CONFERENCE SHORT COURSES*
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
2:00-5:00 pm Short Course I
Getting the Most out of Your qPCR Experiments
Sponsored by: 
Marwan Alsarraj, Ph.D., Product Manager, Gene Expression Division, Bio Rad Laboratories
- Review of critical assay design parameters
- Optimization of assay performance
- Troubleshooting:
- Contamination
- Primer Dimers
- Efficiency/Reproducibility/Sensitivity
- Analysis Considerations:
- Gene Expression
This will be an interactive workshop - attendees are encouraged to bring data files and problem examples with them.
2:00-5:00 pm Short Course II
WikiLIMS™: The Next-Generation in
Next-Gen Data Management Sponsored by: 
Michael Cariaso, Senior Scientific Consultant, BioTeam, Inc.
WikiLIMS™ is a new, flexible interface for capturing, analyzing, and managing research information. This open source laboratory information management system is a novel application of wiki technology. In this 3-hour course, Michael Cariaso will guide you through the functionality of a WikiLIMS and the real-world experiences of researchers using the system. Attendees will explore a unified interface for tracking samples and their analyses across next-generation (Roche FLX, Solexa) and traditional platforms (microarrays, abi3700).
Who should attend & why:
Any researcher who collects data can benefit from this interactive course. From small research labs to core facilities, next-generation sequencers are changing the way data are collected. Managing the volume and complexity of that data is destined to be the next big problem. This course will give you practical information about staying ahead of the data flood and ensuring that your research will be productive.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
6:30-8:30 pm Short Course III
How to do Successful Gene Expression Analysis Using Real-time PCR
Jo Vandesompele, Ph.D., Professor, Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital
Jan Hellemans, Ph.D., Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital
In this short course, all aspects of the real-time PCR work flow will be covered, including RNA quality control, assay design and validation, selection of stably expressed reference genes, experiment design and finally data analysis using state-of-the-art strategies, methods, and quantification models. A light dinner is included.
Who should attend and why:
Both the first time real-time PCR user and the seasoned experimenter that want to learn state-of-the-art strategies, algorithms and validated work flow for real-time PCR gene expression analysis. You will learn how to import quality controls during the work flow, insights into state-of-the art normalization using multiple reference genes, error propagation, inter-run calibration, and an introduction in biostatistical analysis of gene expression.
6:30-8:30 pm Short Course IV
Experiment Design & Statistical Analysis of Multi-Assay Genomic Study
Thomas J. Downey, President, Partek, Inc.
Mike Lelivelt, Vice President, Genomics, Partek, Inc.
In order to better understand the causes of differential gene expression, researchers are beginning to correlate chromosomal copy number, methylation, chromatin-immunoprecipitation, and SNPs with gene expression changes. This workshop addresses statistical considerations both at the study design phase and the data analysis phase of the study. Examples, including correlating chromosomal copy number with gene expression, will be given to illustrate the methods. A light dinner is included.
Who should attend and why:
This short course is intended to help biologists and other medical researchers who are planning to conduct studies that include multiple assay types.
* Separate Registration Required