Kirby Seminar - Assistant Professor Joshua Schiffer - "In silico clinical trials for optimal treatment of viral infections"

Event date
Friday 11th September 2015
Event time
1:00 PM
Event address
The Kirby Institute Level 6 Seminar Room Wallace Wurth Building UNSW Australia Sydney NSW 2052

Location:

The Kirby Institute Level 6 Seminar Room Wallace Wurth Building UNSW Australia Sydney NSW 2052

Open to

All

Contact for enquiries 

Rata Joseph +61 (0)2 9385 0900 rjoseph@kirby.unsw.edu.au

The Kirby Institute is pleased to present:

Assistant Professor Joshua Schiffer- Assistant Professor, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine University of Washington.

Assistant Member, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division and Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre

"In silico clinical trials for optimal treatment of viral infections"

Abstract:
In infectious diseases, traditional pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) models are routinely used to establish concentration dependent effects of a drug on pathogen replication.  Yet, these models ignore the complex and dynamic interplay between a pathogen and the host immune system.  Using chronic HSV-2 infection as an example, I will demonstrate that synthesis of viral dynamic models with PK / PD equations allows for highly predictive in silico clinical trials.  Model simulations allow for a more precise estimation of drug parameters necessary for complete viral containment, and may allow for optimized dosing strategies in future antimicrobial trials.  I will conclude by highlighting similar approaches that are in development to inform the design of future therapeutic vaccine and viral eradication studies.