Suddath Symposium

The Suddath Symposium, held at the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, is an annual event that honors the legacy of F.L. Bud Suddath. This symposium focuses on the latest advancements in bioscience and bioengineering, providing a platform for leading researchers from around the world to present their findings and insights. The theme of the 35th annual symposium is Beyond Animal Models: Integrating Ex Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Systems from Data to Decisions. As the field of biomedical research evolves, there is an increasing shift toward utilizing ex vivo, in vitro, and in silico models to produce data that is relevant to human biology. Notably, agencies such as the FDA and NIH are advocating for New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) that may complement or even replace traditional animal testing methods.This year’s symposium aims to bridge the gap between data generation and actionable decision-making in drug development, toxicity prediction, and disease modeling. It will feature discussions on a variety of innovative topics, including organoids, microphysiological systems, patient-derived models, AI-enabled modeling, data fusion, digital twins, validation, reproducibility, and regulatory alignment. By convening academic, industry, and regulatory stakeholders, the symposium seeks to identify best practices and opportunities that can accelerate the application of NAMs for therapeutic development, safety assessment, and precision medicine. Notable speakers include JC Gumbart, a professor in the School of Physics and School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Tech, whose research delves into the molecular functions of proteins and biological systems. Another prominent speaker, Shu Takayama, a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, focuses on micro and nanofluidics for cell analysis, diagnostics, and chromatin analysis. This event is poised to attract a wide audience across the USA, fostering collaboration and innovation in the biosciences.