Wednesday, October 2, 2013
8:30 AM EDT - 5:30 PM EDT
2013 Symposium Registration is Open Now
(Click here to view the 2012 Symposium)
Virtual Symposium Overview
Methods are the foundation of any modern lab. They enable research, making it possible to experimentally test far reaching hypotheses quickly. With this in mind, the 2013 BioTechniques Virtual Symposium will celebrate the creativity and imagination behind some of today’s most innovative methods, techniques, protocols and instrument advances. From enhanced PCR protocols to sophisticated imaging techniques enabling nanometer resolution, the sessions, posters and special keynote talks at this year’s event will examine the evolution of key methodologies driving modern science.
Sessions include:
- Advancing Molecular Biology - Cloning/Mutagenesis, Analysis of Gene Regulation
- PCR in 2013 - qPCR, Multiplex PCR, Digital PCR
- Understanding Modern Biochemistry - Protein Isolation, Protein Analysis, Protein Structure
- Modern Cellular Imaging - Light Microscopy Advances, Fluorescent Probes and Proteins, High-Content Imaging
- A BioTechniques 30th Anniversary Lecture on Gene Delivery presented by Dr. Robert Langer, Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- A Workshop on Plastic Labware Leaching
The virtual symposium and exhibit hall are FREE to attend, but registration is required.
Register today and ensure your place at the show!
Sessions Details:
Session 1 - Advancing Molecular Biology
Although often overlooked, continued refinement of many molecular biology methods and techniques is leading to new insights into genome structure and function. While novel and emerging protocols enable large-scale genome manipulation, today’s molecular biology tool kit owes a large debt to the strong foundation provided by researchers from the past.
Talks include:
Cloning/Mutagenesis (Session Keynote) - Feng Zhang, PhD. Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Core Member of the Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT
The ability to create gene knock-outs or knock-ins has enhanced understanding of the role that genes play in a cell. Directed mutagenesis approaches have greatly expanded in recent years through development of platform technologies that take advantage of homologous recombination and nucleases. In addition, methods to clone large pieces of DNA have revolutionized fields such as synthetic biology (e.g. Gibson cloning). Dr. Zhang’s talk will focus on the development of nuclease-based genome engineering tools with an emphasis on the recently reported CRISPR-Cas system.
Analysis of Gene Regulation - Speaker to be announced
Analysis of gene expression patterns and processes is critical to understanding developmental processes as well as disease progression. This talk will examine the latest approaches for dissecting the function of miRNAs and their effects on gene expression and regulation.
Session 2 - PCR in 2013
By all accounts, PCR remains the workhorse technology of the modern lab. Although many PCR advances have been detailed over the past two decades, the technology still continues to evolve. This session will examine some the latest advances in PCR methodology, and how these techniques are impacting today’s research.
Talks include:
qPCR (Session Keynote) - Jo Vandesompele, PhD. Professor of Functional Genomics and Applied Bioinformatics, Ghent University
Quantitative PCR has become a staple in the modern molecular biology lab – a tool often used to measure quantities of expressed transcripts or numbers of specific RNAs in a sample. While an extremely useful tool if done properly, qPCR can present challenges when it comes to data interpretation and analysis. Dr. Vandesompele will examine the latest advances in qPCR methodologies and analysis tools.
Multiplex PCR - Larry Wangh, PhD. Professor of Biology, Brandeis University
The ability to multiplex PCR reactions can significantly extend the impact of PCR assays into areas such as gene expression analysis and even clinical diagnostics. However, multiplexing is limited by reagents, conditions and primer compatibility – factors that add to the difficulty of designing good multiplex PCR assays. Dr. Wangh’s talk will focus on the development of multiplex PCR applications and the use of LATE-PCR (a technique he developed).
Digital PCR - Kenneth Kinzler, PhD. Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University. Director, Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins
The ability to template numbers in a PCR reaction provides much insight into the molecular world. Dr. Kinzler’s will detail his lab’s use of digital PCR to better understand the genetics of cancer.
Session 3 - Understanding Modern Biochemistry
Proteins, metabolites, and organelles are truly the ‘business’ end of the cell – the biochemical effectors of function. In this session, our three speakers will explore various protein analysis techniques that are shaping, and reshaping, our understanding of biochemistry.
Talks include:
Protein Isolation (Session Keynote) - Scott Banta, PhD. Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University
To study a protein, a researcher much first identify and isolate that protein. Dr. Banta will detail recent work from his lab involving novel protein purification approaches as well as new protein engineering strategies and their possible applications for biological research.
Protein Analysis - Keith Weninger, PhD. Associate Professor of Biophysics, North Carolina State University
So, you think you have your pure protein, now what? This second talk will examine the latest techniques for protein quantification and functional analysis. Dr. Weninger will describe recent work from his lab using FRET-based approaches to examine protein conformational changes of proteins in living cells.
Protein Structure - Fang Tian, PhD. Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University
Once you have that protein and know it’s concentration, functional capabilities, and relative purity, then what? Structure analysis enables researchers to suggest further functional properties of unknown proteins and group seemingly different proteins into families. Dr. Tian will discuss the recent efforts of his lab to elucidate the structure, function, and dynamics of membrane proteins using NMR spectroscopy.
Session 4 - Modern Cellular Imaging: Seeing is Believing
Microscopy has revolutionized our ability to see cells, organelles, and even proteins. Today, the desire to move live cell imaging to the resolution of electron microscopy is driving developers to push the envelope of what is possible with imaging technology. This session will examine the latest advances in imaging – from light microscopy techniques to the probes needed for imaging as well as the move for many researchers into high content imaging.
Talks include:
Light Microscopy Advances (Session Keynote) - Stephen Paddock, PhD. Howard Hughes Research Fellow at the University of Wisconsin
Light microscopy continues to evolve. Recent months have seen the advent of specialized objectives for deeper multi-photon imaging as well as reagents that clarify samples for deeper imaging. And the speed of confocal imaging continues to increase. Dr. Paddock will address recent advances in confocal imaging applications as well as other developments in light microscopy.
Fluorescent Probes and Proteins - Mark Rizzo, PhD. Assistant Professor, University of Maryland
Imaging is nothing without something to image. Low numerical aperture (NA) objectives and high-resolution imaging are crucial to many modern cell biology experiments. But these techniques need fluorescent probes or dyes to work. Dr. Rizzo will discuss his lab’s use of a structure-based approach to design brighter and more stable fluorescent proteins as well as FRET-based sensors.
High-content Imaging - Steven Altschuler, PhD. Associate Professor and Endowed Scholar in Biomedical Research, University of Texas, Southwestern
We will end the 2013 VS with a special talk focusing on the development of high-content imaging. HCI is now a mainstay for many screening applications in the pharma world, and is increasingly used by basic scientists as well. Dr. Altschuler will describe his recent development of a new computational tool that enables the rapid profiling of microscopy images from high-content screening applications.
The BioTechniques 30th Anniversary Lecture on Gene Delivery
Presented by Dr. Robert Langer, Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Langer’s lecture will detail his efforts to enhance drug and gene delivery technology.
Workshop on Plastic Labware Leaching
Recent scientific reports have shown that chemicals used in the manufacturing of disposable plastic labware, such as slip agents, plasticizers, and biocides, can leach out of the plastic into your sample and affect bioassay results. This seminar gives a summary of how it can affect your experiments.
The symposium features:
- Networking opportunities with speakers, attendees, and sponsors
- Live Q&A sessions with all presenters
- Virtual exhibit hall and poster hall
REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW
The virtual symposium and exhibit hall are FREE to attend, but registration is required.
Register today and ensure your place at the show!
Sponsored in part by:
