CRISPR and beyond: perturbations at scale to understand genomes

Large scale genome sequencing has led to deep catalogues of natural and disease-related human genetic variation. Unfortunately, we do not understand the functional implications of the vast majority of detected variants, and therefore cannot use them for healthcare or research. The rapid advances of CRISPR/Cas-based technologies and DNA synthesis now make it possible to modulate genomes with relative ease. These tools can help us understand how genetic variation impacts phenotype and answer important long-standing questions in biology that also impact human health, laying the foundations for precision medicine for heritable diseases and cancer treatment.

The programme will cover approaches that modulate the genome and its context at scale, from single nucleotides and genes to hundreds of growth environments. We will discuss (i) assays that focus on individual nucleotides in coding and non-coding regions to understand the effects of single mutations; (ii) focused- and genome-wide scrambling methods that assess the influence of changing genome structure and content; (iii) genome-wide knock-out, knock-down, and upregulation experiments to measure the phenotype when a gene is perturbed; (iv) interaction screens to uncover context-specificity of effects; and (v) small molecule treatments to understand their impact. Computational approaches are integral to all these topics, and will be covered by invited speakers, as well as sought for in submitted abstracts.

The conference will bring together biomedical researchers working on high throughput screening, genome engineering, and/or variant effect interpretation. We welcome abstracts on all major themes of this meeting to oral or poster presentations.

The conference will start at approx. 13.00 on 2 September and finish at approx. 2pm on 4 September 2019.

Topics will include:

• Understanding impact of coding variants
• Measuring consequences of non-coding variation
• Screens for gene function in cells
• Assaying gene function in organisms
• Gene and drug function in disease
• Interactions with genes, drugs, and environment
• New technology for readouts and perturbations

Scientific programme committee

John Doench
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, USA

Jolanda van Leeuwen
University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

Leopold Parts
Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK

Lea Starita
University of Washington, USA

Confirmed speakers

Britt Adamson – University of Princeton, USA
Brenda Andrews – University of Toronto, Canada
Michael Boutros – DKFZ Heidelberg, Germany
Ellen Bushell – Umea University, Sweden
Ulrich Elling –  Institute of Molecular Biology, Austria
Douglas Fowler – Unversity of Washington, USA
Molly Gasperini – University of Washington, USA
Maya Ghoussaini – OpenTargets, UK
Luke Gilbert – UCSF, USA
Emma Haapaniemi – University of Oslo, Norway
Ben Lehner – Centre for Genomic Regulation, Spain
James McFarland – Broad Institute, USA
Fritz Roth – University of Toronto, Canada
Jussi Taipale – University of Cambridge, UK
Sibylle Vonesch – EMBL, Germany
Yanli Wang – Institute of Biophysics CAS, China

Scientific Conferences Team

Treasa Creavin, Scientific Programme Manager
Lucy Criddle, Conference & Events Organiser

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked accommodation.

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 2 and 3 September 2019. Please note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is recommended.

If you wish to book onsite accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Conference Centre directly.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a travel visa application. Please note: letters will only be provided to confirmed registrants.

Non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationals may be required to have a visa to enter the UK.
Early application is strongly advised, as this process can take 6-8 weeks or longer.

Please visit the following websites for further information:

• UK Border Agency website
• Information for general visitors and business visitors

Accommodation services phishing scam – please be vigilant. More information.

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students to attend this conference (up to 50% of the standard registration fee) from Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

To apply, please contact the conference organiser. You will be sent a unique registration link which will hold your place, without taking payment, until you have been notified of the outcome of your application.

The following documents will need to be provided as part of the bursary application:

• Abstract (to be submitted via the portal during the registration process)
• CV
• A justification letter (explain how you will benefit from attending the conference)
• A supporting letter from supervisor stating financial need

If you have already registered for the conference you are still welcome to apply for a bursary, please contact the conference organiser.

Bursary deadline: 25 June 2019

Additional funding opportunities
Visit our support page for additional financial support currently available.

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.

Abstracts will only be considered from registered delegates. Please use our online abstract submission system and follow the instructions given to ensure your abstract is submitted correctly. All abstracts must be submitted by the deadline. If you are intending to submit more than one abstract, please contact the conference organiser prior to registration.

The scientific programme committee will assess your abstract after the deadline has passed and you will be notified whether you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0- portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the conference programme book and poster boards will be allocated at the conference.

Abstract deadline: 9 July 2019