9月23日（火）

7:30 am  Breakfast Technology Workshop (Sponsorship Available)

8:15  Java and Jive Break-out Discussion Groups
Time has been designated for facilitated discussion groups with specific themes. This unique opportunity allows conference participants to focus on a topic and exchange ideas, information, experiences, and develop future collaborations.

すべてはRNAにある

9:00  Chairperson’s Remarks

9:05  MicroRNA and Pre-microRNA Profiles as Ascertained by Automated Real-Time QPCR Arrays Contribute Non-Redundant Information to Tumor Classification
Dirk P. Dittmer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MicroRNA signatures are useful classifiers of disease, e.g. lymphoma.  Each microRNA is derived from a nuclear pre-cursor, which so far has been underutilized for tumor profiling. We developed a high-throughput real-time QPCR approach to pre-microRNA profiling, which allows us to simultaneously profile pre- and mature microRNAs from routine (2x2 mm) clinical biopsies. Validation and application of this approach to the classification of viral lymphoma will be discussed.

9:35  Evaluation and Validation of Total RNA Extraction Methods for MicroRNA Expression Analyses in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissues
Anna E. Szafranska, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Asuragen, Inc. (invited)

10:05  Technology Spotlight Sponsored by  
The NanoString nCounter System: A Highly Sensitive, Digital Technology for Multiplexed Measurement of Gene Expression Without Reverse Transcription or PCR
Sean Ferree, Ph.D., Research & Development Manager, NanoString Technologies
We describe a novel technology, the NanoString nCounter Analysis System, that captures and counts individual mRNA transcripts. Advantages over existing platforms include direct measurement of mRNA expression levels without enzymatic reactions or bias, sensitivity coupled with high multiplex capability, and digital readout. Experiments performed on 509 human genes yielded a replicate correlation coefficient of 0.9999, a detection limit between 0.1fM and 0.5fM, and a linear 1000-fold dynamic range. Comparison of the NanoString nCounter gene expression system with microarrays and RT-PCR, demonstrated that the nCounter system is significantly more sensitive than microarrays and very similar in sensitivity to RT-PCR. Finally, a comparison of transcript levels for 21 genes across 7 samples measured using both the nCounter system and quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated a remarkable correlation in the pattern of gene expression at all transcript levels.

10:20  Morning Coffee, Poster and Exhibit Viewing

11:00  ExpressSeq Pipeline: Gene Expression Analysis using Next Generation Sequencing Technologies
Roderick Jensen, Ph.D., Director, Core Laboratory Facility, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute
With the falling prices and expanded throughput of the next-generation sequencing platforms, these instruments will soon be competing with the DNA microarray technologies for global gene expression analysis. To provide a preliminary evaluation of the performance of these promising technologies, we performed deep sequencing of the Microarray Quality Control (MAQC) reference RNA samples using the Roche/454 GS-FLX. For this study we generated more that 3.6 million sequence reads of average length 250 Bp for cDNA generated from the MAQC A and B samples and introduced the “ExpressSeq” Pipeline for translating the cDNA read counts into gene expression levels. Using the metrics for evaluating the performance of gene expression platforms used in the MAQC studies, we found that the ExpressSeq results for gene expression levels showed excellent specificity, good sensitivity and reproducibility that improved systematically with increasing sequencing depth, and quantitative accuracy that was comparable to DNA microarrays and QRT-PCR results. Moreover, in addition to gene expression levels, the ExpressSeq results also provide useful information about splice variants, gene fusions, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (eSNPs) in expressed genes.

11:30  External RNA Control Consortium Reference Material: Community Built Measurement Assurance Tools
Marc Salit, Ph.D., Research Chemist, Team Leader, Metrology for Gene Expression, NIST
Gene expression microarrays are a rapidly maturing technology, and the community has come together and developed tools and methods to assure measurement quality. NIST has played host to this consortium, and it has been a key element in our effort to evaluate a systematic approach toward genome-scale measurement assurance. Our program at NIST is creating a plasmid library of reference material to be used for manufacture of the external RNA controls, and is investigating methods for using them to validate the technical performance of expression microarrays and qRT-PCR.  The results of the ERCC testing, and the status of the reference material development will also be presented.

12:00 pm  Close of Session

12:15  Luncheon Technology Workshop             Sponsored by 
A Novel Method for High-Throughput, Nanoliter Volume Real-Time PCR
Kevin Munnelly M.B.A., Vice President and General Manager, BioTrove
Understanding patterns of gene expression and gene function requires accurate and precise measurement of RNA levels across large numbers of genes simultaneously.  This talk will demonstrate a novel, highly parallel, nanofluidic system capable of performing approx. 3000 real-time polymerase chain reactions based on standard chemistries. The utility of this system for studying various gene expression applications as well as pathogen detection and methylation-specific PCR will be shown. The session will focus on the following:

TECH EXPO
Explore available next-generation screening platforms as presented by sequencing leaders. An unparalleled opportunity to compare and contrast these next-generation sequencing platforms to best suit your research needs.
Sponsored Seminar Hosted by:

2:05  Applied Biosystems  

2:35  Sponsored By
True Single Molecule Sequencing™: The Continuing Path to the $1000 Genome
Patrice M. Milos, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer

3:20  Refreshment Break, Poster and Exhibit Viewing

4:00  Sponsored By  

4:30  Interactive Panel Discussion
Moderator, Kevin Davies, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, BioIT World
It’s been three years since the debut of the first commercial next-generation sequencing platform. Since then, remarkable advances have been made in the quality, reliability, and throughput of all of the major commercial platforms. This session features presentations from some of the most established next-gen platform providers, showcasing advances in technology, affordability, and applications.

5:30 Close of Meeting

6:30-8:30 Recommended Short Course III or IV * (別途登録必要)