BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Programmable biology for diagnostics: impacting global health and development - Keith Pardee and Richard Echodu DTSTART:20170316T090000Z DTEND:20170316T160000Z UID:TALK71330@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Andrew Jonathan Balmer DESCRIPTION:*These day-long workshops will introduce challenges and opport unities in the field of cell-free diagnostics\, with talks from the OpenDi agnostics team\, expert in the latest advances of this technology Keith Pa rdee (University of Toronto\, Canada) and plant disease expert Dr Richard Echodu (Gulu University\, Uganda). This will be followed by an interactive sandpit session\, and lab practicals the following day.*\n\nHarnessing re cent advances in synthetic biology\, cell-free paper-based diagnostics off er a platform for low cost\, easy-to-use\, in-field testing systems for a wide range of possible specificities. Synthetic gene networks can be desig ned to generate quantifiable outputs\, such as chromoproteins that lead to visual color changes\, in the presence of specific input signals like hea vy metal ions or viral RNA sequences. These DNA circuits can be freeze-dri ed onto paper\, along with the cellular machinery used for gene transcript ion and translation. When rehydrated\, a simple visible readout can be pro duced and little or no laboratory experience or infrastructure is required . Critically\, the low cost of these strips (~0.1$/test) will enable acces s across low and middle income countries.\n\n \n\nOpenDiagnostics is an in terdisciplinary team of early career researchers with three aims: to proto type solutions to technical challenges in cell-free diagnostics\, to inves tigate potential applications\, and to connect scientific experts with sta keholders.\n\n \n\n*OpenDiagnostics Seminar (16th Mar)*\n\nThis morning wo rkshop will introduce the challenges and opportunities uncovered by the te am\, with additional talks from the originator of the latest advances in t he technology Keith Pardee (University of Toronto\, Canada) and plant dise ase expert Dr Richard Echodu (Gulu University\, Uganda).\n\n \n\n*OpenDiag nostics Sandpit (16th Mar)*\n\nGet involved in tackling global health chal lenges using programmable biology! If you would be interested to help gene rate ideas and collaborate with OpenDiagnostics\, you’re invited to join this interactive sandpit event. Interdisciplinary teams will tackle a ran ge of technical challenges identified by OpenDiagnostics requiring experti se from across the natural sciences\, engineering and computer science thr ough to manufacturing\, law and social sciences. Solutions may be put forw ard as funding proposals for the OpenPlant Fund call in July 2017\, which offers £5k grants to interdisciplinary projects in synthetic biology.\n\n \n\n*Lab practicals (17th Mar)*\n\nGet hands on with designing logic circu its using DNA and programming cell extracts to produce colours or other re porters in response to a signal. Physicists\, engineers\, computer scienti sts and other non-biologists are particularly welcome to attend and explor e new technologies that bring engineering thinking into biology. No prior experience required.\n\nTickets are free\, however spaces are limited. To register\, please "click here":https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/programmable -biology-for-diagnostics-impacting-global-health-and-development-tickets-3 1878827431.\n\n*Timetable*\n\n16th March 2017 Seminar and Sandpit sessions \n\n9.00-9.20 Registration\n\n9.20-10.40 About OpenDiagnostics\n\nIntroduc tion to OpenDiagnostics\n\nInsights from field trips to Kenya and South Af rica\n\n10.40-11.00 Refreshments\n\n11.00-12.00 Expert talks\n\nRichard Ec hodu on challenges and opportunities for crop disease diagnostics in Afric a\n\nKeith Pardee on cell-free synthetic diagnostics and portable\, on-dem and biomanufacturing\n\n12.00-13.00 Lunch\n\n13.00-14.45 Focus Groups\n\n1 4.45-15.00 Refreshments\n\n15.00-15.30 Presentation of OpenPlant Fund prop osal ideas\n\n15.30-16.00 Wrapping up and networking\n\n \n\n*17th March 2 017 - Practicals*\n\n09:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00\, Practical session at De partment of Veterinary Science \n\nThere will be a day long practical sess ion taking place at the University of Cambridge department of Veterinary M edicine on the 17th of March. Details for the venue to come. \n\n \n\n*Add itional events*\n\nIn addition to this event\, there will also be an event titled: 'Programmable cell extracts - a new biomanufacturing paradigm' ta king place at 18:30-9:00 on the 16th March at the Old Divinity School\, St Johns College.The talk and dialogue will be followed by a wine reception and delicious finger buffet. \n\nThis event is bookable through e-sales on the university website (registration £5). Please "click here":http://onl inesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/plant-sciences/programmabl e-cell-extracts-a-new-biomanufacturing-paradigm/programmable-cell-extracts -a-new-biomanufacturing-paradigm for more information.\n\n \n*Tickets and Booking*\n\nPlease note that if you wish to attend several of the availabl e sessions\, you can order tickets for multiple events through the registr ation option. However\, if you wish to attend the sandpit session on the 1 6th March\, you need to attend the seminar session first.\n\nTickets are f ree\, however spaces are limited. To register\, please "click here":https: //www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/programmable-biology-for-diagnostics-impacting-gl obal-health-and-development-tickets-31878827431. LOCATION:Hauser Forum\, 3 Charles Babbage Road\, Cambridge\, CB3 0GT END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR