Biomarker Summer Institute

Measure with Meaning | 9-9:50 a.m.
Dr. Gillespie will lead an exploration of how biomarkers can advance health. You will be introduced to key types of biomarkers and how each can be strategically applied to enhance your work.

Design with Direction | 10-10:50 a.m.
Dr. Jancsura will lead participants through the end-to-end planning of biomarker research, using inflammatory markers in plasma and serum as a guiding example. The session will cover how to select biomarkers using backwards design and how biospecimen choice impacts feasibility, including equipment, staffing, and setting.

Mentoring session | 11-11:45 a.m.
This mentoring session will focus on small group goal-setting and initial reaction to program content. The BSI team will clarify misconceptions and fill gaps in understanding to enhance attendee learning.

Lunch and networking | 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
During lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to network, explore shared interests, and pursue new collaborations. Lunch will be provided.

Biospecimen Selection in Context | 12:45-1:30 p.m.
Dr. Ford will dive deeper into the core principles of biomarker selection and its downstream effects on project planning and execution, using cortisol as a case example. She’ll discuss key considerations in the stress sciences such as diurnal variation and the distinction between measuring acute versus chronic stress.

Translational Biosciences Laboratory (TBL) tour and break | 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Dr. Mackos will guide attendees through key elements of safety and compliance during a tour of the TBL, a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) laboratory.

Hands-on sessions | 2:30-4:20 p.m.

• Centrifuging, Pipetting and Aliquoting | 2:30-3:05 p.m.
  Led by Dr. Jancsura and Dr. Mackos
• Mapping and Tracking your Biospecimen’s Journey | 3:05-3:40 p.m.
  Led by Ms. Wong and Ms. Khalid
• Foundations of Protein and Hormone Determination | 3:40-4:20 p.m.
  Led by Dr. Gillespie and Mr. Ferrin

Discussion and wrap-up | 4:20-4:30 p.m.
Dr. Jancsura will facilitate a discussion to consolidate key takeaways and answer any pending questions. Attendees will sign up for 1:1 mentoring times for Day 2 mentoring sessions.

Execute with Intention | 9-9:50 a.m.
Ana Wong will walk attendees through best practices for establishing and executing biomarker protocols. You'll learn how to plan for aliquots, prepare and organize supplies, map freezer storage, and document every step. This session focuses on building workflows that are efficient, error-resistant and ready for the unexpected.

Analyze for Impact | 10-10:50 a.m.
Dr. Morgan will walk attendees through key analytical considerations when working with biomarker data. Attendees will learn how to consider limits of detection, skewed distributions and outliers, and explore strategies for preprocessing and statistical modeling.

Mentoring session | 11 a.m. to noon
At the end of Day 1, attendees will select two mentors for targeted (15-minute) 1:1 mentoring with program faculty. In preparation, attendees are asked to write down 2-3 questions for each mentor.

Lunch and networking | noon to 1 p.m.
During lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to network, explore shared interests and pursue new collaborations. Lunch will be provided.

Communicate with Clarity | 1-1:50 p.m.
Dr. Gillespie will guide attendees through the writing of clear and compelling research proposals and human subjects protections protocols. Participants will learn how to articulate their plans for biomarker research in ways that are both scientifically rigorous and adaptable to known and unknown real-world constraints.

Hands-on sessions | 2-4:15 p.m.
Content experts will guide attendees through three exemplar biospecimen collection and processing workflows. Attendees will break out into small groups for practice and to receive individualized feedback.

• C-Reactive Protein and Cholesterol to Assess Cardiac Risk – Clinical Integration | 2-2:45 p.m.
  Led by Dr. Jancsura and Ms. Khalid
• Cortisol in Hair as a Marker of Chronic Stress – Community-based | 2:45-3:30 p.m.
  Led by Dr. Ford and Ms. Wong
• Cytokines in Plasma as Systemic Inflammatory Markers – Research Suite | 3:30-4:15 p.m.
  Led by Dr. Gillespie and Mr. Ferrin

Daily discussion and wrap-up | 4:15-4:30 p.m.
Dr. Jancsura will facilitate a discussion to consolidate key takeaways and answer any pending questions.

Beyond the Basics | 9-9:50 a.m.
Dr. Mackos will introduce advanced biomarker strategies, highlighting how DNA and RNA offer powerful options beyond commonly used proteins and hormones. She’ll walk attendees through key detection methods—including PCR, qPCR, and sequencing—and discuss how molecular complexity influences study design. This session will help participants expand their biomarker toolkit and make informed choices for more nuanced questions.

Collaborate with Confidence | 10-11 a.m.
Dr. Gillespie will guide attendees through the steps needed to move their in-house biospecimens from collection to reliable data through outside laboratory collaboration, using DNA methylome profiling as a case example. She’ll review how to select, collaborate with and maximize data quality when working with outside laboratories.

Daily discussion and wrap-up | 11-11:15 a.m.
Dr. Jancsura will facilitate a discussion to consolidate key takeaways and answer any pending questions.

Mentoring session | 11:15 a.m. to noon
Coffee, water and snacks will be available in the Barbara and Lawrence Berger Demonstration Nutrition Kitchen. Attendees are invited to engage with the BSI team to address any pending needs and complete 1:1 mentoring sessions as helpful.

• McKenzie Jancsura, PhD, RN
• Shannon Gillespie, PhD, RN, FAAN
• Amy Mackos, PhD
• Jodi Ford, PhD, RN, FAAN
• Ethan Morgan, PhD
• Ana Wong, BS, BA, RN
• Erik Ferrin, BS
• Abeir Khalid, BS