Programme

The course will start on Saturday afternoon with theoretical introduction into miRNA profiling. From Sunday onwards laboratory work and bioinformatics work will be interleaved with lectures, tutorials.

1. Hands-on laboratory work & accompanying tutorials:

- Quality assessment and quantification of total RNA;
- Set up of the complete microarray-microRNA profiling experiment;
- Set up of a complete qPCR experiment on various systems, reverse transcription and qPCR steps: synthesis of complementary DNA followed by microRNA specific amplification
- Set up of the complete in-situ hybridization experiment
- Set up of the complete bead-based microRNA profiling assay
- Data analysis by different algorithms, normalization approaches
- Correlation of miRNA expression data originating from various methods
- Troubleshooting of all individual steps

2. Lectures:

- Approaches to microRNA profiling (new-gen sequencing, bead-based, microarray, qPCR, Northern blotting,
- in-situ hybridization)
- Sample preparation
- Experimental design/setup
- Quality controls for total RNA
- Equipment/instrumentation options
- Design of qPCR assays for determination of miRNA expression
- Design of microarray microRNA experiment
- Data analysis, normalization and interpretation
- Correlation of transcriptome profiling with microRNA profiling data
- Correlation between various microRNA profiling approaches
- prediction of microRNA targets and their experimental confirmation

Teachers

Carsten Alsbo, Exiqon, Denmark
Dite Andreasen, Exiqon, Denmark
Foteini Christodoulou, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Anton Enright, EMBL-EBI, Cambridge, United Kingdom
David Ibberson, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Eric Miska, Wellcome Trust/ Cancer Institute, United Kingdom
Martina Muckenthaler, EMBL-MMPU Heidelberg, Germany
Tania Nolan, Sigma Aldrich, United Kingdom
Ramin Saheri, Luminex, USA
Thomas Sandmann, DKFZ Heidelberg, Germany
Keld Sorensen, Luminex, USA
Jens Stolte, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Wolfgang Wagner, Heidelberg University, Germany

Registration Please register online. Deadline for registration is 1 March 2009. Registration types and fees: normal: EUR 200 including accommodation (7 nights) in a twin room, meals, local transport and course material. industry: subject to inquiries. Confirmation and Payment The registration fee should not be paid before acceptance to the course. Scientific Organisers Vladimir Benes, EMBl Heidelberg, Germany Jonathon Blake, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany Mirco Castoldi, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany Sabine Schmidt, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany Hotel Twin room accommodation is included (7 nights) in the participation fee for the default dates of April 18 - 24, 2009. Rooms have been reserved at the ISG Hotel. Please enter your dates of arrival and departure as well as requests for specific room mates or single room accommodation via the registration link. Single rooms will be provided on a first come, first served basis at extra cost (approx. EUR 25 per night). All additional nights (beyond the 7 nights twin room paid by EMBL) will be charged extra (approx. EUR 75 per night for single accommodation and EUR 100 for twin accommodation). Local Transport There will be shuttle buses running from the ISG hotel to EMBL and back mornings and evenings. A detailed schedule will be available closer to the event.