays in CMC control strategy of biopharmaceuticals, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, fusion proteins, such as T cell engagers, vaccines, and cell and gene therapy. 

Note: Registration for the workshop requires an additional ticket which can be added to your registration at the time of purchase. For additional information on pricing, view Registration Fees.

Practical Applications for Method Design and Performance | Afternoon Session

Monday, January 27, 2025
Afternoon Facilitators: Colleen Santoro and Tara Stauffer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

In this interactive session, participants will work collaboratively on case studies relevant to current challenges in bioassay development, deployment, and lifecycle. This session will expand on the morning session and is recommended for both novice and experienced attendees.

Note: Registration for the workshop requires an additional ticket which can be added to your registration at the time of purchase. For additional information on pricing, view Registration Fees.