RNAi & miRNA Europe Agenda

Registration

The microRNA Component of the Myc Oncoprotein Network
Andrei Thomas-Tikhonenko, Professor, University of Pennsylvania, United States of America

Several transcription factors, including c-Myc, are known to regulate microRNA expression. However, the contribution of microRNAs to the Myc gene network has not been systemically evaluated. Here we have identified a subset of c-Myc-regulated genes whose deregulation involve the microRNA pathway.

Technology Spotlight:
A Functional miRNA Target Identification Strategy
Azim Mohamedali, Research Fellow, Kings College London

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

A Role for microRNAs in a New Mechanism of Resistance to TGF-ß Induced Growth Inhibition
Afzal Dogar, Post Doctoral Researcher, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer from Patient Blood Plasma using microRNA-Based RT-qPCR
Peter Mouritzen, Vice President, Exiqon A/S, Denmark

The miRCURY LNA™ Universal RT miRNA PCR platform allows miRNome profiling from just 35µL of plasma. This high sensitivity has enabled DX programs at Exiqon where blood plasma samples from cancer patients are screened for miRNA with aberrant expression profiles. The objective of this work is to develop minimally invasive methods for early diagnosis of cancer. The characteristics and performance of the LNA™ based miRNA PCR platform will be discussed.

Technology Spotlight:
miRNA Profiling with the miScript II System
George Quellhorst, Product Manager, Qiagen Inc

Lunch

Free Workshop
Improving Your qPCR Results: A Systematic Approach to Understanding qPCR Detection
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Poster Viewing Session

miRNA Replacement Therapy in Cancer through Polyplex-Mediated miRNA Delivery In Vivo
Achim Aigner, Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor, Philipps University Marburg, Germany

MiRNA replacement therapy through systemic or local injection of nanosized PEI/miRNA complexes results in efficient miRNA delivery and in antitumor effects in s.c. colon carcinoma xenograft mouse models, and miRNAs miR-145 / miR-33a are established as promising candidate miRNAs.

Genomewide High-Content Multiplexed siRNA Screening Reveals Novel Control Junctions in the miRNA Biogenesis Pathway
Hakim Djaballah, CEO, Institute Pasteur - Korea, Korea South

The talk will primarily focus on our recent efforts in screening for genes mediating miRNA biogenesis at a genome scale. We developed a multiplexed high content assay, validated the assay against a panel of genes reported in the literature to be strong modulators of the pathway, and performed a genomewide screen against the Ambion Arrayed Silence Select library covering approx 22,000 genes with on average 3 siRNA duplexes per gene. Our results reveal new players in the pathway and find no role for the previously reported genes DHX9, MOV10, TARBP2, and XPO5 in the miRNA biogenesis pathway.

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Identifying microRNA Targets
Stephanie Urschel, Senior Field Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Belgium

While targeting of ZEB1 and ZEB2 by the miR-200 family appears to be important for maintaining an epithelial phenotype, additional gene targets of the miR-200 family may contribute to regulating EMT, a process critical for normal development and tumor metastasis.

Epigenetics and microRNA Market Trends
Enal Razvi, Managing Director, Select Biosciences Inc, United States of America

I present some of our most recent market research data and analysis characterizing the epigenetics and microRNA markets. These data frame the life science research marketplace, as well as the deployment of epigenetics signatures and microRNA associations for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics.

Technology Spotlight:
Next Generation miRNA Modulators: Potency and Specificity Where it Matters, Ambion® Introduces New mirVana™ miRNA Mimics & Inhibitors
Stephen Hartland, Technical Application Scientist, Life Technologies

Drinks Reception

Technology Spotlight:
A User’s Experience: How to Work with Oncological Samples - From Difficult Starting Material Towards Reproducible qPCR Results
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MicroRNA-Based Therapeutics in Cardiovascular Disease – Quo Vadis?
Jan Fiedler, Senior Post Doctoral Researcher, Medical School Hannover, Germany

Comparison of different miRNA-antagonist chemistries, identification of new microRNA-based mechanisms in heart failure, development of new microRNA-based therapeutic strategies for heart failure.

hsa-miR-148a as a Potential Target for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Lucienne Vonk, Postdoctoral Researcher, University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands

MicroRNAs are believed to be potential targets for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). We have identified 66 microRNAs that are differentially expressed in OA and modulating the expression of one of these, hsa-miR-148a, increased the chondrogenic capacity of OA chondrocytes.

Technology Spotlight:
Viral-Based Gene Modulation: Screening with Individual shRNA Constructs or Pooled shRNAs
Stephanie Urschel, Senior Field Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

In Vivo Chitosan/siRNA Nanoparticles Specific Targeting and Knockdown in Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells in Kidney via Megalin Mediated Pathway
Shan Gao, Senior Scientist, Aarhus University, Denmark

Specific accumulation of chitosan/siRNA demonstrated in mouse kidney by Northern blot and bioimaging; localization of siRNA was at PTECs; particles were only in megalin-expressing cells in megalin conditional-knockout mice, indicating uptake via a megalin-dependent pathway; aquaporin1 was silenced in mice.

A Damage Specific Set of miRNA Species are Transported in Microparticles that are Released into the Cerebrospinal Fluid (Csf) following Traumatic Brain Injury (Tbi)
Ute Schäfer, Head, Medical University Graz, Austria

Cerebral cell-cell communication by extracellular transport of specific miRNAs in cerebrospinal fluid of patients has never been described before. This new pathway now permits the study of regulative processes during diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's in an otherwise impenetrable organ.

Lunch

Free Workshop
Targeted Genome Editing and Epigenetic Modification in Eukaryotic Systems
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Poster Viewing Session

Inhibition of Human Rhinovirus Replication in Mice by Highly Selective Small Interfering RNA
Jacques Rohayem, CEO and Founder, Riboxx, Germany

In this study, experimental data in mice on inhibition of Rhinovirus infection by a new class of siRNA, the IVORI™ siRNA is presented. The IVORI™ siRNA allows maximal silencing, displays optimal serum stability and very low toxicity.

MicroRNAs are Required to Repress Inflammatory Pathways in Adipocytes
Mireille Cormont, Senior Scientist, University of Nice, France

miRNA plays an important role in mature adipocyte. They repress inflammatory pathways that are deleterious for adipocyte functions and thus potentially involved in systemic glucose and lipid homeostasis.

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

Optimizing siRNA Performance by Chemical Engineering
Jesper Bramsen, Post Doctoral Researcher, Aarhus University, Denmark

Synthetic siRNAs hold great therapeutic potential but are hampered by for example low biostability, lack of efficient means of delivery, immunogenicity and off-target effects. We present here our efforts to improve siRNA performance by chemical engineering to aid the further development of siRNA therapeutics.

Close of Conference