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Genome engineering: CRISPR/Cas from cells to mice – Course and Conference Office

EMBL Course

Genome engineering: CRISPR/Cas from cells to mice

Overview

Course overview

This course will provide training in genome editing and cell engineering in mammalian cells and mouse embryos using the highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9 system. Participants will learn design of CRISPR targets using bioinformatics tools, generation of gene knock-outs/knock-ins, and target validation using the most current technologies. The course will be split into two groups (mammalian cells OR mice) based on participants’ expertise.

Please note that all participants are expected to engage in all sessions. Particpants should plan for approximately 1 hour extra per day for self paced learning modules.

Audience

This course is aimed at researchers who are familiar with basic molecular and cell biology techniques and who want to learn how to create an engineered mammalian cell line or mouse model using the most recent and advanced CRISPR/Cas9 system. No previous experience in genome editing is required.

Modules/resources

  • How to create a CRISPR/Cas9 experiment using various design tools
  • Transfection optimisation for efficient gene editing
  • Generation of knock-out and knock-in cell lines and mouse embryos
  • Validation of genome-edited cell lines and embryos

Learning outcomes

After this course you should be able to:

  • Design a CRISPR based project using editing tools for your target gene of interest
  • Choose the right format of gene editing tool and delivery strategy for your cell type or embryos
  • Edit, screen and validate the engineered models, embryo manipulation

What past participants say about the course

“An extremely valuable tool for understanding the theoretical bases and practical aspects related to the CrispR technologies. Excellent speakers and experts will welcome you and guide you through this course” – Marco Bruschi, Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute, France

Speakers, trainers and staff

Michela Ascolani

EMBL Rome

Italy

Isabel Clara Rollan Delgado

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Birgit Koch

Max Planck Institute for Medical Research

Germany

Scientific Organisers

Birgit Koch

Max Planck Institute for Medical Research

Germany

Representatives from ThermoFisher

ThermoFisher Scientific

Germany

Course Organisers

Chris Stocks

Chris Stocks

Course and Conference Team Lead

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Yvonne Yeboah

Training Laboratory

Manager

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Swetlana Krez

Swetlana Krez

Training Laboratory

Technician

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Programme

Got something to say? Tweet it! #EMBLCRISPRcas

  • Some pre-course work (such as watching pre-recordings, protocol reading and computational exercises) with estimated time 0-10 hours will be required and will be shared in advance of the course.
  • Some speakers may need to join virtually to give their lecture or Q&A, and the programme is subject to change.
Day 1 – Sunday 9 October 2022
Time
(Europe/Berlin)
SessionLocation
16:00 – 16:30 Registration ISG Hotel
16:30 – 17:30Arrival & Welcome
Introduction to course design
ISG Seminar room
17:30 – 18:00IcebreakerISG Seminar room
18:00 – 19:00Live Keynote Lecture:
Introduction to CRISPR/Cas 9
Dana Carroll – University of Utah School of Medicine, USA

This talk will be remote
ISG Seminar room
19:00Dinner & Networking ISG Hotel
Day 2 – Monday 10 October 2022
Time (Europe/Berlin) Session Location
08:30 – 08:45 Bus from ISG Hotel to EMBL ISG Hotel
08:45 – 09:00 RegistrationCourtyard Room
09:00- 12:15Day 2: Guide RNA Design
09:00- 09:15Lab Safety
Yvonne Yeboah – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Courtyard Room
09:15 – 10:15Lecture: Purification of Cas9 protein
Kim Remans- EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Courtyard Room
10:15 – 11:15Practical 1: gRNA/Donor design
Kristof Kersse -Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Training Lab A & B
11:15 – 11:45Coffee
11:45 – 12:30 Practical in groups
11:45 – 12:30Mammalian Cell Group
Practical 1.1: TrueTag Donor Template Synthesis – PCR
Silke Deckert – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Training Lab A
11:45 – 12:30Mouse Embryo Group
gRNA/donor design for embryos
Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Isabel Rollan – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Training Lab B
12:30- 13:30Lunch
13:30 – 14:30Lecture: Robust genome editing is simple molecular biology: application across model organisms
Alexandre Paix – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Courtyard Room
14:30 – 16:00Practical 1.2
Mammalian Cell Group: TrueTag Donor Template Synthesis – Gel analysis and Clean-up
Silke Deckert – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Training Lab A & B
14:30 – 16:00Practical 1.2
Mouse Embryo Group:Basic embryo handling – Glass transfer pipet prep, harvest embryos and short seminar on embryo transfer and demonstration.

Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Isabel Rollan – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Training Lab A & B
16:00- 16:30Coffee
16:30 – 18:00Practical 2 +3
Mammalian Cell Group
Group A: gRNA efficiency: Lipid transfection of 293FT cells with gRNA and Cas9 protein,
Lipid transfection of 293FT-eBFP cells with gRNA, Cas9 protein and ssODN
Silke Deckert – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK

Group B:Guide RNA design task
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Training Lab A & B
16:30 – 18:00Mouse Embryo Group:
Annealing gRNAs and microinjection mixes & Intro to TLR2 system
Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Isabel Rollan – EMBL Heidelberg
Training Lab A & B
18:00- 19:00Dinner
19:00- 20:30Practical 2 +3
Mammalian Cell Group
Group B: gRNA efficiency: Lipid transfection of 293FT cells with gRNA and Cas9 protein,
Lipid transfection of 293FT-eBFP cells with gRNA, Cas9 protein and ssODN

Silke Deckert – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK

Group A:Guide RNA design task
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Training Lab A & B
19:00- 20:30Practical 2+3
Mouse Embryo Group
Embryos handling and transfer KSOM media O/N culture

Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Isabel Rollan – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Training Lab A & B
20:30Bus from EMBL to ISG Hotel

Day 3 – Tuesday 11 October 2022
Time
(Europe/Berlin)
SessionLocation
08:30 – 08:45 Bus from ISG Hotel to EMBL
08:45 – 09:15Registration
09:15 – 10:15Lecture: CRISPR-Cas genome editing to generate transgenic mice
Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Courtyard Room
10:15 – 11:15Practical Lecture
Mammalian Cell Group: Generation and validation of endogenously tagged cell line
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Courtyard Room
10:15 – 11:15Practical 4. Mouse Embryo Group: Assess and clean-up 2 cell microinjected embryosTraining Lab A & B
11:15- 11:45Coffee
11:45 – 12:45Lecture: Pooled screening in growth-variable human cerebral organoid tissue via DNA barcoding 
Dominik Lindenhofer – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Courtyard Room
12:45 – 13:45Lunch
13:45 – 15:45Practical 1.3 + 4
Mammalian Cell Group
Group A: Tag Knock-in: Electroporation of 293FT with gRNA, Cas9 protein and TrueTag donor template
Silke Deckert – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Group B: Project discussion
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Cell Culture/Flex Lab











Courtyard Room
13:45 – 15:45Practical 4
Mouse Embryo Group
Thaw pre-prepared blastocysts, assess viability and extract DNA

Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Isabel Rollan – EMBL Heidelberg
Training Lab A & B
15:45- 16: 15Coffee
16:15- 18:15Practical 1.3 + 4
Mammalian Cell Group
Group B: Tag Knock-in: Electroporation of 293FT with gRNA, Cas9 protein and TrueTag donor template

Silke Deckert – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Group A: Project discussion
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Cell Culture/Flex Lab
16:15- 18:15Practical 5
Mouse Embryo Group
Design cut test PCR and knock-in specific PCR – forward and reverse. Run O/N

Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Isabel Rollan – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Training Lab A & B
18:15 – 19:15DinnerCanteen
19:15Bus from EMBL to ISG hotelEMBL Bus stop
Day 4 – Wednesday 12 October 2022
Time (Europe/Berlin) SessionLocation
08:30 – 08:45 Bus from ISG Hotel to EMBL 
08:45 – 09:15Registration Courtyard Room
09:15 – 10:15Lecture: Genome-scale pooled genetic screens with CRISPR/Cas9 and complex readouts from single cells
Daniel Schraivogel – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
**this talk is remote**
Courtyard Room
10:15- 12:15Practical in Groups
Mammalian Cell Group Practicals 5-1 & 5-2:
GCD Cell Harvest and lysis, set up GCD PCR

Silke Deckert -Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Training Lab A & B
10:15- 12:15Mouse Embryo Group: Practicals 5.1 & 5.22
Assess and clean-up 4 to 8 cell embryos. Run Gels for PCRs
Set up T7 assay and digestion assay PCRs.

Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Isabel Rollan – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany 
Training Lab A & B
12:30- 13:30Lunch 
13:30- 14:30Lecture: The 3Cs technology for CRISPR gRNA library generation
Manuel Kaulich – Goethe University, Germany
Courtyard Room
14:30 – 16:30Practical in Groups
Practical 5.3: Mammalian Cell Group

CR analysis, set up GCD re-annealing reaction

Practical 5.4 & 5.5

Set up digestion for GCD, gel purification & sample submission for sanger sequencing
Gel analysis of GCD


Silke Deckert – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Antony Miles- Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Flex Lab A & B
14:30 – 16:30Mouse Embryo Group:
Cut out gels for sequencing and run gels for T7 assay and digestion assay.
T7 assay and digestion assay – analyze. submission for sanger sequencing

Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Training Lab A & B
16:30- 17:00Coffee 
17:00- 18:00Lecture: Imaged-based high-throughput screening RNAi vs CRISPR
Beate Neumann, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany 
Courtyard Room
18:00- 19:00DinnerRoof Top Lounge
19:00- 20:30Discussion round and drinks: Ethical issues of CRISPR technology and genome engineeringRoof Top Lounge
20:30 Bus from EMBL to ISG hotel EMBL bus stop
Day 5 – Thursday 13 October 2022
Time
(Europe/Berlin)
SessionLocation
08:30 – 08:45 Bus from ISG Hotel to EMBL 
08:45 – 09:15Registration 
09:15 – 10:45Practical in Groups
Mammalian Cell Group
Group A: Examine BFP cells via microscopy and FACS

Kristof Kersse – Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany
Antony Miles – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Kieran Van Kessel – Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Group B: Knock-In cell validation – DNA Preparation
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Training Lab B
09:15 – 10:45Mouse Embryo Group
Thaw TLR2 embryos and examine KO and KI morular/ blastocysts for florescence
Knock-In validation.

Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Training Lab B
10:45 – 11:15Coffee and group photo
11:15 – 12:45Practical in Groups
Mammalian Cell Group
Group B: Examine BFP cells via microscopy and FACS

Antony Miles- Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK
Group A: Knock-In cell validation – DNA Preparation
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Training Lab B
11:15 – 12:45Mouse Embryo Group
Image embryos
Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Training Lab B
12:45 – 13:45Lunch 
13:45 – 15:00Practical in groups
Mammalian cell group
Knock-In cell validation – Set up Junction PCR

Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Training Lab B
13:45 – 15:00 Mouse embryo group
Tour of LAR Facility
15:00 – 15:15Break 
15:15 – 17:40Technology Lounge: Genome modification technologies
Presentation by different companies
.
**Click here for the Technology Lounge schedule**
A01: Stilla
A23: Merck
B11: IDT
Flex Lab: ThermoFisher
Roof Top Lounge: NEB
17:40Bus from EMBL to downtown (via ISG Hotel) ATC entrance
19:00Downtown course dinnerOskars Downtown
Day 6 – Friday 14 October 2022
Time (Europe/Berlin) SessionLocation
08:30 – 08:45 Bus from ISG Hotel to EMBL ISG Hotel
08:45 – 09:15RegistrationFlex Lab
09:15 – 10:15Lecture: Gene editing in different experimental models
Antony Adamson – The University of Manchester, UK
Flex Lab A & B
10:15-11:15Practical in Groups
Mammalian Cell Group

Gel electrophoresis of junction PCR
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Training Lab B
10:15-11:15Mouse Embryo Group
Project discussion
Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Flex Lab A & B
11:15- 11:45Break
11:45- 12:45Practical in Groups
Mammalian Cell Group

Analysis of gel electrophoresis
Birgit Koch – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany
Training Lab B
11:45- 12:45Mouse Embryo Group
Project discussion
Neil Humphreys – EMBL Rome, Italy
Michela Ascolani – EMBL Rome, Italy
Flex Lab A & B
12:45- 13:45Lunch
13:45- 15:00The Solution Room- Last chance to ask questions Flex Lab A & B
15:00- 15:30Final discussions, feedback session Flex Lab A & B

Practical information

Registration fees and motivation letter

The course is limited to 16 participants. For selection purposes, please note that your application will not be considered without a letter of motivation.

Registration

Registration fees include admission, course materials, COVID-19 safety measures, meals and coffee breaks. Participants are expected to book and pay their own accommodation and travel expenses. 

Academia€790
PhD Student€790
Industry€1200

NO visa support letters will be issued until payment of the registration fee is confirmed.

Confirmation and payment

The registration fee should be paid only after acceptance to the course. The results will be announced approximately 2-3 weeks after the application deadline.

Motivation letter submission

After you have logged in and successfully registered, you will receive an email asking you to submit your motivation letter. Click on the link provided and enter your motivation letter in the text box provided. Alternatively you can submit your motivation letter by clicking on the link on the confirmation page directly after registering.

Instructions

  1. Include your relevant skills, experience and qualifications showing why you would be suitable for the course.
  2. Explain why you would like to attend, including what you can contribute and how you think you will benefit from the course.

Please note:

  • The limit of 2000 characters refers to manually typed text and excludes spaces. If an error occurs try using a different web browser (preferably Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox).
  • If you copy-paste the text into the form, hidden formatting might still be included which may cause the text to exceed the 2,000 character limit resulting in an error message. We recommend you clear all formatting before pasting in the text.
  • If you have special symbols in your text, make sure you are using Unicode characters, otherwise these will not be recognised.

For detailed instructions, please watch our video on how to submit a course motivation letter.

Further details

For further information about registration and motivation letter submission please refer to the FAQ page.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance

Limited financial assistance is provided by the EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme and EMBO in the form of both registration fee waivers and travel grants. Availability is limited to participants attending on-site events in Heidelberg and will be indicated during the abstract or motivation letter submission process.

Your place in the meeting is only confirmed by paying the registration fee, which is mandatory even when receiving a fee waiver.

Registration fee waiver

The fee waiver will cover the registration sum that you have paid to attend the course or conference.

Travel grant

The travel grant will cover the cost of travel (airfare, train, bus, taxi, accommodation, visa, and/or registration fees*) and is provided up to specified caps which are normally as follows:

– up to €400 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course, EMBL Conference or EMBO|EMBL Symposium from within Europe.
– up to €1000 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course, EMBL Conference or EMBO|EMBL Symposium from outside Europe.
– up to €500 for any participant travelling to an EMBO Practical Course or EMBO Workshop.
– up to €1000 for any participant working in Chile, India, Singapore or Taiwan travelling to an EMBO Practical Course or EMBO Workshop.

*Registration fees are only covered for EMBO Practical Courses or EMBO Workshops

The organisers may reduce the grant cap to accommodate more participants. Recipients will be notified of their travel cap amount when they are informed of the outcome of their application. Original receipts must be provided with your signature for all costs incurred within two months of completion of travel. Scanned copies cannot be accepted.

Childcare grant (EMBO practical courses and workshops only)

For EMBO Practical Course or EMBO Workshop participants with children, there is the possibility to apply for a childcare grant to offset child care costs incurred by participants or speakers when participating at a course or conference. Eligible costs include fees for a babysitter or child-care facility, travel costs for a caregiver, or travel costs for taking the child to the meeting etc. Please note that priority will be given to early-stage researchers. A maximum amount of 500 EUR can be awarded per participant applying for an EMBO Childcare Grant. In order to apply for this grant for EMBO Workshops, you must be registered by the abstract submission deadline.

Boehringer ingelheim fonds travel grant

Applies to selected courses only. Availability will be indicated during the abstract or motivation letter submission process.

This grant covers costs related to your attendance at the course (registration, travel and accommodation costs). The grant is restricted to PhD students and postdocs who conduct basic biomedical research.
Whether you are eligible to apply for a travel grant, depends on when you received your university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, A-Levels, High School Diploma, Final State Examination):

– for PhD and MD students, as well as graduates, the university entrance qualification must not have been obtained more than 11 years ago at the time of the envisaged course
– for postdocs, the university entrance qualification must not have been obtained more than 13 years ago at the time of the envisaged course

Application

You may apply for financial assistance when submitting your motivation letter for courses, and abstract for conferences. In your application, you will be asked to answer questions regarding why your lab cannot fund your attendance and how your attendance will make a difference to your career. Application for financial support will not affect the outcome of your registration application.

For the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Travel Grant, there is a pre-application question during the motivation letter submission process, and if selected you will be requested to complete a standard form and documentation consisting of your travel expense estimation.

Selection

The scientific organisers will select the recipients of all financial assistance during the motivation letter or abstract selection process. Results will be announced approximately 6-8 weeks before the event start date, however for some events this may be delayed. Selection results do not impact your admission to the meeting. Selection is based on your current work or study location, the reasons for needing financial support and the impact this event will have on your career.

Reimbursement

Costs will be reimbursed after the meeting only once a reimbursement form and original receipts (from travel costs) have been received.

Further details

See our list of external funding opportunities and information on attending a conference as an event reporter.

For further information about financial assistance please refer to the FAQ page.

Accommodation and shuttles

Hotel

Single rooms have been reserved for 5 nights (09 – 13 October 2022) at the ISG Hotel. After the selection process, selected participants should contact the hotel directly to make a booking (booking code GEE22-01). We recommend that all course participants stay at the ISG Hotel which is the dedicated hotel for the course.

Local transport

Shuttle buses will go from the ISG Hotel to EMBL and back, mornings and evenings. A bus schedule and location of the bus stops will be made available prior to the meeting.

Further details

Address: EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

For further information on getting to EMBL Heidelberg visit our Travel Information page.

For enquiries about accommodation and local transportation please refer to the FAQ page.

Event software

Event software

The EMBL eCampus learning platform will be used to collaborate, communicate and network with all of the course participants. All participants will receive information on how to join shortly before the course. We recommend using Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox browsers for eCampus. 

Additional information

Please find additional information including FAQs, terms and conditions, COVID-19 safety policy and travelling to EMBL on our Information for Participants page.

COVID-19 related questions

COVID-19 information for on-site events at EMBL Heidelberg can be found in our COVID-19 FAQs.

Sponsors

Sponsorship opportunities

We offer a variety of event sponsoring possibilities, with the flexibility to select a set sponsorship package or combine individual sponsorship options to suit your event budget. Discounts are available for companies sponsoring multiple events at EMBL Heidelberg. View other conferences, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information.

If you are interested in becoming a media partner of this event, please visit our media partnerships webpage.

Date: 9 - 14 Oct 2022

Location: EMBL Heidelberg

Venue: EMBL Advanced Training Centre


Deadline(s):

Application: Closed


Organisers:


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