CRISPR and Beyond: Perturbations at Scale to Understand Genomes
22–24 April 2024
Wellcome Genome Campus, UK and Virtual
Exploring methods to modulate the genome at scale
Summary
The rapid development of CRISPR/Cas-based technologies makes it possible to modulate genomes with relative ease. These tools can help us understand how genetic variation influences phenotype and thereby answer long-standing questions in biology that impact human health, laying the foundations for precision medicine for heritable diseases and cancer treatment.
Our fifth conference will provide a forum for biomedical researchers from academia and industry working on high throughput screening, genome engineering, and variant effect interpretation to discuss perturbations at scale to understand genomes.
This year’s meeting will highlight recent advances enabled by emerging technologies and models, including computational approaches and designing DNA for function. Discussions will focus on the recent discoveries in precision genome editing, coding and non-coding variation and genetic interactions. A panel discussion will probe how generative modelling and other applications of machine learning are shaping the present and future of the field, and impacting experimentation.
The programme will also include short oral presentations selected from abstracts, posters, poster pitches, discussion sessions and networking opportunities for a highly interactive meeting.
Programme
The conference will start at approximately 12.00 on Monday 22 April and close at approximately 13.00 on Wednesday 24 April 2024. All times are in BST.
Discussions will focus on a variety of exciting topics, including:
- Emerging technologies and models
- Computational models and integration
- Coding & non-coding variation
- Gene engineering technologies
- Genetic interactions
- Precision editing and delivery systems
- Will AI ever replace experiments? (panel discussion)
Organisers and speakers
Scientific programme committee
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Britt Adamson
Princeton University, USA
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Martin Kircher
Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
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Leopold Parts
Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK
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Lea Starita
University of Washington, USA
Keynote speaker
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Brenda Andrews
University of Toronto, Canada
Confirmed speakers
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Mandana Arbab
Boston Children's Hospital, USA
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Wendy Bickmore
University of Edinburgh, UK
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Julien Gagneur
Technical University of Munich, Germany
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Francesco Iorio
Human Technopole, Italy
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Hyongbum Henry Kim
Yonsei University, South Korea
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Tuuli Lappalainen
New York Genome Center, USA/KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
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Mo Lotfollahi
Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK
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Thomas Norman
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
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Randall J. Platt
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
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Paula Rio
The Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), Spain
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Seth Shipman
University of California, San Francisco, USA
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Britta Velten
Heidelberg University, Germany
Organisers – Wellcome Connecting Science
Lucy Criddle, Conference & events organiser
Scarlett Storr, Conference & events coordinator
Nagehan Ramazanoğlu Bahadır, Programme developer
Registration and accommodation
Registration deadline: 26 March (in person) | 15 April 2024 (virtual)
In-person Registration |
Fee |
Student/trainee | £396 |
Academic/non-profit organisation | £496 |
Healthcare professional | £496 |
Commercial/for-profit organisation | £596 |
Onsite accommodation | £204 |
The in-person registration fee includes:
- Full access to scientific programme: oral and poster presentations, and networking on campus
- Access to the online conference portal to network with online participants
- Meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked onsite accommodation.
- Recordings of the live-stream sessions, which will be available ‘on-demand’ for four weeks after the event ends
Virtual Registration | Fee |
Delegates from LMICs* | Free |
Student/trainee | £55 |
Academic/non-profit organisation | £105 |
Healthcare professional | £105 |
Commercial/for-profit organisation | £165 |
Virtual registration fee includes:
- Access to the virtual event portal (Log in details will be emailed a few days before the event starts)
- Live-stream sessions, including posters and online networking channels
- Recordings of the live-stream sessions, available ‘on-demand’ for four weeks after the event ends.
* To promote more inclusive scientific discussions with international colleagues at our conferences, virtual delegates based in Lower and Middle-Income Countries can register for free (see list of countries here).
If you are an editor or journalist, please contact the conference organiser for more information about the discounted fee.
Accommodation
Booked accommodation is for the nights of 22 and 23 April 2024.
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 campus accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Hinxton Hall Conference Centre directly.
Accommodation services phishing scam – please be vigilant. More information.
Travel visas
Citizens of many countries can travel to the UK to attend a course or conference without needing a visa. Please check the UK government website for visitor information: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor.
Confirmed attendees requiring a letter to support a visa application should contact the event organiser.
Financial assistance
Bursaries
Bursary deadline: 30 January 2024
A limited number of registration bursaries are available to attend this conference in person (up to 50% of the registration fee). Priority will be given to PhD students submitting abstracts who are facing financial barriers.
To apply, please use the dedicated bursary application link on the registration site. Please answer the bursary-related questions and submit an abstract before midnight UK time on the bursary deadline for your application to be considered.
Additional funding opportunities
Visit our support page for information on financial support, including carer grants to help delegates with the costs of caring for children or dependent family members while attending a course or a conference.
Abstracts
Abstract deadline: 27 February 2024
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. Presenters of oral presentations as expected to be onsite for the duration of the conference, whereas those presenting posters can do so in person or virtually.
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. You can make changes to your submitted abstract before of the deadline by logging into your account and following the instructions
If you have already completed your registration and subsequently wish to submit an abstract, or wish to submit a second abstract, please follow these instructions.
The scientific programme committee will assess your abstract after the deadline has passed and you will be notified whether you have been selected to present 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; poster board numbers will be allocated at the conference. All those accepted for a poster presentation will be given the opportunity to upload a short video describing their work.
Sponsors
With thanks to our sponsors:
If you are interested in supporting this meeting, please contact the sponsorship manager.
See our sponsorship page for information about the benefits.
Testimonials
Delegate feedback from 2022 conference:
“I really like the breadth of the conference – methods development, disease applications, fundamental biology. I also like that there is a lot of time for questions rather than trying to have longer talks.”
“It’s a really friendly conference. Excellent speakers with good breadth of topics. Good opportunities to chat to other attendees.”
“I will be happy if I get another opportunity to participate. This conference was very budget friendly to the international students who have financial issues. I really appreciate the organization for organizing these kind of events and giving the opportunity to students to open up themselves to learn and share their research. I wish to participate again!”