Schedule

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Time        
3:00PMRegistration Opens
4:00PMRoom Check-In
5:00PMReception & Opening Remarks
Dr. Antoine Dufour - Chair
Dr. Cheryl Barnabe - Institute Director
6:00PMDinner
7:00PMKeynote Lecture: Dr. Matthew Bogyo 
Chemical probes to target proteases involved in inflammation
This presentation will cover the development of covalent probes that target proteases such as the lysosomal cysteine cathepsins and their application in imaging sites of inflammation. The presentation will also cover the development of probes with high specificity for target tissues using AND-gate logic in which the activity of multiple proteases is required to produce a signal.
8:00PMTrainee Poster Session

 

Thursday, March 12, 2026

 
Time 
8:00AMBreakfast 
8:30AMInvited Talk: Dr. Olivier Julien
Defining the role of proteolysis in living & dying cells
Proteases regulate key biological processes, such as apoptosis, cell differentiation and viral infections. The dysregulation of caspases, for example, underlies several human diseases including cancer and immunity. Proteomic results identifying apoptotic and non-apoptotic caspase substrates will be presented.
9:00AMKeynote Lecture: Dr. Gillian Hawker
The osteoarthritis pain experience
How people with OA experience joint pain is influenced by a multitude of biomedical and psychosocial factors. Beyond assessment of OA burden, elucidating patterns of OA pain may help us to understand underlying disease mechanisms, assess structural progression and, ultimately, identify therapeutic targets. 
10:00AMBreak
10:30AMTrainee Talks
11:30AMInvited Talk: Dr. Kelsey Collins
Osteoarthritis as a systemic disease of interorgan crosstalk 
12:00PMLunch 
1:00PMGroup Activity 
5:00PMInvited Talk: Dr. Holly Sparks
5:30PMInvited Talk: Dr. Mohit Kapoor
Endo-phenotyping osteoarthritis using multi-omic approach
This talk will describe the utility of high throughput omic approaches to understand the complex joint destructive mechanisms and endo-phenotypes of osteoarthritis.
6:00PMDinner
7:00PMKeynote Lecture: Dr. Tom Appleton
The evolution of osteoarthritis: from cartilage wear to synovial joint organ failure
Our understanding of osteoarthritis has shifted from a disease of cartilage degeneration to one of whole synovial joint organ failure. This keynote will trace that evolution, highlighting how clinical features, synovial tissue damage, and innate immune responses both protect and drive joint failure. These insights open the door to more precise strategies for diagnosis and disease modification.

 

Friday, March 13, 2026

 

Time  
8:00AMBreakfast 
8:30AMInvited Talk: Dr. Roman Krawetz
The role of proteoglycan 4 in maintaining joint homeostasis
Understand the Cellular Role of Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) in Joint Homeostasis: Explore how PRG4 regulates cellular signaling and cellular phenotype within synovial and cartilage tissue. Examine the Impact of PRG4 on Stem and Progenitor Cell Function in the joint: Discuss how PRG4 influences the maintenance, differentiation, and regenerative potential of stem and progenitor cells in synovial, cartilage and bone tissue. Investigate the Consequences of PRG4 Dysregulation on Cellular Dysfunction and Disease: Evaluate Prg4’s potential as a therapeutic target for joint-related disorders.
9:00AMKeynote Lecture: Dr. Nidhi Bhutani
10:00AMBreak
10:30AMTrainee Talks
11:30AMInvited Talk: Dr. Sarah Manske
Multi-modal imaging to impact osteoarthritis
Advances in imaging enable investigations into OA pathogenesis. In particular, multi-modal techniques facilitate imaging of bone and soft tissues to understand how tissues interact. This talk will include a focus on recent updates in CT imaging for application in OA.
12:00PMClosing Remarks & Trainee Awards
Dr. Antoine Dufour - Chair