Registration

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

Massively Parallel Detection of Gene Expression in Single Cells
Christopher Love, Associate Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America

We discuss the use of microwells for high-throughput gene expression to characterize rare biological events with single cell resolution. We also demonstrate the integration of these methods for gene expression with other microwell-based assays to generate comprehensive phenotypic data on the same cells.

Validating the Use of Whole Cell Lysates for Real-Time RT-qPCR
Gregory Shipley, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center, United States of America

Data will be presented showing that the use of whole cell lysates from tissue culture cells as substrate for real-time RT-qPCR yields results comparable to that obtained from purified RNA.

The MIQE Guidelines and the Use of Microvolume Template Normalization for qPCR
Andrew Page, Applications Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific, United States of America

The minimum information guidelines (MIQE) stipulate that quantification of extracted template is essential. We will discuss these guidelines and the use of microvolume quantification technology for template normalization prior to qPCR reactions.

Lunch and Networking in Exhibition Hall

Free Workshop
The miRNA Revolution Tools for miRNA purification and expression profiling

Free Workshop
Experimental Workflows for Successful miRNA Research Applications

Poster Viewing

The Bright and Dark Sides of Fluorescent Nucleic Acid Hybridization Probes
Salvatore Marras, Assistant Professor, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, United States of America

Fluorescent hybridization probes, which generate a fluorescence signal only when they bind to their target, enable real-time monitoring of nucleic acid amplification assays. This presentation outlines the design parameters to be considered for the different types of available probe chemistries.

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

LNA-Enhanced Real-Time Ice-COLD-PCR and High Resolution Melting for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Low-Level Lung Cancer Resistance Mutations
Mike Makrigiorgos, Professor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, United States of America

We present ice-COLD-PCR, the 'next generation' of the previously described COLD-PCR technology, that can magnify and detect comprehensively traces of DNA alterations within a high excess of wild type samples. Using TP53 as an example we show an Increased and Complete Enrichment for all mutation types in lung cancer samples.

A Novel Real-Time XL-PCR for DNA Damage Detection
Ziping Zhang, Research Assistant Professor, Texas State University, United States of America

This study presents a novel, fast and precise real-time extra long-PCR (XL-PCR) assay for DNA damage detection based on introducing SYTO-82 to TaKaRa LA TaqTM hot start system as the fluorescence reporter.

Drinks Reception

Single Cell Expression Profiling – Revealing Astrocyte Cell Subtypes by Correlation
Mikael Kubista, Professor/Founder, TATAA Biocenter AB, Sweden

In my talk I will describe single cell expression correlation as means to classify cell subtypes. The technique exploits the correlation between expression levels of transcripts involved in related key biological processes within individual cells. The technique is used to reveal subtypes of astrocytes.

Determining miRNA Expression Levels in Degraded RNA Samples using Real-Time RT-qPCR and Microarray Technologies
Sridar Chittur, Director/Adjunct Assistant Professor, Albany University, United States of America

This talk will provide insights into RT priming strategies for miRNA and contrast the qPCR results obtained using two popular technologies.

Solid State ChIP, a Novel Technique for Characterisation of Endometrial Cancer and Enhanced Use in Clinical Diagnostics
Lewis Francis, Research Associate, Swansea University, United Kingdom

Novel solid state ChIP technology, Chromatrap™, used to characterise DNA-protein interactions in endometrial cancer, demonstrates faster throughput and more reliable protocols combined with greater enrichment fold values. This ChIP technology lends itself to high throughput analyses in clinical pathology.

Development of a LNA based miRNA RT-qPCR System and a Custom qPCR Tool for Design of miRNA and ncRNA Assays
Peter Mouritzen, Vice President, Exiqon A/S, Denmark

Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) qPCR has enabled sensitive and pre-amplification-free miRNA expression profiling in plasma samples from colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls. Strategies will be discussed for data normalization, quality control, and revealing of unwanted dataset bias.

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

qPCR Applications of microRNA and Other Noncoding RNAs
Thomas Schmittgen, Associate Professor, Ohio State University, United States of America

By definition, noncoding RNAs are not translated to protein, therefore their quantification must be achieved at the RNA level. Various qPCR applications of noncoding RNAs will be discussed including analysis from challenging specimens such as plasma, pancreatic fluid and microdissected material.

Development of an Ultra-High Throughput Long Non-Coding RNA Screening System
Jan Hellemans, COO, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium

We present pilot phase results for a novel high-throughput qPCR based lncRNA screening that allows for sensitive and accurate analysis of this novel class of biologically relevant nucleic acids with an unexplored potential for biomarker discovery.

Lunch and Networking in Exhibition Hall

Free Workshop
Michelson Prize & Grants Information Session Learn about the $75 million challenge!

Poster Viewing

Nucleic-Acid Based Applications in the Diagnostics of Highly Pathogenic Viruses
Andreas Nitsche, Head, Robert Koch Institute, Germany

The presentation describes the various approaches that can be considered for the unambiguous identification of highly pathogenic agents by PCR based techniques. Beside design strategies, questions of identification and sample preparation are discussed.

Prognostic Test for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Preveen Ramamoorthy, Assistant Professor/Director, National Jewish Health, United States of America

This presentation will cover the development, validation and clinical utility of a prognostic test for age-related macular degeneration using FRET probe technology.

Coffee and Networking in Exhibition Hall

Biostatistics and qPCR, Applications in Translational Research
Terry Hyslop, Associate Professor, Thomas Jefferson University, United States of America

From the selection of housekeeping genes, to the analytical and clinical validation of PCR assays, biostatistical considerations arise throughout applications of qPCR to translational research. We will discuss how we have successfully merged biostatistical efforts with those of a cancer research laboratory to design complex biomarker trials, discover new algorithmic approaches to determine patient risk, and move towards clinical application of qPCR markers in determining patient care.

qPCR Methods for Re-Engineering Microbial Genomes: Creating a New Genetic Code
Peter Carr, Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America

We are re-engineering E. coli to remove all instances of one codon from its genome—producing a “plug and play” slot in the genetic code into which new amino acids can be programmed. New qPCR methods for multiplex SNP detection and allele frequency measurement have been crucial to these efforts.

Close of Conference