Biophysical Society 2020 Annual Meeting

tion and image quality at low light dose, especially beneficial for live-cell nanoscopy applications. τ-STED takes the fluorescence lifetime informa- tion from all detected photons combined with phasor analysis in a novel way to increase the resolution and eliminate uncorrelated background in an automated manner. The τ-STED implementation on Leica SP8 STED 3x systems works for 2D and 3D STED in live and in fixed specimens, and for multicolor applications. The deep integration of SP8 FALCON into the Leica SP8 platform provides easy access to complex FLIM experiments, enabling fast FLIM-FRET, 3D- and 4D-imaging modes, high-content screening, and auto-fluorescence component separation. Speaker Haridas Pudavar, Product Performance Manager-Confocal Systems, Leica Microsystems The Nuts and Bolts of Preparing Your NSF Grant 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, Room 28CDE The National Science Foundation’s Biological Sciences Directorate strongly supports biophysics researchers through its Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. The division has awarded over $160 million in funding to researchers in 41 states. At this session, program directors and officers with expertise in biophysics will be providing details on the NSF grant-making process as it stands in 2019, with a particular emphasis on grant writing and submission for new and early career investigators. Speaker Marcia Newcomer, NSF Exhibitor Presentation Nanion Technologies 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, Room 33C Beyond Ion Channels and Transporters: Snapshots of the State-of the-Art Solutions For almost two decades Nanion Technologies provides diverse solutions for electrophysiologists worldwide. We aim to successfully implement in- novative technologies in the fields of ion channel automated electrophys- iology, monitoring of cell viability and contraction, as well as electrogenic transporters, with our chip- and plate-based devices. Covering the needs for low, medium and high throughput assays our portfolio is well suited to advance research and screening projects. During this year’s symposium, five snapshots of successful wide-ranging applications, assays and emerg- ing technologies from our product portfolio will be presented. Our sym- posium will start with an introduction by Dr. Niels Fertig (CEO, Nanion) as a guide through the overall capabilities of Nanion´s technology portfolio. In continuation, we will welcome our speakers. Our first snapshot, presented by Prof. Dr. Jamie Vandenberg (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute) will be focusing on the high throughput automated patch clamp (APC) screening of missense variants in KCNH2 mutations, a well-established cause of sudden cardiac death, using the SyncroPatch 384PE. Prof. Vandenberg will present a high throughput functional assay his group developed in order to differentiate between benign and pathogenic variants in KCNH2 gene. Dr. Marc Rogers (Metrion Biosciences) will continue with a snapshot focusing on validation of a CardioExcyte 96 impedance-based phenotypic assay, that is able to reproduce the chronic effects of a range of clinical drugs that affect hu- man iPSC cardiomyocyte contractility and viability by multiple and diverse mechanisms, including ion channel and ionic pump inhibition, DNA intercalation, proteasome and tyrosine kinase inhibition, and myosin disruption. One of the newest Nanion´s releases, the FLEXcyte 96, will be highlighted in the snapshot presented by Dr. Matthias Gossmann (inno-

Vitro). Dr Gossmann will introduce the important impact this technology has on cardiac research, as it offers the potential to scale-up mechanical testing of cardiac contractile behavior, maturation and drug screening to- wards medium-throughput analysed under true physiological conditions. Moving from cardiac physiology, Nathan Thomas (University of Wiscon- sin-Madison) will introduce a new application of SSM-based electrophysi- ology, in the field of ion coupled transporters. With a novel approach the transporter stoichiometry is investigated via reversal potential determi- nation. During his snapshot, SURFE2R N1 data obtained on transporters from the small multidrug resistance (SMR) family, with the goal of provid- ing a better understanding of underlying transport mechanisms, will be presented. Finally, Dr. Stephen Hess (Evotec) will introduce the use of APC platforms to support ion channel drug discovery, focusing on the Nav1.1 channels, which positive modulators could be useful in treating cognitive disorders, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. To find novel positive modula- tors of NaV1.1 channels. Dr. Hess screened over 150K small molecules using the SyncroPatch 384PE and found confirmed hits which could serve as excellent starting points for further MedChem optimization towards potential therapeutics. The Nanion team is delighted to welcome you to our lunch symposium! Speakers Jamie Vandenberg, Co-Deputy Director, Head of Cardiac Electrophysiol- ogy, The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Marc Rogers, Director, CSO, Metrion Biosciences Matthias Gossmann, Innovitro (FLX), Co-Founder & CEO, Innovitro Nathan Thomas, University of Wisconsin-Madison Stephen Hess, Research Leader-Ion Channels, Evotec How Does Congress Set the Federal Budget for The Congressional appropriations process for setting the federal budget is often fought out over many months, and rarely straightforward. The funding of agencies such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) are a small part of the $1.4 trillion discretionary budget set annually by the House and Senate. This workshop will review the overall process, including distinctions between authorization and appropriations, discretionary and non- discretionary spending, and the Presidential and Congressional budgets. Understanding where grant giving agencies fit into the broader federal budget will aid you in advocating for basic and biomedical research bud- gets that truly address national needs. Learn how you can lend your voice to the Biophysical Society’s advocacy for sustained, predictable funding for scientific research. Moderator Jonathan King, MIT Speakers Biomedical Research? 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm, Room 23ABC

M O N D A Y

Angela Diaz, University of California, San Diego Leah Cairns, BPS Congressional Science Fellow Eric Sundberg, Emory University School of Medicine

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