The Hormel Institute Symposium
Building Partnerships

Program

Wednesday, August 2, 2023
8:00am Continental Breakfast & Registration
9:30am Welcome & Introduction of Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology & Medical Genomics Research Grant Program Directors
Robert Clarke, PhD, DSc, Executive Director, The Hormel Institute, UMN
9:40am Importance of Partnership – Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology & Medical Genomics
John Bischof, PhD, Program Director, UMN
Y.S. Prakash, MD, PhD, Associate Dean for Research, Midwest, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
10:20am Break 
10:30am Development of a Vector Core for Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors and
Pre-Clinical Toxicology Evaluation  (MN Partnership Awardee Talk)
George Aslanidi, PhD, Professor, The Hormel Institute, UMN
Kah Whye Peng, PhD, Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
11:25am Poster Abstract Winner Talk
AAV Vaccine in a Pre-clinical Spontaneous Canine Model of Oral Melanoma
Ester Molina Hoyo, PhD, The Hormel Institute, UMN
11:45am Poster Abstract Winner Talk
DNA-protein Crosslinks Damage Formation and Removal Maps of the Human Genome
Duha Alshareef, MS, Pharmacology, UMN
12:00pm Networking Lunch
1:00pm Research in the Cancer Centers
Douglas Yee, MD, Director, Masonic Cancer Center, UMN
1:40pm Translational Neuro-oncology: Can We Learn Faster?
Elizabeth C. Neil, MD, Assistant Professor, Co-Director of the Brain Tumor Program and Neuro-Oncology Translational Working Group, UMN
Terry Burns, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
2:35pm Break
2:45pm  Poster Abstract Winner Talk
A multi-omic Integrative Molecular Classification of Rare Brain Tumors Reveals Clinically Distinct Subtypes
Josh Fry, MS, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UMN – Rochester
3:05pm  Poster Abstract Winner Talk
Targeting Glycolysis in CD8 T Cells Enhances Mitochondrial Function and Prevent Cell Exhaustion
Seyedehsahar Mortazavifarsani, PhD, The Hormel Institute, UMN
3:20pm Poster Session and Networking Reception
6:00pm Dinner Groups
Participants are encouraged to network and join their colleagues for dinner at a local Austin restaurant. We will provide sign-up sheets for each restaurant, including the restaurant information and menu. Information will be provided when participants check in at the registration table. Note that this dinner is not paid for by the symposium and will be at the participant’s expense.

Thursday, August 3, 2023
8:00am Continental Breakfast
9:30am Welcome Day Two – Introduction to Panel Discussion
Robert Clarke, PhD, DSc, Executive Director, The Hormel Institute, UMN
9:40am Panel Discussion – Vision for the Future
Moderator: Carol Lange, PhD, Associate Director for Basic Sciences, Masonic Cancer Center, UMN
Panelists:
Robert Clarke, PhD, DSc, Executive Director, The Hormel Institute, UMN
Brian Buhr, PhD, Dean, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Shashank Priya, PhD, Vice President of Research, Office of the Vice President for Research, UMN
Y.S. Prakash, MD, PhD, Associate Dean for Research, Midwest, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
10:20am Break
10:30am Structure-inspired Studies of Biomolecules: Extending the Frontiers of Partnership and Collaboration

10:30am Overview – Amer Alam, PhD, Associate Professor, The Hormel Institute, UMN
10:45am Research Talk – Bin Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, The Hormel Institute, UMN
11:05am Research Talk – Georges Mer, PhD, Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
11:30am Networking Lunch
12:00pm Optional Institute Tour
12:30pm Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Intern Introductions and Presentations
Edward E. Hinchcliffe, PhD, Assistant Director for Education, The Hormel Institute, UMN, and
Kelly Vincelette, MEd, Community Outreach and Education Manager, The Hormel Institute, UMN
12:40pm SURE Intern Program Video 
12:45pm SURE Intern Panel Discussion – SURE Experience Panel Discussion
Vijay Reddy, PhD, Associate Professor, The Hormel Institute
Vivek Verma, PhD, Assistant Professor, The Hormel Institute
Isaiah Nordine, SURE Intern, Contreras Lab
Molly Garry, SURE Intern, Morris Lab
1:15pm Closing Remarks
Robert Clarke, PhD, DSc, Executive Director, The Hormel Institute, UMN
1:20pm SURE Intern Poster Session