Dr. Hanan Osman-Ponchet is the accomplished Founder and CEO of PKDERM, a leading French biotech company specializing in innovative in vitro solutions for assessing the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. With over 20 years of experience in drug development at Sanofi and Galderma, she holds a PhD in Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology. In 2019, Dr. Osman-Ponchet obtained a Global Executive-MBA degree in project management, innovation, and entrepreneurship, further enhancing her already impressive skill set. She has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and patents and has been invited to deliver oral presentations at various scientific conferences.

The webinar explores the occurrence of diffuse alveolar damage, a significant factor in the progression of pulmonary diseases, leading to acute and/or chronic inflammatory processes. This phenomenon is observed in various conditions, including infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and fatal lung disease with poorly understood etiologies and cellular mechanisms. To address these knowledge gaps, Dr. Osman-Ponchet developed a model of lung fibrosis using human precision-cut lung slices (hPCLS). These slices impeccably preserve the native three-dimensional structure of the lung and encompass all lung cell types, rendering them an ideal in vitro model for exploring lung diseases and evaluating the safety, toxicity, and effectiveness of potential therapies.

During the webinar, the successful preparation of hPCLS from surgical lung resections of nine patients using the vibrating Microtome Compresstome® VF-300-0Z will be discussed, along with the induction of lung fibrosis using a specific profibrotic cocktail. Furthermore, the webinar covers various methodologies for accurately characterizing hPCLS and assessing the antifibrotic response of potential therapeutic agents.

This webinar provides a unique opportunity to gain insights from Dr. Hanan Osman-Ponchet’s pioneering work in the field of in vitro lung research. Attendees can expect an informative session that promises to deepen their understanding of lung diseases and their potential treatments.