The Herbert and Florence Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics will continue its seminar series on the topic of mathematical sciences underpinning cancer research. The monthly seminars take place on the second Wednesday of the month, 2:00-3:00 PM EST. The presentations are open to the Columbia community (in person and online) and to researchers outside Columbia (via Zoom).
On Wednesday, March 12th (2:00 PM ET), IICD welcomes Le Cong, Assistant Professor of Pathology and of Genetics, Stanford University. Seminar hosted by Jellert Gaublomme. The seminar will take place in person in Schermerhorn Hall 603 (Morningside Heights campus). If you wish to attend the seminar remotely, please register using the following link: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMqcuGgpzgtH9L5BjAilbREBYvPlUvrdg6k
Title: AI-Powered Genome Technology for Tracking Cancer Evolution and Immune Resistance
Abstract: Recent advances in gene-editing and single-cell multi-omics have opened new frontiers in understanding cancer evolution and immune escape mechanisms. This talk will present our development of machine learning-optimized CRISPR tools that enable simultaneous perturbation and lineage tracing at unprecedented precision. Using melanoma as a model system, we have leveraged these tools to uncover mechanisms of drug resistance and immune evasion. Specifically, our work reveals how EZH2 and other epigenetic regulators influence melanoma evolution. Additionally, I will discuss our recent work in tracking natural killer (NK) cell-mediated tumor killing through multi-omics approaches and the development of CRISPR-GPT, an AI-powered platform for automated genome engineering. These integrated technologies provide new insights into cancer-immune interactions and suggest novel therapeutic strategies for overcoming treatment resistance.
Bio: Le Cong is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Genetics at Stanford. His lab pioneers scalable gene-editing and gene insertion technologies for gene and cell therapy by integrating insights from metagenomics, computational biology, and high-throughput engineering. Leveraging single-cell functional screening and multi-omics approaches, his group elucidates the molecular mechanisms underpinning cancer and immunological diseases. Recently, they have focused on harnessing AI and machine learning to design and evolve gene-editing proteins and RNAs, thereby accelerating the discovery of druggable targets for immune therapeutics across cancer and other human diseases.
If you would like to meet one-on-one (possibly via Zoom) or attend the lunch or dinner with the speaker, please contact the event organizer.
