Christin Rakers
Principal Scientist Computational Chemistry Merck
Seminars
Tuesday 10th March 2026
Harnessing Autophagy & Molecular Glue Strategies to Enable Degrader Therapeutics in Neurodegeneration & Complex Disease Areas
11:00 am
As degraders expand into non-oncology indications, this workshop will show you how autophagy-mediated and molecular glue approaches are being applied to tackle neurodegenerative diseases and other biologically complex conditions.
We will cover:
- Demonstrating the role of molecular glue–mediated stabilisation in restoring proteostasis in tau, α-synuclein, and LRRK2-driven neurodegeneration
- Showcasing the bimodal mechanism-of-action of the AUTOTAC platform in targeted protein degradation and selective autophagy activation, with a focus on translation of basic research findings for drug discovery
- Autophagy-mediated clearance of pathological protein aggregates in neuronal models of neurodegenerative diseases
This workshop is ideal for biologists and chemists exploring TPD approaches in non-oncology settings, from target selection to translation.
New Data
Thursday 12th March 2026
Applying Computational Modelling & Machine Learning to Streamline Degrader Optimisation & Accelerate PK Prediction
1:30 pm
- Leveraging predictive modelling and ML-driven tools to accelerate degrader design and optimisation
- Evaluating opportunities and limitations of 3D structural modelling to understand ternary complex formation and degradation mechanisms
- Integrating in silico strategies to enhance PK prediction, inform rational design decisions, and streamline development of degraders with improved pharmacokinetic profiles
