Pre-clinical Modelling of Human Genetic Disease and Therapy

Date: 8 – 10 May 2024

Location: Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, UK

Organisers: Wendy Bickmore, Luke Boulter, Sara Brown, Pleasantine Mill, Liz Patton and Owen Sansom

Rapid advances in gene editing and genetic technologies have revolutionised our ability to model human genetic disease and provided new hope for gene therapies. At this meeting, we will present the very latest advances in modelling human genetic disease, from rare disease, cancer and immune disorders through to genetic modifiers. We will also discuss the latest technologies and the challenges associated with generating relevant human genetic mutations in multi-modal systems, including advanced complex cellular models, model organisms and large animal models, and how genetic technologies can be applied to genome-wide screens and therapy. In addition, speakers will outline the latest strategies to model genetic mutations in cell type and tissue-specific mechanisms, in a developmental and time-dependent fashion, and in the coding and non-coding genome. Importantly, we will also discuss the latest approaches to the phenotyping of models and how to computationally align models with human disease to guide therapeutic intervention and, ultimately, translation.

Organisers

Wendy Bickmore University of Edinburgh, UK
Luke Boulter University of Edinburgh, UK
Sara Brown University of Edinburgh, UK
Pleasantine Mill University of Edinburgh, UK
Liz Patton University of Edinburgh, UK
Owen Sansom Beatson Institute of Cancer Research, Glasgow, UK

Speakers

David Adams Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK
James Amatruda Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, USA
Adrian Bird University of Edinburgh, UK
Karen Blyth CRUK Scotland Institute, UK
Ross Cagan University of Glasgow, UK
Ramanuj DasGupta A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore
James Dowling University of Toronto, Canada
Laura Greaves Newcastle University, UK
David Gutmann Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, USA
Harriet Holme PCD Research, Weatherden, UK Karen Liu King’s College London, UK
Cecilia Lo University of Pittsburgh, USA
Cristina Lo Celso Imperial College London, UK
Gillian Morrison University of Edinburgh, UK
Daniel Peeper The Netherlands Cancer Institute, The Netherlands
Fiona Powrie University of Oxford, UK
Jason Rihel University College London, UK
John Sayer Newcastle University, UK
Angelika Schnieke TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Germany
Robert Semple University of Edinburgh, UK
Emily Sena University of Edinburgh, UK
Ian Smyth Monash University, Australia
Stefan Somlo Yale School of Medicine, USA
Ellen van den Bogaard Radboud University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Eckhard Wolf University of Munich, Germany
Andrew Wood University of Edinburgh, UK
Hao Zhu University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, USA

Registration packages

We have been delighted by the positive response to this Meeting and so that we can accommodate all those wishing to attend, we have secured a new venue in Edinburgh. We are still taking new applications, though places are limited. The final registration date is 8 March 2024.

The Meeting will now take place at The Royal Society of Edinburgh, which is located in the heart of the city, offering views over Edinburgh’s historical skyline. Walk in the footsteps of Sir Walter Scott, James Clerk Maxwell, Val McDermid and Peter Higgs.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh recognises, supports and mobilises expertise from across academia, business and public service for the benefit of Scotland and the wider world.

The meeting will start with registration at midday on Wednesday 8 May 2024, and will run through to the end of the day on Friday 10 May 2024.

The fees include:

Registration and meeting costs
Day 1: Coffee break and reception drinks
Day 2: Two coffee breaks, lunch and reception drinks
Day 3: Two coffee breaks and lunch

N.B. Evening meals are not included, with the exception of Thursday 9 May, which can be added as an option at registration.

It is expected that all attendees will stay for the duration of the meeting.

Prices (including dinner)	PhD students /postdocs	Academia	Industry
Until 8 December 2023	£110	£185	£335
9 December 2023 – 8 March 2024	£135	£235	£385

Prices (not including dinner)	PhD students /postdocs	Academia	Industry
Until 8 December 2023	£75	£150	£300
9 December 2023 – 8 March 2024	£100	£200	£350

VAT charged at standard rate of 20%. The Company of Biologists reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any event.

Please email dmm24meeting@biologists.com if you have any questions.

Meeting dinner

The meeting dinner will take place on Thursday 9 May, at the Royal College of Physicians on Queen Street, Edinburgh.

Set in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, the college is historic and elegant, with stunning architecture and medical symbolism weaved throughout.

A seated meal will be served in the magnificent Victorian Grand Hall.

The Royal College of Physicians is a five minute walk from the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and attendees are expected to make their own way to the dinner and back to their hotels at the end of the evening.