Early Career Researchers Meet, Greet & Talks

Join our monthly meets to meet fellow Early Career Researchers from across the University interested in biology, engineering, design, computer science, bioethics and more. This is a great opportunity to meet ECRs from other schools and departments, share knowledge and ideas, establish connections and collaborations and find out more about EngBio activities such as funding calls and support.

Each session will host 1-2 lightning talks from ECRs covering research, tools & technologies, and fields & applications of synthetic and engineering biology. This will be followed by informal discussion (and free light lunch).

On Monday 8 December we are welcoming 2 talks:

Alex Chalk from MRC Toxicogy Unit

Title: Comprehensive gene editing assessment and DNA repair kinetics using CLEAR-time dPCR

Abstract: Cleavage and Lesion Evaluation via Absolute Real-time dPCR (CLEAR-time) is a modular digital PCR platform that quantifies double-strand breaks, indels, large deletions, donor integrations, and other chromosomal aberrations within gene-edited cell populations. This comprehensive profiling provides an unprecedented view of genome editing outcomes, enabling optimisation for desired editing products and insights into repair pathway usage. When coupled with time-series sampling, CLEAR-time supports the derivation of rate coefficients describing editor activity and DNA repair dynamics, revealing deeper insights into editing efficiency and recurrent target-site cleavage activities. Together, these features position CLEAR-time as a quantitative bioengineering tool for transforming genome editing into a measurable, optimizable process.

Gareth Girling, Generative and Synthetic Genomics Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Title: Paired prime editing; a novel approach for interrogating genome function

Abstract: The CRISPR Cas9 system has revolutionised molecular biology in recent years but is not without its inadequacies. New editing technologies such as prime editing have built on the success of CRISPR Cas9 and provide far greater precision when genome engineering. Here we demonstrate the engineering power of paired prime editing for making long precise deletions in a pooled screening modality and in doing so we highlight that a large proportion of non-coding DNA surrounding essential genes is dispensable for cell growth

Venue: Postdoc Centre, 16 Mill Lane  

Date: Monday 8 December, 12pm-1pm with light lunch

Read more about the EngBio ECRs

Contact

For questions of queries, please contact Vicky Reid at coordinator@engbio.cam.ac.uk.