Recap of "Accelerating Drug Discovery and Disease Treatment Through Innovative Gene Editing Technologies" Seminar

Date: October 13, 2023 @ 12:00 am – November 13, 2023
Location: Online Zoom meeting

The "Accelerating Drug Discovery and Disease Treatment Through Innovative Gene Editing Technologies" webinar, hosted by CABS on October 13 via a Zoom meeting, proved to be a remarkably informative and engaging event. The webinar assembled leading experts in the field to discuss cutting-edge advancements in gene editing, animal models, and gene therapy. Dr. Yuying (Kate) You, President of CABS, opened the webinar with welcoming remarks, setting the stage for an insightful and collaborative event.

Dr. Le Cong delivered an enthralling presentation titled "Beyond CRISPR: Metagenomic Mining of SSAP for In Vivo Precision Knock-In of Long Sequences." Dr. Cong's talk pushed the boundaries of gene editing, moving beyond CRISPR technology to unveil the potential of SSAP (sequence-specific endonucleases) for precision knock-ins of extensive DNA sequences within living organisms.

Dr. Shengjiang (Shawn) Liu's presentation, "AAV Capsid Engineering for Ocular Gene Therapy," shed light on the remarkable progress in adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid engineering, particularly in the context of ocular gene therapy. His work highlighted the promise of novel treatments for ocular diseases.

Dr. Guangming Wu presented "Rapid Generation of ACE2 Humanized Inbred Mouse Model for COVID-19 with Tetraploid Complementation," demonstrating the swift development of an ACE2 humanized inbred mouse model critical to COVID-19 research. Dr. Wu emphasized the significance of tetraploid complementation in this process.

During a session on ongoing developments in gene therapy for β-Thalassemia, Dr. Lei Shi discussed "Gene Therapy for β-Thalassemia."

Dr. Jiaoyang Sun delivered an engaging talk on "The Application of Turbomice™ Technology in Animal Models." Dr. Sun explored the innovative Turbomice™ technology and its applications in creating advanced animal models for research, offering fresh perspectives in the field.

The webinar successfully attracted over 100 attendees, reflecting the widespread interest and importance of the topics discussed. With a diverse array of presentations, the event provided a comprehensive overview of the cutting-edge developments in gene editing and its applications in disease treatment and drug discovery.