Scientific description:
RNA silencing is a fundamental mechanism for gene regulation. Dysfunction of RNA silencing has been implicated in various human diseases including cancer. In addition, RNA silencing also holds great promise for the development of new therapeutics. RNA silencing is an emerging field that has brought revolutionary new thoughts and powerful new tools to modern biology and medicine. RNA silencing will have immense impact on various areas of biomedical research.
This is the first conference in Hong Kong devoted specifically to RNA silencing. Our goals are to bring together the local researchers interested in RNA silencing, introduce them to cutting-edge thoughts and technologies in the field, and facilitate a better understanding of the breadth and complexity of RNA silencing. The conference will not only educate students and younger scientists, but will also promote collaborations and strengthen our links to the international community.
Because the molecular mechanisms of RNA silencing have just begun to be understood and elucidation of these mechanisms is a prerequisite to the full applications of RNA silencing in research and drug development, the conference will focus on the mechanisms and applications of RNA silencing.
Dates:
- November 5-7, 2009
Venue:
- November 5-6, 2009: Mrs Chen Yang Foo Oi Telemedicine Centre (MTC), 2/F, William MW Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
- November 7, 2009: Lecture Theatre 4, Cheung Kung Hai Conference Centre, William MW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
Expected participants:
- Senior and junior academic staff, research staff including postdoctoral fellows, research postgraduate students, medical officers, as well as undergraduate students working in research laboratories in the major local universities including HKU, CUHK and HKUST.
Local organizing committee:
- Dr. Dong-Yan Jin (Chair), Dept. of Biochemistry, HKU
- Dr. Wilson Ching, Dept. of Anatomy, HKU
- Dr. Robert Qi, Dept. of Biochemistry, HKUST
- Prof. George Tsao, Dept. of Anatomy, HKU
- Prof. Nathalie Wong, Dept. of Anatomical & Cellular Pathology, CUHK
- Dr. Judy Yam, Dept. of Pathology, HKU
Key speakers:
- Dr. Wai Yee Chan, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Dr. James C. S. Chim, The University of Hong Kong
- Dr. Kuan-Teh Jeang, NIAID/NIH
- Dr. Mark A. Kay, Stanford University
- Dr. Kin-Hang Kok, The University of Hong Kong
- Dr. Mengfeng Li, Sun Yatsen University, Guangzhou
- Dr. Michael T. McManus, University of California San Francisco
- Dr. Yijun Qi, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing
- Dr. John J. Rossi, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope
- Dr. Ka-Fai To, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Dr. Yukihide Tomari, The University of Tokyo
- Dr. Jack C. M. Wong, The University of Hong Kong
- Dr. Zhenguo Wu, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Dr. Shiou-Hwei Yeh, National Taiwan University
Program
| Time | Speaker /Title |
|---|---|
| November 5, 2009 Venue: Mrs Chen Yang Foo Oi Telemedicine Centre (MTC), 2/F, William MW Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong |
|
| 8:45-9:00 | Opening Ceremony MC: Mr. James Ng Guests of Honor: Prof. Paul Tam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President; Prof. Sum-ping Lee, Dean, LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU |
| Chairperson: Dr. Judy Yam | |
| 9:00-9:50 | Dr. Michael T. McManus, University of California San Francisco Rapid deconvolution of gene function by small RNAs |
| Chairperson: Dr. Dong-Yan Jin | |
| 9:50-10:40 | Dr. Kuan-Teh Jeang, NIAID/NIH Cellular factors that influence HIV-1 replication – Insights accrued from shRNA screening |
| 11:00-11:50 | Dr. Mengfeng Li, Sun Yatsen University, Guangzhou Role of microRNAs in the aggressiveness of glioma |
| Chairperson: Dr. Wilson Ching | |
| 13:30-14:20 | Dr. Yukihide Tomari, The University of Tokyo Dissection of miRNA-directed RISC assembly pathway |
| 14:20-15:10 | Dr. Yijun Qi, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing Sorting of small RNAs into plant Argonaute complexes |
| Chairperson: Prof. Nathalie Wong | |
| 15:30-16:20 | Dr. Shiou-Hwei Yeh, National Taiwan University microRNAs in the gender disparity of hepatocellular carcinoma |
| 16:20-16:40 | Dr. Kin-Hang Kok, The University of Hong Kong Roles of TRBP isoform in liver cancer |
| 16:40-17:00 | Dr. Jack C. M. Wong, The University of Hong Kong Deregulation of microRNA expression in liver cancer development |
| November 6, 2009 Venue: Mrs Chen Yang Foo Oi Telemedicine Centre (MTC), 2/F, William MW Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong |
|
| Chairperson: Prof. Kathy Cheah | |
| 8:30-9:20 | Dr. Yijun Qi, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing Small RNAs in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardttii |
| 9:20-10:10 | Dr. Michael T. McManus, University of California San Francisco Exploring microRNAs in mouse models |
| Chairperson: Dr. Mai Har Sham | |
| 10:30-11:20 | Dr. Yukihide Tomari, The University of Tokyo Mechanisms of translational repression by miRNAs |
| 11:20-12:10 | Dr. Wai Yee Chan, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Cancer epigenome, microRNA, and testicular tumorigenesis |
| 12:30-13:30 | Technical Seminar: Dr. Torben Helledie, Senior Scientist, Exiqon A/S The role of microRNAs in human myoblast differentiation and development of a new LNA based qPCR platform for microRNA analysis in clinical formalin fixed tissue samples and human blood plasma samples (Abstract) (Sandwiches will be provided) |
| Chairperson: Dr. Robert Qi | |
| 13:50-14:40 | Dr. Kuan-Teh Jeang, NIAID/NIH Roles for small non-coding RNAs in the replication of human retroviruses |
| 14:40-15:00 | Dr. James C. S. Chim, The University of Hong Kong Epigenetic regulation of miRNA expression in hematological malignancies |
| 15:20-15:40 | Dr. Zhenguo Wu, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Identification of STK24 as an essential protein kinase involved in myoblast differentiation |
| 15:40-16:00 | Dr. Ka-Fai To,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Roles of EBV miRNAs in modulating viral gene expression |
| November 7, 2009 Venue: Lecture Theatre 4, Cheung Kung Hai Conference Centre, William MW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong |
|
| Chairperson: Prof. George Tsao | |
| 8:30-9:20 | Dr. Mark A. Kay, Stanford University Mechanisms of microRNA-induced gene repression in mammals |
| 9:20-10:10 | Dr. John J. Rossi, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope Strategies for optimizing siRNA efficacy |
| Chairperson: Dr. Zhiwei Chen | |
| 10:30-11:20 | Dr. Mark A. Kay, Stanford University Gene and RNAi based therapies |
| 11:20-12:10 | Dr. John J. Rossi, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope Small RNA based gene therapy for treatment of HIV |