List of Workshops

This page is updated continuously as we schedule more workshops.  Please keep checking back.  Thank you.

A final list of workshops and a time schedule will be posted on this page in December.  Admission to these workshops is free to registrants.

• ADVANCED miRNA TECHNOLOGY USING miRXplore™ MICROARRAYS AND MICROARRAY SERVICE   Sunday, February 3, 12:40-2:00 p.m. Madrid Room, Mezzanine Level 
  presented by Miltenyi Biotec   -  Recently released miRXplore™ Microarrays containing the most up-to-date miRNA content will be described.  The miRXplore™ Microarrays from Miltenyi Biotec contains 100% coverage of miRBase v.10 plus an additional 239 miRNAs identified in collaboration with world-renown scientists from Rockefeller University.

• IMPROVING FUNCTIONAL GENOMIC SCREENS USING ADVANCES IN RNA
  Monday, February 4, 8:00-9:15 a.m. Madrid Room, Mezzanine Level
  presented by Thermo Scientific and Dharmacon Products 
  The implementation of RNA interference in functional genomic screens requires both the development of highly efficient molecular tools (e.g., siRNA, shRNA, miRNA mimics, and miRNA inhibitors) and the adoption of validated screening strategies.  Off-target effects of siRNAs can lead to false positive phenotypes. Likewise, the investigation of microRNA contributions to the development and maintenance of defined cellular states, including disease states, can be misled if inhibitor molecules lack the necessary potency to sufficiently target candidate miRNAs. Here we define and demonstrate how the current state-of–the art bioinformatics, chemical modifications, and pooling strategies can be implemented in RNAi-based screens to efficiently minimize false positive phenotypes.

• A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF miRNA ANALYSIS
  Monday, February 4, 12:30-2:00 p.m. Madrid Room, Mezzanine Level 
  presented by Exiqon
  miRNA is one of the small regulatory RNAs and the key component of overlooked global regulatory networks in basic processes like development and species specific regulation of particular functions belonging to evolutionary distinct organisms.  It is an unprecedented target for detection because of small size and similarity and as an active molecule it requires different mRNA approaches.  Accuracy, precision, and multiple validations are needed to discover and identify functions of miRNAs.  Here we will demonstrate the complete set of LNA based enabling tools to ensure efficiency of this process.

• microRNA PROFILING USING A HIGH PERFORMANCE, FLEXIBLE μPARAFLOTM  BIOCHIP PLATFORM
  Tuesday, February 5, 8:00-9:15 a.m. Madrid Room, Mezzanine Level
  presented by LC Sciences LLC  
  An advanced microfluidic biochip system designed to produce high quality data, stay current with the rapidly evolving microRNA field, and perform diverse small RNA discovery experiments is presented.  This technology’s unique flexibility allows for miRBase synchronicity and design of customized biochips adapted to each researcher’s specific needs.  Applications featuring disease marker discovery, drug treatment, microRNA target screening, and small RNA discovery are highlighted.

• REAL-TIME PCR (qPCR): HOW TO DO SUCCESSFUL GENE EXPRESSION AND GENOTYPING ANALYSIS - Tuesday, February 5, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Madrid Room, Mezzanine Level
  presented by Jo Vandesompele, Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital and the University of Miami, Sylvester Cancer Center Oncogenomics Core Facility  
  The workshop will consist of a 45 minute lecture covering assay design software, discussion of different qPCR formats, choice and evaluation of qPCR standards, optimization and troubleshooting of quantitative PCR, experimental design and setup.