Gene Editing: A Short Course for African Biosciences Professionals

About This Course

Some 10 years ago new gene editing technology emerged that enabled precise genome engineering across all domains of life and spurred multiple technological innovations in the life sciences.  Progress has been rapid and keeping up with this rapid change is challenging.

This classroom-based course is designed for established science professionals – lecturers, department heads, researchers, and others – who will benefit from deepening and broadening their knowledge and understanding of gene editing and its applications.

This course provides a solid genetic and biochemical foundation that will give participants sufficient understanding to explain gene editing technologies and how they can be used – for example, in the context of a seminar, lecture or other professional presentations.

The final day (day 4) of the course is a colloquium of African scientists and gene editing practitioners providing course participants an opportunity to hear how gene editing is being used, to exercise their new knowledge and to network with African gene editing leaders.

On day 5 there will be an optional activity following the course involving a trip to the Ifakara Health Institute in the historic town of Bagamoyo where genetic modification technologies including gene editing are being used in mosquitoes to study and develop gene drive systems as a possible malaria vector intervention.

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Learning Objectives and Content

The course will be comprised of short instructional lectures, active learning activities, formative assessments, reading scientific papers– all designed to promote learning. After completing this course participants will:

• Understand and be able to explain the biochemical and genetic mechanisms associated with the use of programmable DNA endonucleases such a CRISPR/Cas9.
• Understand and be able to explain the diversity of programmable DNA endonucleases and their key distinguishing features and uses.
• Understand and be able to explain how programmable DNA endonucleases in their various forms are being used as platforms for a variety of genomic technologies.
• Be able to describe and explain how specific applications of these technologies in the life sciences and medicine are being developed in Africa.
• Be competent in reading and understanding the material and methods sections of research publications making use of “genome editing technologies”.
• Be able to deliver a lecture on the basics of gene editing to colleagues, trainees and students.

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Who Should Apply

Early, middle and later science career professionals who will benefit from and apply the learnings offered in this course.

This course is not designed for students and trainees.

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Prerequisites

Undergraduate-level knowledge of biology, genetics and molecular biology.

This is a technical course on gene editing intended to build on participants existing foundation of basic biology.

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Course Outline

• Day 1: The Basics
  • Broken DNA – The engine driving ‘editing’
  • How to Break DNA – DNA Endonucleases
  • CRISPR/Cas9 – Structure and Function
  • CRISPR – Bacterial Anti-Virus-Immune System
• Day 2: Going Deeper
  • Practice Explaining Gene Editing
  • sgRNA Design Practical
  • Working with Models
  • Knock-out Mutations – Basic workflow
  • Knock-in Mutations – Basic workflow
• Day 3: Beyond Basics
  • Base Editing
  • Prime Editing
  • Non-editing Applications of Cas9
  • More Explaining Practice
• Day 4: Colloquium of African Gene Editing Practitioners
  • Presentations
  • Applying Learnings
• Day 5 (optional) Visit Ifakara Health Institute, Bagomoyo, Tanzania
  • Visit IHI’s transgenic mosquito facility working on gene drive
  • Learn about other activities at IHI
  • Tour historic Bagomoyo

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Scholarships

Applicants accepted into the course will have their participation supported by the GeneConvene Global Collaborative including travel from within Africa to and from the course including airport shuttle in Dar es Salaam, accommodations in Dar es Salaam, meals during the course.

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Field Trip

This is an optional visit to the Ifakara Health Institute in Bagamoyo, a leading health research organization in Africa, with a strong track record of developing, testing and validating innovations for health.  Gene editing technologies are being used to develop gene drive in human malaria mosquitoes. This trip will provide an opportunity to visit IHI and historic Bagamoyo.

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Organizing Institutions

Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam.

Uru Research and Development Group

The GeneConvene Global Collaborative at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (USA).

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Instructors

Daniel Maeda, Ph. D., Lecturer, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar Es Salaam, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Dr. Maeda is a lecturer and researcher in molecular and cellular biology and biotechnology.  He is trained in stem cell biology and regenerative sciences, molecular and cellular biology and virology.  Currently has research activities that intersect virology, molecular diagnostics, stem cell biology, chemical biology and pharmaceutical biotechnology.  His work in stem cell biology and regenerative sciences focused on the development of hepatic cells upon differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells and their applications as cellular models, suitability for gene editing/correction, and potential cell therapy use.  As a lecturer he has taught extensively in the areas of molecular and cellular biology, molecular developmental biology, virology and pharmaceutical biotechnology covering the various applications of molecular biology tools including gene editing in basic and applied biomedical research.  He is a professional member of the Cancer Epigenetics Society, Biotechnology Society of Tanzania, and one of the founding members of the Tanzania Society for Human Genetics (now named Tanzania Human Genetics Organization) where he serves as a member of the advisory board.  He serves as a member and current Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee on Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics of the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), and a member of the National Biosafety Committee of the United Republic of Tanzania. He also serves as an Honorary Secretary of the African Biological Safety Association (AfBSA).

Brian Tarimo, Ph. D., Senior Research Scientist and Deputy Head, Department of Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania

Dr. Tarimo’s research interests focus on host-pathogen interactions between malaria vector (i.e., Anopheles mosquito) and mosquito-borne pathogen (i.e., Plasmodium parasite) using cutting-edge technologies in molecular biology and bioinformatics to identify genes that are essential in this interaction and how best to genetically manipulate them to develop novel interventions that will reduce vector competence and prevent transmission of malaria.
Dr. Tarimo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from University of Dar es Salaam, a Master of Science degree in Bioinformatics from University of Glasgow and a PhD in Life Sciences (focus on Molecular Microbiology) from Nelson Mandela Africa-Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST). He serves as an adjunct lecturer at several local universities where he teaches and supervises students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He is also a member of various academic and professional bodies both locally and internationally.

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