Speaker Profile
Ph.D., Senior Director Host Biology, Seres Therapeutics
Biography
Joe Ponte is Senior Director of Host Biology at Seres Therapeutics. He has over 15 years of industry research experience in cell and molecular biology, pharmacology and translational medicine in the areas of oncology and immuno-oncology. He currently leads efforts to implement in vivo models to advance the understanding of host microbiome interactions in inflammatory disease and cancer. Additionally, he leads a cross-functional team within Seres that’s responsible for advancing the immnuno-oncology pipeline. Prior to joining Seres, Joe led the translational team for Immunogen’s lead antibody drug conjugate, mirvetuximab soravtansine, and was responsible for bringing an anti-GITR antibody from the research bench to the clinic while at Tolerx, Inc. Joe received his PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Vermont and did his post-doctoral training at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Talk
Leveraging The Gastrointestinal Microbiome For Clinical Benefit
Awareness of the gastrointestinal microbiome as an important determinant of health has recently increased. I will outline an approach for the development of microbiome-based therapies that has led to encouraging clinical data in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and optimism for the future of this novel modality in the immune-oncology setting.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2020 Silicon Valley
A growing body of evidence suggests that the broader community of gut microbes may influence cancer risk, provide diagnostic insight, shape clinical course, and impact treatment success. Microbiome-directed therapies hold tremendous promise for personalized therapies and improved treatment outcomes.
