Tuesday, June 28

8:45    Chair's Opening Remarks
Dr. Scott A. Jackson, Research Fellow, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration

8:50    Gold Nanoparticle Probe-Based Gene Expression Analysis with Unamplified Total Human RNA
Dr. Y. Paul Bao, Sr. Research Manager, Applied Sciences, Nanosphere Inc.
The detection of microarray-bound RNA molecules is accomplished by the hybridization of DNA oligo modified gold nanoparticle probe, and subsequently nanoparticle-mediated light scattering. The high sensitivity afforded by the nanoparticle probe allows gene expression analysis from as little as 0.5µ unamplified total human RNA in a 2h hybridization.

9:20    Linear Amplification and High Sensitivity Detection of MicroRNA Molecules
Dr. Robert Getts, Manager, Research and Development, Genisphere Inc.
MicroRNAs are recently discovered, 21-24 nucleotide long RNA molecules which regulate protein synthesis by binding to mRNA as part of a protein complex that stalls downstream translation. MicroRNAs share the biological machinery of siRNAs and represent a small portion of the total RNA complement of a cell, which makes them difficult to detect unless large quantities of total RNA or radioactivity are used. A high sensitivity fluorescent labeling method based on proprietary 3DNA technology, as well as a novel adaptation of linear T7 amplification of microRNAs without using PCR, will be discussed.

9:50    Technology Spotlight Licensing Molecular Diagnostic Enabling Technology Dr. Robert Morrison, Vice President, New Business Development, BTG BTG is complementing current efforts in licensing PCR-based genotyping technology by building a portfolio in enabling technology as the basis of clinical development tools and personalized medicine diagnostic products.

10:20    Poster and Exhibit Viewing, Coffee Break

11:00    The Use of Eclipse Hybridization Probe Technology for Viral Detection in a Clinical Laboratory Setting
Dr. Jeffery B. Stevenson, Senior Scientist, ARUP Institute for Clinical & Experimental Pathology
The Eclipse hybridization probe is a relative newcomer to the array of fluorescently labeled probes used for detecting PCR products in a real time format. The incorporation of a minor groove binding moiety and the availability of various modified bases in these probes greatly enhances the flexibility of primer/probe design. We have incorporated this technology into a number of qualitative and quantitative assays for pathogen detection and viral load monitoring. The performance characteristics of these assays will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the difficulties that arise when a polymorphism occurs within the probe-binding region.

11:30    Use of Thin Film Technology for Rapid Identification of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Mr. Robert Jenison, Associate Director, R&D, Thermo Electron
Thin film technology allows direct visual detection of target nucleic acid sequences on a modified silicon chip coated with oligonucleotide probes. Hybridization triggers enzymatic formation of a thin film which alters the interference pattern of light on the surface, resulting in a perceived color change with as few as 60,000 copies of nucleic acid. We have applied the technology to the direct detection of bacterial genomic DNA directly from plate and blood culture bottles in a two hour protocol that fits well in the clinical microbiology laboratory.

12:00    Panel Discussion with All Morning Speakers

12:30    Lunch (on your own)

2:00    Chair's Opening Remarks
Dr. Michael Egholm, Vice President, Molecular Biology, 454 Life Sciences

2:05     Exploring the Cancer Genome using Digital Karyotyping
Dr. Tian-Li Wang, Assistant Professor, Gynecological Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Digital karyotyping has been recently developed by our research group to reveal genome-wide DNA copy number alterations at high resolution. This technique is based on isolation and sequencing of genomic tags. These tags (21 bp each) contain sufficient information that allows assigning the tag sequences to their corresponding genomic loci from which they are derived. It has been shown to be able to identify new tumor-associated gene and to facilitate new marker and drugable target identification. The principle and application of this technology will be presented.

2:35    Innovative Drug Targets: Identification of Genes Bound and Activated by Transcription Factors using Promoter Arrays
Dr. Dan Mercola, Professor, Molecular Pathology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
We have developed cDNA arrays of "promoter" of human genes. These arrays allow for the identification in high-throughput fashion of ChIP-captured DNA (chromatin immunoprecipitated DNA) following cross-linking to DNA in living cells. This "chip-on-chip" strategy is illustrated by the identification of large-scale gene binding and activation that takes place upon applying the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin to breast cancer cells. 23 DNA repair genes which contribute to drug resistance were found and validated on the RNA and protein levels. These are novel targets for sensitization of cancer cells to chemo.

3:05    Poster and Exhibit Viewing, Refreshment Break 

3:30    Selected Oral Poster Presentations

4:00   Optimization of siRNA Transfection and Validation of Gene Silencing by RT-qPCR
Dr. Teresa Rubio, Staff Scientist, Gene Expression Division, Bio-Rad Laboratories
A critical step to the success of RNAi experiments is efficient siRNA delivery. Bio-Rad Laboratories has developed siLentFect lipid reagent, designed to facilitate efficient siRNA transfections with low cytotoxicity. Important aspects of delivery, sample preparation, and validation of gene silencing by RT-qPCR are presented.

4:30    Panel Discussion with all Afternoon Speakers

5:00    Close of Conference