Pre-Conference Workshop Day |
Monday, December 1, 2025
Workshop A
8:00 am Advancing Understanding of the Intracellular Complement System to Uncover a New Generation of Complement Based Therapeutic Targets
Synopsis
Join this workshop to enrich your knowledge of the approaches being used to deepen the mechanistic understanding of the intracellular complement system to uncover future therapeutic targets related to immunometabolism, the mitochondria and aging.
- Understanding the emerging insights into the complement system’s activity inside cells, beyond it’s traditional in blood serum-based role
- Discussing the subcellular locations of complement components with a heavy focus on the complosome effect on mitochondrial function along with the triggers and mechanisms driving the activation in these organelles
- Delving into the novel functions of the intracellular complosome such as cellular metabolism, genetic regulation, and the cell death cycle
- Highlighting the role of intracellular C3 in basic cell functions
- Emphasizing the cellular and molecular consequences of a dysregulated complosome within renal cells
- Exploring the unique contributions of intracellular complement to kidney disease pathogenesis, offering insights beyond classic extracellular complement pathways
- Addressing the exciting potential of the complosome as a new therapeutic target in age-related diseases
10:30 am Morning Refreshments
Workshop B
11:00 am Understanding the Increasing Use of Complement-Mediators as Combination Therapies to Expand Indications into Oncology, Autoimmunity & Beyond
Synopsis
Join this workshop to deepen your understanding of the complement-mediated combination therapies to work towards expansion beyond rare diseases.
- Discussing the precise molecular mechanisms where specific complement components drive immunosuppression within the tumour, exploring the signalling pathways involved
- Exploring the preclinical and emerging clinical data supporting the links between the complement and immune checkpoint pathways, focusing on how these combinations enhance anti-tumour effector functions in otherwise resistant tumours
- Examine the use of combining inhibitors targeting distinct, pathogenic complement pathways in complex autoimmune diseases to overcome single-pathway mechanisms
- Analyzing biomarker strategies and diagnostic approaches required to identify specific patient subsets in both oncology and autoimmunity that are most likely to benefit from defined complement combination regimens
- Exploring the rationale for applying complement combination strategies to a broader spectrum of multifactorial diseases where complement contributes to, but may not be the sole driver of, pathology
- Delving into the development and application of delivery technologies that enable effective sequential delivery of multiple complement-modulating therapies
- Assessing the complex PK/PD interactions and potential for synergy when combining different complement inhibitors or combining them with non-complement drugs, to determine optimal dosing
- Advancing complement combination therapies, including the identification of novel intracellular complement targets and the development of bispecific or multi-specific therapies
1:30 pm Lunch & Networking
Workshop C
2:30 pm Rethinking the Delivery of Complement-Based Therapeutics to Ensure Complement Moderators are Reaching the Correct Targets in the Appropriate Quantities
Synopsis
Join this workshop to deepen your understanding of the approaches being used to overcome the challenges in effectively delivering complement mediators to their target tissues and discuss optimal dosages for complement-based therapeutics for different organs.
- Understanding organ-specific differences and their implications for developing effective complement targeted therapies from a drug delivery perspective
- Exploring alternatives to traditional delivery methods such as ocular injection and addressing the unique architecture and environment of the eye when designing delivery methods.
- Debating the optimal uses for systemic vs local complement targeting considering the potential for broad immune suppression
- Examining the rationale for, and challenges of selectively modulating complement activity at the local site of disease given the organ-specific nature of complement-mediated diseases
- Reviewing innovative methods to concentrate complement inhibitors at the target organ or tissue, e.g. podocytes in C3G
- Discussing technologies and modalities that improve targeted delivery such as novel modalities like gene therapies, siRNA and small molecules for maximum therapeutic effect whilst reducing the systemic side effects associated with broadly acting complement inhibitors
- Assessing trade-offs between oral, IV and localized injection in achieving sitespecific targeting to enhance efficacy and mitigate systemic ‘black box’ warnings whilst considering patient experience and adherence