Summer school oncology and dermatology

The goal of the Summer School

The goal of the Summer School is to teach a multidisciplinary approach to oncology and dermatology. This summer school will provide a better understanding of fundamental and clinical research on oncology including melanoma, as well as applied research, which aims to develop products for the pharmaceutical industry. Lectures will be given by experts in oncology (scientists and clinicians, CEO/CSO, lawyers, data scientists…), to provide a better understanding of the challenges of research to improve patient outcome.

Dear applicants,
It gives us great pleasure to welcome you to the 1st summer school in Oncology and Dermatology organized by the University of Toulouse in partnership with the Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), the Canceropôle Grand Sud-Ouest (CGSO) and the Pierre Fabre Laboratories.
This 2 intensive weeks program from June 24th to July 5th, 2024 will be the opportunity to follow a unique scientific experience in the city of Toulouse which has become one of europe's leading cancer research centers.

The first week will focus on oncology topics including molecular basis of oncogenesis, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, vaccination and new technologies for biomarker discovery and patient stratification. Participants will have the opportunity to meet start-ups CEO/CSO to better understand the links between academia and private companies in the area of Toulouse. Also, visits of devoted technological platforms from academic research centers will be organized.
The second week will focus also on research and development in oncology and rare diseases in pharmaceutical industry. Various professionals, including researchers, scientists, lawyers and data scientists, will talk about their jobs and their role in the drug identification and development process, right through to clinical phases and batch manufacturing.
It will also make the link between oncology and dermo-cosmetic products as well as explain how the skin issues of cancer patients are addressed.
Visits of laboratories and site production will also be organized to gain an insight into the scientific and industrial environment, constraints, technologies and skills required to master this entire value chain.
Finally, University of Toulouse Summer School is about not only studying but also a social experience. To get the most out of your Summer School experience, we recommend you to take part in the social programme activities. This way you will get to know Toulouse and your fellow Summer School students and of course have a great time!

We would like to thank them warmly all the institutions which are supporting this project.
The Organizers

Institutions

CANCER RESEARCH CENTER OF TOULOUSE (CRCT)

The CRCT (Toulouse Cancer Research Center) functions as a collaborative research unit involving Inserm, CNRS, and Toulouse III Paul Sabatier University (UMR 1037). The primary partners, IUCT-O, along with its founders - CHU Toulouse and the ICR - play crucial roles, notably through significant involvement of their staff within IUCT-O’s research teams and financial support for competitive translational programs. Presently, the CRCT comprises a total of 422 individuals (123 researchers and technicians, 182 research scientists including clinicians, and 117 trainees) in 18 teams, 9 platform facilities to explore tumor heterogeneity at the spatial and single-cell levels, and 12 support services dedicated to research.
The CRCT is currently structured into four scientific departments (Oncogenic signaling and genetic instability, RNA regulatory networks in tumors, Tumor Microenvironment & Metabolism, Oncoimmunology). The CRCT also enjoys a close collaboration with IRIT (Toulouse Institute of Computer Science Research) hosting a pilot team on-site for AI-driven tumor behavior studies, and LAAS (Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of Systems) for the development of liquid biopsy and organ-on-chip platforms.
With a unique high-level translational research model, from bench to bed and back, a cutting-edge technological environment, a strong integration of physics, computational biology and AI in our research projects and close connections with the industry, CRCT’s research endeavor addressing resistance mechanisms to all therapies, especially in the most aggressive tumors.
More information: https://www.crct-inserm.fr/en/

CANCÉROPÔLE GRAND SUD-OUEST (GSO)

The CGSO belongs to the networkof the7 Cancéropôles created in 2003 by the French National Institute of Cancer (INCa). Committed to a translational approach from "patient to patient", the Canceropole GSO brings together nearly 500 scientific and medical research teams from Bordeaux, Limoges, Montpellier, Nîmes, Poitiers and Toulouse around collaborative projects. The Canceropole runs a dynamic cancer research network and offers a coordinated synergy between Institutions, Territories and Disciplines for the benefit of the patient.
More information : http://en.canceropole-gso.org

LABORATORIES PIERRE FABRE

Pierre Fabre Laboratories is the 2nd largest dermo-cosmetic player in the world and the 2nd largest private French pharmaceutical group. Its portfolio includes numerous medical franchises and international brands such as Pierre Fabre Oncologie, Pierre Fabre Dermatologie, Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, Klorane, René Furterer, A-Derma, Même Cosmetics, Naturactive, Elgydium, Inava and Arthrodont.
In 2022, Pierre Fabre Laboratories recorded turnover of €2.7 billion, 69% of which was generated internationally in 120 countries, and invested more than €170 million in R&D.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories has always been based in the Occitanie region of France and manufactures 90% of its products in France. It employs nearly 9,600 people worldwide.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories is 86% owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, a foundation recognized as being of public interest since 1999, and secondarily by its employees through an employee shareholding plan.
In 2022, its CSR approach was assessed as "Exemplary" by the independent organization AFNOR Certification for the Engagé RSE (Committed to CSR) label (ISO 26000 standard for sustainable development).
More information : www.pierre-fabre.com

UNIVERSITY of TOULOUSE

The University of Toulouse is a higher education and research establishment at the service of science and society. The University of Toulouse is an experimental Community of 16 higher education establishments in the Occitanie region, supported by 7 national research organizations. The University of Toulouse is responsible for the collective higher education and research strategy, and for regional coordination. Its teams are active in all areas of university life: training (bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees), student life, student health, research, development and corporate relations, dissemination of scientific and technical culture, international relations, environmental and social transition, real estate, campus management and operations, documentary cooperation and digital technology.
More information : http://en.univ-toulouse.fr/

The University of Toulouse, in partnership with the Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), the Canceropôle Grand Sud-Ouest (CGSO) and the Pierre Fabre Laboratories, offers an intensive short program on Oncology and Dermatology in Toulouse for summer 2024. This summer school will provide a better understanding of fundamental and clinical research on skin pathologies including melanoma, as well as applied research, which aims to develop products by the pharmaceutical industry.

It will be also the opportunity to explain the processes and professions involved in the pharmaceutical research and the development of a treatment in oncology, as well as the research and development of a dermo-cosmetic product for patients suffering from an inflammatory pathology or cancer.

WHO IS IT FOR ?
The Summer School is open to international applicants in life Science, Health, biological engineering:

Students M1/M2
PhD students
Professors, Researchers and Physicians, Engineers

LIMITED TO 30 APPLICANTS

MINIMUM OF APPLICANTS: 10

TIME TABLE
The courses will be held from June 24th to July 5th, 2024

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

45h of scientific courses, conferences and visits delivered by experts professors, researchers and industrials from CRCT, CGSO and Pierre Fabre Labs.

SOCIAL PROGRAM

Discovery rally of Toulouse
Visit of the Cité de l'Espace
Visit of the Roquefort caves (French cheese) + 2h of canoeing in Saint Rome de Tarn (transportation and lunch included)
Food and wine tasting
Cruise on Garonne river
Visit of the medieval city of Carcassonne (transportation, guided visit and lunch included )

ACCOMMODATION
Students will be housed in a studio of an appart hôtel residence located in the city center from June 23th to July 6th (included)

COST
1880 € including*:

Opening session with welcome breakfast
45 h of scientific courses and conferences
Accommodation for 14 nights in an appart hôtel
Transportation card (for unlimited travel)
Lunches (from Monday to Friday)
All activities and excursions (lunches and transportation included)
Farewell cocktail with the certification ceremony

* the cost does not include costs related to flights, insurance (medical and liability insurance), visa, breakfasts, dinners, lunches during the weekends and all extra costs

The conférences - laboratoires Pierre Fabre

TITLE OF THE CONFERENCES	SYNOPSIS	TIMING	SPEAKERS
Drug Discovery in the area of Oncology Targeted Therapies: from Target identification to Drug Candidate	The presentation will describe the different phases of Drug Discovery in the field of Targeted Therapies in Oncology (target identification and validation, Hit finding, Hit to Lead, Lead optimization to Drug Candidate). The key attributes of Targets and Drug Candidates will be discussed.	1h	Olivier GENESTE
Pharmacokinetics: from concept to leaflet	The presentation will describe how understanding the main pharmacokinetic characteristics ( absorption, distribution and elimination) of a drug helps in optimizing the effective and safe use of a medicine, as described in the medine's patient leaflet	1h	Eric DIDIER
Toxicology and safety evaluation of drug candidates	Overview of toxicology and safety investigations of a new drug candidate required to support the first administration to humans up to dossier submission. Main endpoints and mechanisms associated will be illustrated by specific examples of drug safety assessments, e.g. pediatric development, oncology product, dermatology.	1h	Guy BOUVIER
Data Science in Drug Discovery	Introduction on the role of data science in drug discovery, highlighting its utilization of advanced analytics and computational methods to expedite target identification, optimize drug candidates, and enhance decision-making processes in pharmaceutical research.	1h	Ghadi RAI
Bringing innovation to oncology patients through clinical trials	Introduction to clinical trials (different phases of development) - Highlights on trial design, population, goals, endpoints - Case example from Pierre Fabre's pipeline	1h	Claire FABRE
Challenges and opportunities in drug development for rare diseases	Introduction to clinical development in rare diseases: unmet and high unmet medical needs, population heterogeneity, unvalidated clinical endpoints, legal frame for approval	1h	Federica CATTANEO
Preparing pharmaceutical grade production through formulation and analytical development	Introduction on CMC development steps and expertises : CMC specialities, steps from preformulation to production, dossier quality and responsibility, PF examples of early dev, registration and variations	1h	Olivier GALLEY
« The Relevance of Intellectual Property for Pharmaceutical, Biotech & Cosmetic Innovation”	In the pharmaceutical, biotech and cosmetic sectors, intellectual property (IP) rights play a crucial role in nurturing innovation, fostering the potential for future therapies and cures as well as incentivizing research investments towards new medical needs and dermo-cosmetic benefits. A structured IP system offers legal certainty for protecting new medical treatments & innovative formulations from unfair competition. This sustainability not only encourages originators to commit to the extensive, complex and risky processes of developing novel active ingredients into innovative treatments as well as environment-friendly and consumer convenient formulas but also ensures the advancements of the industry and innovation.	1h	Philippe BESSIERE
From Lab to Patient : the journey of a medicine through the Regulatory Affairs	To discover how Regulatory Affairs, at the heart of Pharmaceutical Companies, strategically drive drug development and life cycle management for the benefit of the patient	1h	Anne de la BURGADE
the crucial role of Vigilances in the Life cycle of products	The presentation emphasizes that vigilance activities are essential component of the product development process and highlights its crucial role in safeguarding public health. By actively monitoring the safety profile of a product through its entire life cycle, vigilance ensures that potential risks are identified and managed, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and a safer health care system.	1h	Isabelle GEORGE
Toxicological endpoints for raw materials intended for oncology /post oncology targets (40 min Q&A)	As part of the Summer School training 2024, we will first discuss on the toxicological requirements necessary for the evaluation of raw materials in general and more specifically for them intended for patients undergoing oncological treatments. Subsequently, we will focus on the necessary/essential formulas for these patients developed by Pierre Fabre laboratories and how formulas were evaluated in our R&D department; this will be illustrated by a specific exposure study carried out at the thermal station Avene Les Bains. Finally, we will discuss on the expectations and needs of patients, as well as the appropriate clinical studies we must conduct to meet with these expectations.	1h	Pierre Jacques FERRET
Example of studies on the exposure of make-up products to the oncology population in AVENE Thermal spring water spa center (40 min Q&A)		1h	Marie Pierre BERRADA
Clinical studies adapted to patients expectations and needs (40 min Q&A)		1h	Thérèse NOCERA
Lab tour : Clinical Pierre Fabre DC site Hôtel Dieu Toulouse	Visite d'un site de Pierre Fabre permettant l'évaluation clinique de l'efficacité et de la tolérance de produits dermatologiques	1/2 day	NC
Visit of Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique production Factory (Soual) at castres	Decouverte du monde industriel et différentes étapes du process de fabrication d'un produit dermo-cosmetic	1 day	NC
Visit of Pierre Fabre Botanical Conservatory	Created in 2001, the Botanical conservatory is a place for research, protection and conservation: more than 700 plant species, including 200 protected species, are represented here today.”	1 day	NC

The conférences - Other Institutions

TITLE OF THE CONFERENCES	SYNOPSIS	TIMING	SPEAKERS	INSTITUTIONS
Molecular Bases of oncogenesis	After a quarter century of rapid advances, cancer research has generated a rich and complex body of knowledge, revealing cancer to be a disease involving dynamic changes in the genome. Several lines of evidence indicate that tumorigenesis in humans is a multistep process and that these steps reflect genetic alterations that drive the progressive transformation of normal human cells into highly malignant derivatives. The barriers to development of cancer are embodied in a teleology: cancer cells have defects in regulatory circuits that govern normal cell proliferation and homeostasis. Some aspects to better understand oncological process will be presented during this course.	2h	Gilles Favre	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Melanoma Biology	Melanoma is a common and aggressive tumor originating from melanocytes. The increasing incidence of cutaneous melanoma in recent last decades highlights the need for predictive biomarkers studies. Melanoma development is a complex process, involving the interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Some of the last understandings will be presented during this course.	2h	Laurence Nieto	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Angiogenesis & Cancer	In multicellular organisms, angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is an essential process for growth and development. Different mechanisms such as vasculogenesis, coalescent angiogenesis, as well as lymphangiogenesis, underlie the formation of new vasculature. In many pathological conditions, such as cancer, angiogenic processes are under investigation to better target tumors with anti-angiogenic therapies. Knowledge basis and some recent insights into blood vessel development and novel therapeutic strategies will be presented.	1h	Eric Lacazette	The Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (I2MC)
Lymphoangiogenesis, Metastasis & Cancer	Increased lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis are thought to be important steps in cancer metastasis, and are associated with patient's poor prognosis. There is increasing evidence that the lymphatic system may play a crucial role in regulating tumor immune response and limiting tumor metastasis, since tumor lymphangiogenesis is more prominent in tumor metastasis and diffusion. Lymphangiogenesis takes place in embryonic development, wound healing, and a variety of pathological conditions, including tumors. Tumor cells and tumor microenvironment cells generate growth factors, which can promote lymphangiogenesis, thereby inducing the metastasis and diffusion of tumor cells. Current research on lymphangiogenesis in cancer will be presented during this course to better understand the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.	1h	Nathalie ORTEGA	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Immune responses in cancer : Lessons from melanoma	Most major advances in human cancer immunology and immunotherapy have come from studies in melanoma. This is due, in part, to the high mutational burden observed in melanomas, which increases both their immunogenicity and the infiltration of immune cells into the tumors, compared with other types of cancers. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in melanoma tumors, can influence both the immune response and patient survival. However, several mechanisms could induce tumor immune escape and tumor progression. Understanding the mechanisms involved in immune escape is critical to identifying potential therapeutic strategies and using them at the appropriate stage of disease.	1h	Céline Colacios	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Inflammation and Immunotherapy in melanoma: Role of TNF	Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-dependent modulation of immune responses and cell death processes has long been the subject of intense research. Yet, its role in cancer progression is still a matter of debate. Here, we will (i) summarize key findings linking TNF to the promotion or inhibition of tumor progression, (ii) attempt to reconcile some of the contradictory findings, and (iii) describe the scientific rationale for improving the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors via TNF blockade in metastatic melanoma patients.	2h	Bruno Ségui	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Therapy Toxicity in Melanoma	Melanoma is one of the most immunologic malignancies based on its higher prevalence in immune-compromised patients. The use of immunotherapy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma is a relatively late discovery for this malignancy. Recent studies have shown a significantly higher success rate with combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted molecular therapy but immunotherapy is also associated to a panel of dysimmune toxicities called immune-related adverse events that can affect one or more organs and may limit its use.	2h	Ariana Ortiz Brugues	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Clinical development of targeted therapies	In oncology clinical research, the safety profile of a new treatment is as crucial in establishing how to use it as its antitumor activity. The advent of new therapeutics has led to major changes in the management of patients and targeted therapies or immune checkpoint inhibitors are administered continuously for months or even years. We will highlight recent advances in targeted therapies to overcome resistance.	1h	JP Delord / Giulia Leonardi	University cancer institute in toulouse (IUCT-oncopole)
Vaccination in Cancer	More than many other fields in medicine, cancer vaccine development has been plagued by a wide gap between the massive amounts of highly encouraging preclinical data on one hand, and the disappointing clinical results on the other. It is clear now that traditional approaches from the infectious diseases' vaccine field cannot be borrowed as such to treat cancer. I will highlight some of the strategies developed to improve vaccine formulations for oncology, including research into more powerful or "smarter" adjuvants to elicit anti-tumoral cellular immune responses.	2h	Maha Ayyoub	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Visit of the technology cluster of the CRCT	The Technology Cluster of the Toulouse Cancer Research Centre (CRTC) has been based on the Oncopole site in Toulouse since July 2014. The decision to group several technology platforms so as to enable their “collegial” operation and thus the sharing of facilities and resources makes this site unique in Toulouse. The engineers offer technical skills in several areas of expertise: bioinformatics, cytometry & cell sorting, genomics and transcriptomics, cellular imaging, experimental histology, irradiators, molecular interactions and vectorology.	2h	Frédéric Lopez	Toulouse Cancer Research Center
Liquid Biopsies & Melanoma	Liquid biopsy is a common term referring to circulating tumor cells and other biomarkers, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) or extracellular vesicles. Liquid biopsy presents a range of clinical advantages, such as the low invasiveness of the blood sample collection and continuous control of the tumor progression. In addition, this approach enables the mechanisms of drug resistance to be determined in various methods of cancer treatment, including immunotherapy. However, in the case of melanoma, the application of liquid biopsy in patient stratification and therapy needs further investigation. I will describe the biology of liquid biopsy analytes, including CMCs, ctDNA, mRNA and exosomes, as well as techniques for their detection and isolation.	2h	Catherine Alix Panabieres	Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montpellier
Talk + Visit of SMARTCATCH cT cells (ITAV Pierre Potier)	Founded in September 2016, SmartCatch is a spin-off of the CNRS jointly founded by an academic team specialized in micro/nanotechnologies from the Laboratory of Architecture and Analysis of Systems (LAAS-CNRS) and urology surgeons of the University Institute of Cancer (IUCT) and Montauban Uropole, in Toulouse. SmartCatch is lifting the current locks on Circulating Tumor Cells liquid biopsy by developing a range of compact, portable, easy-to-use products adapted to use in clinical routine, in order to make CTC liquid biopsy accessible and the essential medical procedure for the diagnosis, follow-up and personalization of care in medical oncology.	2h	Aline Cerf	Smartcatch
Imaging skin in allergic disorders/Genoskin	Genoskin is a biotechnology company that leverages live ex vivo human skin to test therapeutic and non-therapeutic products. MANTIS® is a new spatial biology imaging platform dedicated to skin immunology developed by Dr. Nicolas Gaudenzio and his team at Inserm. MANTIS is the only spatial biology solution specifically designed to analyze human skin and the only one backed by multiple validated ex vivo human skin platforms. This unique service provides researchers with 3D multiplexed imaging of human skin tissue and enables an unbiased complete immune profiling of skin tissue within its spatial context. As the tissue’s spatial architecture may affect disease pathology and treatment response, MANTIS is uniquely positioned to resolve and evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of molecules on skin; upon injection, topical application or systemic administration	2h	Nicolas Gaudenzio	Genoskin