The opening night of TT2016 was momentous promising subsequent days filled with good friends and good science. We welcomed more than 700 delegates who attended, and then proceeded to hear a wonderful talk from Andras Nagy (2005 ISTT Prize winner). Andras’ talk was followed by a delicious buffet with wine, friends, colleagues and music. The opening proved to be an excellent portent of what was to come. Over the next three days, we heard many excellent talks—talks that encompassed the use of transgenic technologies, and especially CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
Charles Gersbach presents CRISPR/Cas9 modification of the dystrophin gene
Iva Morse (Charles River), and Jan Parker-Thornburg and Elizabeth Williams (ISTT, Inc.) present the Best Poster Awards to Vera Jansen (absent), Charles-Etienne Dumeau, and Hiromi Miura (represented by Masato Ohtsuka).Thomas Zeyda (inGenious Targeting Laboratory) and Jan Parker-Thornburg (ISTT President) present the Young Investigator Award to Dr. Pablo Ross, UC Davis.TT2016 – Cryopreservation Workshop presentation by Lluis Montoliu.
The meeting was preceded by two workshops—one on programmable nucleases (headed by Radislav Sedlacek) and one on cryopreservation (led by Martin Fray, INFRAFRONTIER). Those who attended the workshops were very pleased with the learning opportunities that were afforded them. In addition, immediately following the meeting was one additional workshop on zebrafish transgenesis (Leads: Petr Bartunek, Zbynek Kozmik, Christian Mosimann and Graham Lieschke). All of the workshops were well-attended and greatly appreciated!
First Orbis pictus lecture given by Richard Behringer.
There were a number of new initiatives at TT2016. We had Orbis pictus lectures—lectures designed to use pictures and clear descriptions to demonstrate answers to a problem. Richard Behringer gave an excellent, encyclopedic presentation of methods of producing genetically modified animals in a vast variety of species. Later, Thomas Boehm described how lymphoid organs developed throughout evolution to the point where vertebrates now have a thymus. Also, for the first time, we had concurrent sessions. Delegates needed to choose whether to hear about ethics in animal use, or new injection and superovulation technologies. Overall, the scientific program was exceptional!
Presentation of thank-you gifts to departing ISTT Board members – Wojtek Auerbach (absent), Boris Jerchow, and Tom Fielder.
The ISTT, Inc. held its third General Assembly just prior to the Gala Dinner. During that meeting, we sadly said goodbye to three departing Board members: Tom Fielder, Boris Jerchow and Wojtek Auerbach. We also reviewed ISTT finances, membership, committee activities, and interactions with our affiliated organizations. One new ISTT initiative that was presented was an outreach committee to our members (and non-members) who perform transgenic technologies in non-rodent (generally large-animal) species. The ISTT large animal group will be headed by Martina Crispo and Bruce Whitelaw. The meeting ended with a presentation inviting membership to attend TT2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, hosted by Susan Tamowski.
A wonderful time at the Zofin Palace.
The social program prepared by our Czech colleagues was also amazing. Delegates enjoyed the opening buffet with traditional Czech music. However, it was the Gala Dinner that proved to be the high point of the social program. The Zofin Palace was full with partygoers. The wine flowed freely, the food was wonderful, and the string quartet (plus clarinet) fantastic as well. Overall, TT2016 can be considered as one of the best TT meetings ever, and I am proud, as ISTT President, that we helped to host such a wonderful meeting. Thanks so very much to the organizers—Radislav Sedlacek, Inken Beck and Nicole Chambers. Due to their amazing work, the ISTT has again had a successful TT meeting!
Advances in the Generation of Genetically Modified Animal Models: International Course & Symposium, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo (Uruguay), 7-18 September 2015
The aim is to offer a training course of excellence for researchers and technicians working in animal transgenic field. The topics will be focused on both the basic knowledge and the latest advances in transgenic technologies. The course consists of a 1st week of lectures sessions and a 2nd week of practical sessions. In addition, a mini symposium (11-12 September) is organized in order to extend the impact of the presence of the professors to other researchers, technicians and posgraduate students. Current programs for the COURSE and MINI-SYMPOSIUM.
Confirmed speakers attending this Course and mini-Symposium include:
Michel Cohen-Tannoudji, IPParis, France
Francina Langa, IP Paris, France, ISTT member
Ignacio Anegón, INSERM, Nantes, France, ISTT member
Lluis Montoliu, CNB, Spain, ISTT member
Jorge Sztein, consultant, Spain
Sylva Haralambous, HPI, Greece, ISTT member
Naomi Nakagata, CARD, Kumamoto U, Japan, ISTT member
Charles Long, Texas A&M University, USA
Daniel Salamone, Fagro, UBA, Argentina
Adrian Mutto, UNSM, Argentina
Marcelo Rubinstein, INGEBI, Argentina, ISTT member
Marcelo Bertolini, UNIFOR, Brazil
Local professors and instructors include:
Magdalena Cárdenas, IP Montevideo, Uruguay
Ana Paula Mulet, IP Montevideo, Uruguay
Geraldine Schlapp, IP Montevideo, Uruguay, ISTT member
María Noel Meikle, IP Montevideo, Uruguay, ISTT member
Gabriel Fernández, IP Montevideo, Uruguay
Ana Paula Arévalo, IP Montevideo, Uruguay
Martina Crispo, IP Montevideo, Uruguay, ISTT member
Pedro C. dos Santos, IRAUy, Uruguay
Natalibeth Barrera, IRAUy, Uruguay
Federico Cuadro, IRAUy, Uruguay
Alejo Menchaca, IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay, ISTT member
People interested in participating in this COURSE must send the COURSE Application Form to tgcourse2015@pasteur.edu.uy
A maximum of 20 students will be accepted for the COURSE taking into account personal qualifications. There is no registration fee for the COURSE. Support for accommodation, per diem and local transportation will be provided to all participants from abroad. Travel expenses are not included.
People interested in participating in the MINI SYMPOSIUM must send the SYMPOSIUM Registration Form to tgcourse2015@pasteur.edu.uy
SYMPOSIUM fee is U$S 100.
SAVE THE DATES!
Deadline for COURSE applications is June 28th
Deadline for SYMPOSIUM registrations is July 19th
For any further information contact: tgcourse2015@pasteur.edu.uy
www.pasteur.edu.uy/index.php/en/futurecourses
The TT2014-associated Zebrafish Transgenesis Workshop: 8-10 October 2014 in Edinburgh
Immediately after the 12th Transgenic Technology (TT2014) meeting, a unique hands-on zebrafish transgenesis workshop will be taking place in Edinburgh, on October 8-10, 2014. This will be the first non-rodent hands-on transgenic workshop ever organized after a TT meeting. This workshop is offered to willing participants registered to attend the TT2014 meeting (October 6-8, 2014). Registration is handled separately and, at first, intended participants should submit their expression of interest to Organizers. Please note that attendance at this meeting is limited to 20 participants only. Due also to high demand for places, there is a selection process in place for all applicants wishing to attend the workshop. Applications should be sent, along with proof of registration to the following email address: zebrafish_tt2014@transtechsociety.org by June 30, 2014. Decisions on the successful applicants will be communicated by July 15, 2014.
The zebrafish is fast becoming a very significant vertebrate animal model system in scientific research; highlighted by the exponential increase in zebrafish-related publications. The role of zebrafish in science is only going to increase in the future; techniques are being constantly developed and more and more people recognise its advantages and benefits to research.
This small freshwater, tropical fish has some clear and unique advantages as a model system; these include its optical transparency, with ex-utero synchronous and rapid development, which allows direct, and continuous in-vivo observation. Genetic and pharmacological manipulation is relatively straight forward and the zebrafish is able to regenerate all organs and tissues. The fish can be maintained under very economic conditions and can be obtained in significant numbers, allowing statistically high N values. Another major advantage is that the developing zebrafish can survive for several days without a cardiovascular system, allowing examination of embryonic-lethal genotypes and phenotypes, from the single-cell stage. Whilst the zebrafish may lack certain (and some obvious) mammalian organs, and despite being physically very different, there are very important genetic and cellular similarities, with development being directly comparable to humans.
The workshop ‘An Introduction to Zebrafish Transgenesis’ follows TT2014 and is the first practical workshop in a non-rodent model species. The practical sessions will start with gene expression interference using classical morpholino microinjection on Day 1, which is complemented on Day 2 with microinjection of a simple fluorescent transgene construct. The scheduled embryology sessions are separated by a wide-ranging series of talks from leading experts in aquatic transgenics. Both the tutorials and practical instruction will provide all the information needed to perform husbandry and gene manipulation in the early zebrafish embryo. Topics include: husbandry best practise, microinjection principles, transgenesis and mutagenesis using recombinases, imaging and cryopreservation.
Appointed teachers and instructors for this zebrafish workshop include: Liz Patton, Carl Tucker, Koichi Kawakami, Stephen Ekker, Keith Joung, Henry Roehl, Robert Kelsh, Martin Denvir, David Lyons, Dirk Seiger, Yi Feng and Karthikeyani Paranthaman.
If you are interested to learn how to work with this alternative vertebrate animal model do not miss this extraordinary opportunity to become familar with basic zebrafish transgenesis techniques and register your interest to attend this hands-on workshop, associated with the TT2014 meeting.
The TT2013 meeting in Guangzhou, China, 25-27 February 2013
Immediately after the Chinese Spring festival, the Chinese New Year’s celebrations, the ISTT family was gently bitten by the Chinese snake. The 12th Transgenic Technology meeting, TT2013, held in Guangzhou, the capital of the province of Guandong, inaugurated the year of the snake, in the Chinese calendar. Ancient Chinese wisdom says a snake in the house is a good omen because it means that your family will not starve. People born in the Year of the Snake are keen and cunning, quite intelligent and wise. They are great mediators and good at doing business. Therefore, all the popular Chinese signs already indicated we would be enjoying a very successful and lucky TT2013 meeting. And, I’m most glad to say this was indeed the case!. The ISTT family and newcomers we all enjoyed an excellent conference where all invited speakers contributed extensively to this success, sharing their latest and most exciting results in the field of animal transgenesis and triggering interesting discussions. The quality of the talks was excellent and, noteworthy it was impressive to learn and discover how advanced and innovative to different aspects of the genetic modification of animals our Chinese colleagues are and have been progressing, thanks to a clear support from their Chinese Government and institutions. The influential Chinese science was represented at this TT2013 meeting by several top scientists in their respective field, using rodents, livestock or fish as experimental animal models, and all working in China, including: Qi Zhou, Jinsong Li, Xiang Gao, Bo Zhang, Liangzue Lai, Depei Liu, Guo-Liang Xu, Ning Li and Zhu-Gang Wang.
Ming Zhao, Chair of TT2013 meeting, and Lluis Montoliu, President of the ISTT, during the cruise upon the Pearl river and by the Canton Tower
Ming Zhao, the Chair of the TT2013 meeting, from the host institution, the Southern Medical University of Guangzhou, worked very hard, leading a large group of local collaborators that brought the TT2013 conference to a success. The TT2013 meeting kicked off with a pre-meeting dinner, at a cruise upon the Pearl River, another majestic snake with multiple branches that crosses the city of Guangzhou at many locations. As soon as the darkness covered the city we discovered numerous impressive buildings and bridges, nicely illuminated with colorful neons, dominated by the Canton Tower, an outstanding communication tower more than 600 meters height.
The Baiyun International Convention Center in Guangzhou, venue of the TT2013 meeting
The TT2013 meeting took place at the Baiyun International Convention Center (BICC) in Guangzhou, a gigantic conference center holding hotels, restaurants, seminar rooms and anything a meeting venue would require. We only occupied a small fraction of one of the five dedicated buildings of this enormous conference complex, and everything we needed, the seminar room, the exhibitor’s hall, the poster boards and the eating and drinking places were tightly and nicely grouped into one single location. Furthermore, most of TT2013 delegates were also lodged in one of the two large hotels of the BICC complex. Therefore we had everything we required handy and concentrated.
Ming Zhao and his large group of local collaborators, the key for a successful meeting organization
About 350 delegates gathered for the TT2013 meeting in Guangzhou, including representatives from 31 exhibiting companies that sponsored the conference and, hence, decisively contributed to its success. All sponsors must be praised for their most generous support. The conference included talks from 33 invited speakers, coming from many countries around the world, from Europe, America, Australia and Asia, thus highlighting the well-known international soul of the Society, also regularly reflected at the TT meetings. TT2013 participants were coming from as many as 27 different countries. Such phenomenal enterprise could not be managed without the devoted hard work of Ming Zhao’s large group of collaborators from the Southern Medical University, led by W. Chen, Xianyan Liu, Bibo Liang, Xiangguang Wu and all the rest of young and helpful students appointed by the chair of this conference. Their committed work must be acknowledged and commended.
Allan Bradley was awarded the 9th ISTT Prize for outstanding contributions to transgenic technologies at the TT2013 meeting in Guangzhou
In Guangzhou, at the TT2013 meeting, the 9th ISTT Prize for outstanding contributions to transgenic technologies, generously sponsored by genOway, was awarded to Allan Bradley, Director Emeritus of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI), in Hinxton, UK, and leader of the Mouse Genomics Team at WTSI. Upon receiving the ISTT Prize, he delivered a great inspirational talk about his personal journey over three decades (1980-2013) on embryonic stem cells technologies he had the privilege to witness and be part of it from the first row. In awarding this ISTT prize to Allan Bradley, the ISTT Prize committee acknowledged his many fundamental contributions to the science and technology of manipulating the mouse genome. His pioneering mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell work in the 1980’s, demonstrating germ-line transmission and the great potential of ES cells to generate mice carrying mutations in endogenous genes, established milestones in a field that saw the award of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Capecchi, Evans, and Smithies. Later, he generated a number of broadly relevant knockout mouse models that are still used regularly today. His subsequent research has developed new methods for the genetic analysis and genetic modification of mice. These developments have been instrumental for advancing mouse genetics studies and the use of mice to understand the human genome. Furthermore, his strong vision and leadership at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which he directed from 2000-2010, was key to creating the international consortia whose aim was to systematically disrupt every gene in the mouse genome, resulting in a massive impact on the field of transgenic technologies. In Guangzhou, the sponsor of this ISTT Prize, genOway, was represented by Yacine Cherifi.
Toru Takeo received the 2nd ISTT Young Investigator Award at the TT2013 meeting in Guangzhou
Another important award that has rapidly gained prestige and recognition among the youngest researchers and technologist in our field is the ISTT Young Investigator Award. The ISTT Young Investigator Award recognizes outstanding achievements by a young scientist who will keep the field of transgenic technologies vibrant with new ideas and who has recently received his or her advanced professional degree. The ISTT Young Investigator Award is generously sponsored by inGenious Targeting Laboratory (iTL). At the TT2013 meeting in Guangzhou, the second edition of this ISTT Young Investigator Award was received by Toru Takeo, from the Center for Animal Resources and Development, Kumamoto University, Japan. The Award committee considered that Toru Takeo’s work, in Naomi Nakagata’s laboratory, represented a major improvement of mouse sperm cyropreservation and IVF techniques, thereby greatly facilitating the archiving and sharing of many mouse models produced by the transgenic community. Toru Takeo summarized his recent achievements in mouse sperm cryopreservation and IVF with a very interesting talk where he highlighted the value and uniqueness of receiving a combined training in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Reproductive Biology, leading to his successful use of several drugs and compounds that have boosted sperm cryopreservation efficiencies in mice. In Guangzhou, the sponsor of this ISTT Young Investigator Award, inGenuious Targeting laboratory, was represented by Ailan Lu.
Bruce Whitelaw and Douglas Strathdee, representing the Organizers of the next TT2014 meeting that will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, on 6-8 October 2014
At the end of the TT2013 meeting, as it has become a tradition in the closing ceremonies of TT meetings, since the TT2015 meeting in Barcelona, it was the time to reveal and present the next venue for the following conference, the 12th Transgenic Technology meeting, TT2014, which will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Bruce Whitelaw (Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh) and Douglas Strathdee (Beatson Institute, Glasgow) represented the local Organizing Committee (the third Organizer, Peter Hohenstein, could not attend the meeting in China). Douglas Strathdee, Chair of the TT2014 conference, introduced their vision and aims for the TT2014 meeting in Edinburgh, depicting a combination of well-consolidated sessions, already classical at TT meetings, with some interesting innovative challenges, including an increased number of short oral presentations, Poster teasers and a practical workshop on zebrafish transgenic technologies. Additional information for this TT2014 meeting will be regularly available from its corresponding web site: www.tt2014.org. The Organizers have already activated an official TT2014 meeting email address to receive suggestions, inquiries, comments and any request of information related to this conference: tt2014@transtechsociety.org.
Participants, instructors, organizers and sponsors of the 2013 Transgenic Workshop, held at the Disease Model Animal Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
Finally, last but not least, once the TT2013 meeting was finished, immediately next, the relay was passed to Liangping Li and Wenhao Xu, who, together with Jing An and Ming Zhao, organized a practical hands-on transgenic workshop, hence fulfilling one of the most important missions of our Society, that of teaching, forming, educating scientists and technologies with the latest methods in the generation and analysis of genetically-modified animal. This practical course was chaired by Wenhao Xu and hosted by Liangping Li, at the newly refurbished and excellently equipped Disease Model Animal Center of the Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, one the biggest and most prestigious universities in China. 30 participants attended this 2013 Transgenic Workshop and were taught by a team of generous instructors from various countries in the world, including ISTT members and delegates from the sponsoring companies. A variety of microinjection techniques were discussed and performed by the participants, including DNA embryo pronuclear injection, laser-assisted injection of ES cells, piezo-assisted ICSI, non-surgical embryo transfer, colony management and assisted reproduction techniques, among other useful methods in the daily work of a modern transgenic facility.
In summary, the TT2013 meeting and 2013 Transgenic Workshop in Guangzhou, China, have been again two most successful and memorable events. On behalf of the International Society for Transgenic Technologies (ISTT), I can only express my deepest appreciation to Ming Zhao, Liangping Li, Wenhao Xu, Jing An and the rest of members of the local organizing and advisory committees for having put together such a wonderful conference and practical course, thereby maintaining and further expanding the highest standards and quality of the TT meetings series. Alison Cameron, our ISTT administrative assistant, deserves here to be greatly acknowledged for her instrumental collaboration during the preparation of this TT2013 meeting and workshop and for her helpful contribution to the success of this first visit of the ISTT family to Asia. We can conclude by stating that, yes, the ISTT family was gently bitten by the Chinese snake, and this resulted in a rewarding and unforgettable experience.
This course is open to anyone interested. Pre-application will be required, including, at least, a recent CV and a letter prepared by the intended participant describing how the applicant will benefit by attending this course and how relevant is the course material to his/her work. Additional documents are welcome, at the discretion of participants, including supporting letters by supervisors (where appropriate), reference letters, etc… Pre-applications should be submitted by email to cryocourse@cnb.csic.es by 31 May 2013.
The maximum number of participants attending this course will be 20, distributed among countries and institutions, and according the documentation provided and the interests expressed. Pre-applications will be accepted until 31 May 2013. The review and selection of participants will be done by the Organizers from 1 to 15 June 2013. Registrations and payments for selected participants will be accepted from June 16, 2013 to August 31, 2013. If required, an ordered waiting list will be prepared and any cancellation or unpaid registration by 31 August 2013 will be readily substituted by the first available person from this waiting list, starting on 1 September 2013.
The course registration fee is 800 Euros (with a reduced fee of 750 Euros for ISTT Members). This fee includes participation in the entire course, all materials and reagents, lunches over the 5 days and one course official dinner. Hotel costs are not included in the registration fee but booking assistance will be provided, if required, at a convenient nearby hotel, close to CNB Campus, where all instructors and lecturers will be also lodged, hence further promoting interaction from breakfast to dinner. The official language of the course will be English.
COURSE INFORMATION: Recent developments from the laboratory of Prof. Naomi Nakagata (CARD-Kumamoto University, Japan) have boosted the mouse cryopreservation field with improved methods for fresh and frozen sperm techniques and associated optimized IVF methods that have resulted in unparalleled increased efficiencies for the cryopreservation and rescue of relevant mouse lines. At the CNB-CSIC in Madrid, hosting the Spanish EMMA node, these new CARD cryopreservation methods have been successfully implemented and, moreover, a fruitful collaboration has been established with the laboratory of Prof. Naomi Nakagata, eventually resulting in the signature of an institutional cooperation agreement between the CSIC and the University of Kumamoto, under the framework of which this cryopreservation course is organized. The aim of this course is to introduce the new CARD methods to researchers and technicians involved in managing mouse archiving and/or transgenic facilities and willing to implement these new methods, directly taught by the team which devised them. Each participant will have one stereomicroscope and the entire set of tools, reagents and animals required to learn and practice all the methods included in the program of this course. In addition to practical sessions, the course will also include several lectures of related interesting topics for the participants delivered by experts in each field. The number of instructors and lecturers appointed is 20.
Hands-on topics that will be covered during this cryopreservation course
making pipettes and practising embryo handling
isolating unfertilized mouse oocytes
isolating and cold storage/shipping of mouse cauda epididymis
freezing/thawing mouse sperm and IVF
fresh mouse sperm and IVF
freezing/thawing 2-cell IVF-derived mouse embryos
vitrification of mouse oocytes and embryos
embryo transfer techniques in mice
vasectomy of male mice
demonstration of ICSI
Additional lectures on the following topics
new EU Directive on the protection of animals for experimentation
new US Guidelines for the use of animals in research
epigenetic effects of in vitro culture on mouse embryos
databases for handling information in cryopreservation facilities
shipping mice, refrigerated and frozen material
safety issues handling liquid nitrogen in a cryopreservation facility
The ISTT journey: from Barcelona to Guangzhou, now it is time for China! The TT2013 meeting
The International Society for Transgenic Technologies (ISTT) was founded shortly after the Transgenic Technology (TT) meeting in Barcelona (TT2005). Since then, the ISTT family has been fortunate to visit several countries, every ~18 months. In 2007 we went to Brisbane (TT2007). In 2008, we visited Toronto (TT2008). In 2010 we returned to Europe and held the TT2010 meeting in Berlin. For 2011 we visited the USA for the first time, and organized the TT2011 meeting in St Pete Beach (Florida). And, now, the next TT meeting (TT2013) is planned for China, in Guangzhou. This has been one of our aims and challenges, since the foundation of the ISTT, namely, holding a TT meeting in Asia, in China. Now it has become a reality. The 11th Transgenic Technology meeting (TT2013) will be held in Guangzhou (China), on 25-27 February 2013, organized by Prof. Ming Zhao (Chair) (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou) and his Organizing and Advisory Committees, immediately after celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Snake. More than 30 speakers have confirmed their participation, to discuss about ES cells, iPS cells, targeted nucleases (ZFNs and TALENs), cryopreservation and reproduction techniques, running a transgenic facility, mouse genetics, epigenetics, ethics and animal welfare, transgenesis in other vertebrates, animal models of disease, etc… among many other interesting topics. At the TT2013 meeting, the ISTT will award the 9th ISTT Prize for outstanding contributions to transgenic technologiesto Prof. Allan Bradley, Director Emeritus of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI), in Hinxton (UK), and leader of the Mouse Genomics Team at WTSI.
In addition, a 3-day hands-on practical workshop (28 February-2 March 2013) will be offered in Guangzhou after the TT2013 meeting, addressing basic microinjection techniques, piezo injection, laser-assisted application, non-surgical implantation, mouse colony management and other interesting topics. This workshop is organized by Wenhao Xu (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA), Chair, Ming Zhao (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China), Jing An (Cancer Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) and Liangping Li (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China).
The TT2013 meeting in China: progress and updated information
The organization of the 11th Transgenic Technology meeting (the TT2013 meeting), to be held in Guangzhou, PR China, on February 25-27, 2013, is progressing well. Prof. Ming Zhao (Southern Medical University in Guangzhou), Chair of the TT2013 Organization, and all his colleagues in the various advisory and supporting committees, are doing a great job and, hence, from the International Society for Transgenic Technologies (ISTT) we are sure that the TT2013 meeting is going to be yet another great transgenic conference for all of us to learn, discuss and enjoy. The preliminary TT2013 meeting web page already informs about the confirmed topics and speakers that will be in Guangzhou. These will be regularly updated as we receive the confirmations from all invited speakers. Registration is expected to be open in June. The registration scheme and registration fees will be similar to the previous TT2011 meeting. The TT2013 meeting will be followed by a 3-day practical hands-on course on basic techniques in transgenesis, coordinated by Dr. Wenhao Xu (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA).
Please, write down the dates of the TT2013 meeting: February 25-27, 2013, and make sure you don’t miss this conference!. See you all in China next year!
Course on Genetic Manipulation of ES Cells, 5-18 November 2012
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
Deadline for applications: 6 July 2012
Course summary
This laboratory-based training course will provide a comprehensive overview and practical laboratory experience of the genetic manipulation of mouse ES cells for a broad range of applications. Recent advances in genome informatics, recombineering, transposon technology and uses of conditional gene targeting will be covered in lectures by both instructors and invited expert speakers and through interactive demonstrations.Laboratory work will focus on the culture and transfection of ES cells, design and construction of gene targeting vectors from BACs by recombineering, genotyping of gene targeting events and the practical use of transposon technology. Participants will also be trained in the informatics and practical use of public gene targeting resources being produced by the IKMC (International Knockout Mouse Consortium).
Course instructors
Professor Francis Stewart (Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany)
Dr William Skarnes (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK)
Dr Pentao Liu (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK)
Dr Barry Rosen (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK)
The Course programme includes the following topics:
1. Informatics
The informatics underlying the visualization of gene structures and the design of gene targeting vectors, recombineering oligos and genotyping primers will be demonstrated. Students will also run their own gene targeting designs using web-based tools.The informatics of locating existing public IKMC gene targeting resources will also be covered.
2. Recombineering of Gene Targeting Vectors
Students will build a variety of targeting constructs from BACs using recombineering technology. The theoretical principles underlying both recombineering and rational targeting vector design will be emphasized by both lectures and practical exercises.
3. ES Cell Culture
Students will learn feeder-dependent and feeder-free culture of ES cells derived from 129 and C57BL/6 mouse strains.ES cell colonies will be picked, expanded and frozen and subsequently thawed to test their integrity.
4. Gene Targeting in ES Cells
Students will electroporate conditional gene targeting constructs into ES cells and learn to genotype cells by LR-PCR and qPCR-based methods.
5. Transposon Technology
Students will be introduced to the uses of the highly efficient piggyBac transposon system for expression, mutagenesis and mouse induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) cell generation.
6. Modular Targeting Resources
Students will assemble a variety of modular knock-in targeting vectors from IKMC resources and analyse their integrity.Recombination Mediated Cassette Exchange (RMCE) using Flp and Cre recombinases will be used to modify IKMC conditional alleles directly in ES cells.
TT2013 meeting: Committees
Organizer of the TT2013 meeting: Ming Zhao (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China)
Organizing Committee Yong Jiang (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) President Ming Zhao (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Executive General Secretary Thomas Blom (Lund University, Lund, Sweden) Ragnar Mattsson (Lund University, Lund, Sweden) Qiaobing Huang (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Jinghua Liu (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Weiwang Gu (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Wenqing Zhang (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Jing An (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Liangping Li (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) Lluis Montoliu (National Center of Biotechnology, CSIC, Madrid, Spain) Thom Saunders (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) Jan Parker-Thornburg (MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA) Boris Jerchow (Max Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany)
International Scientific Advisory Committee Lluis Montoliu (National Center of Biotechnology, CSIC, Madrid, Spain), Chair Thom Saunders (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) Jan Parker-Thornburg (MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA) Boris Jerchow (Max Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany) Bruce Whitelaw (Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK) Kent Lloyd (University of California, Davis, CA, USA) Wenhao Xu (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA) Teruhiko Wakayama (Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan) Karen Brennan (The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia) Benoît Kanzler (Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg, Germany)
Chinese Scientific Advisory Committee Kaitai Yao (Cancer Research Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou), Chair Zuoyan Zhu (Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing) Yitao Zeng (Institute of Medical Genetics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai) Ning Li (State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing) Qi Zhou (The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing) Xiao Yang (Institute of Bioengineering, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing) Peng Xiang (Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou) Xiang Gao (Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing) Kui Li (Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing) Weide Lao (Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing) Biliang Zhang (Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou) Zhaoduan Ren (Institute of Medical Genetics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai) Liangxue Lai (Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou) Ming Zhao (Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou) Yong Jiang (Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou) Weiwang Gu (Laboratory Animal Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou) Wenqing Zhang (Department of Cell Biology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou) Jing An (Cancer Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou) Hong Wei (Department of the Experimental Zoology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing) Xianzhu Xia (Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing) Qimin Zan (Cancer Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing) Xuetao Pei (Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing) Shaorong Gao (National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing) Duanqing Pei (Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou)
Practical Workshop Wenhao Xu (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA), Chair Ming Zhao (Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Jing An (Cancer Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Liangping Li (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China)