Pharmaceutical Industry Professional Development

The University of Connecticut (UConn), a leader in immunology education for the pharmaceutical industry, educators and health care providers, has available a continuing professional development activity for PhD’s, Medical Liaisons, Research Scientists and Clinical Pharmacists.

Understanding the Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease

The gut microbiome harbors a complex community of microbiota essential for maintaining immune homeostasis and disease prevention. The health of this gut microbiome (symbiosis) is influenced by diet, stress, underlying health conditions and other variables of lifestyle choices.  Maintaining this healthy state is dependent upon the interaction between immune cells, intestinal cells and microbes. This webinar series will discuss optimal gut microbiome health, mechanisms underlying poor microbiome health, disease states which result from this microbiome dysregulation and strategies to restore both microbiome health and to intervene in disease processes.

Mucosal Immunity in the Gut Microbiome
Dr. Andrea Hubbard, Associate Professor; UCONN School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Review the common features of mucosal immunity (tissues, membranes, cells)
2. Identify the important chemokines and cytokines involved in the gastrointestinal mucosa
3. Identify the natural microflora and pathogens found in the gastrointestinal mucosa (the microbiome)
4. Discuss the characteristics of gastrointestinal mucosal immune responses
5. Discuss the mechanisms underlying oral tolerance

The Gut Microbiome in Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
Dr. Andrea K. Hubbard, Associate Professor; UCONN School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Review the gut microbiome in symbiosis and its impact on mucosal immunity
2. Review the gut microbiome in dysbiosis and its impact on mucosal immunity
3. Describe the mechanisms underlying changes in gut microbiome leading to susceptibility to gastrointestinal autoimmune (CD) and inflammatory diseases (UC)
4. Describe the mechanisms underlying changes in gut microbiome leading to susceptibility to extra-gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases (IDDM, RA, Celiac Disease, SLE, psoriasis, etc.)
5. Describe the mechanisms underlying changes in gut microbiome leading to susceptibility to systemic inflammatory diseases (NIDDM, metabolic syndrome, obesity, etc.)

The Gut Microbiome in Colon Cancer: Specific Intervention Strategies
Dr. Daniel Rosenberg, Director Colon Cancer Prevention Program, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, CT

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Review the demographics and risk factors for colon cancer
2. Review current therapies for colorectal cancer
3. Discuss the influence of the gut microbiome on the metabolism and biological actions of diet-derived food constituents
4. Indicate how the microbiome affects molecular pathways in the colon that lead to disease
5. Discuss how specific dietary constituents affect the microbiome and colon cancer

The Gut Microbiome in Response to Restorative Therapy

Dr. Andrea K. Hubbard, Associate Professor; UCONN School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Describe changes in gut microbiome in response to stress, diet, antibiotics and other environmental perturbations
2. Describe the impact of genetic susceptibility on the health of the gut microbiome
3. Define the role of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotics in microbiome health
4. Discuss the role of fecal transplantation in restoration of microbiome health
5. Discuss the challenges and pitfalls in maintaining gut microbiome health

DISCLOSURES:  Doctors Hubbard and Rosenberg have nothing to disclose.

GRANT FUNDING: There is no funding for this program

These 4, 1 hour recorded webinars are FREE and intended for pharmacists interested in an in-depth study of Immunology and Immune mechanisms in Cancer and Cancer Treatments.  Our speakers, have no relevant financial interests to disclose regarding these topics.

After viewing any one or ALL of the recorded webinars below, go to our Log In Page and type in your NABP ID, DOB and the session code listed below each title to complete the quiz and evaluation to receive your CE credit.

Immune Mechanisms in Cancer Therapy - 1 hour
Dr. Andrea K. Hubbard, Associate Professor; UCONN School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT
Release Date:  September 9, 2020
Expiration Date: September 9, 2023
Session Code: 20RC52-ABC36

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss basic principles of tumor cell biology and carcinogenesis
2. Discuss basic principles of tumor immune surveillance, tumor escape mechanisms and the mechanistic stages of intervention
3. Describe mechanisms underlying efficacy and modifications of monoclonal antibodies and immunotoxins in therapy
4. Identify toxicities associated with monoclonal antibody therapy
5. Describe the clinical management of monoclonal antibody therapy toxicities
   ACPE UAN:  0009-0000-20-052-H01-P

Tumor Immunotherapy: Checkpoint Inhibitors- 1 hour
Dr. Trinh Pham, Oncology Pharmacist, Smilow Cancer Hospital, New Haven, CT
Release Date:  September 16, 2020
Expiration Date: September 16, 2023
Session Code:  20RC53-CBA37

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the mechanisms underlying immune checkpoint inhibitors
2. Describe the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in various cancer types
3. Describe the evolving role of biomarkers used to predict response to this immunotherapy
4. Identify monitoring parameters for immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
5. Identify appropriate clinical management of immune checkpoint inhibitor irAEs
   ACPE UAN:  0009-0000-20-053-H01-P

Tumor Immunotherapy: Tumor Vaccines - 1 Hour
Dr. Andrea K. Hubbard, Associate Professor; UCONN School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT
Release Date:  September 23, 2020
Expiration Date: September 23, 2023
Session Code: 20RC54-XTW83

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss basic steps in creating tumor vaccines to include personalized tumor vaccines, cancer DNA vaccines, and autologous dendritic cell vaccines
2. Describe vaccines of oncoviral therapy (oncolytic T‐VEC therapy) in select malignancies
3. Describe the clinical application and ongoing clinical trials of therapeutic cancer vaccines
4. Identify toxicities associated with tumor vaccine therapy
5. Describe the clinical management of tumor vaccine toxicities
   ACPE UAN:  0009-0000-20-054-H06-P

Tumor Immunotherapy: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy - 1 Hours
Dr. Trinh Pham, Oncology Pharmacist, Smilow Cancer Hospital,  New Haven CT
Release Date:  September 30, 2020
Expiration Date: September 30, 2023
Session Code:  20RC55-WTX94

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the mechanisms underlying CAR-T cell therapy
2. Describe the role of CAR T-cell therapy in B-cell malignancies
3. Discuss the development of CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors
4. Identify toxicities associated with CAR-T cell therapy
5. Describe the clinical management of CAR-T cell toxicities
   ACPE UAN:  0009-0000-20-055-H01-P

A grant was provided for partial funding of the above activities by Bristol Meyers Squibb.

The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.  To receive CE credit the learner must view the above recorded webinars, pass an exam with a 70% or better and submit an evaluation of the program.