Annual FR3 Minicourse Details

May 13-18, 2013

Registration is now closed for the annual FR3 minicourse May 13-18, 2013. Participants that registered for the full length minicourse are automatically enrolled in the additional bioinformatics workshop.

Both the minicourse and the bioinformatics workshop are FREE OF CHARGE. Participants are responsible for funding their own travel, food and lodging. Participants in the week-long minicourse will receive a modest stipend to defray some of their travel costs.

The 2-day bioinformatics workshop open for additional enrollment (Friday May 17 and Saturday May 18). Participants must bring laptops preloaded with recommended software (to be announced) and must do exercises prior to arrival. Presenters include:

Matthew Rogers, University of Pittsburgh: Basic B. malayi genome analysis
Kevin Howe, Wormbase: Mechanics of Wormbase
john Martin, Washington University School of Medicine: Mechanics of nematode.net
Chris Desjardins, Broad Institute: Use of Broad Institute filarial genome data and software

The FR3 offers a free, hands-on minicourse to introduce students, postdocs, PIs, university professors, and industry representatives to organismal and molecular techniques commonly used in filariasis research. Lectures are given daily and include topics related to vector and nematode biology, experimental models of filarial disease, FR3 molecular and parasite resources, molecular data analysis and reporting, bioinformatics, and pathogenesis and control of filarial diseases. Daily hands-on lab exercises involve vector propagation, filarial nucleic acid purification and characterization, RT-PCR, isolation of filarial life cycle stages from vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, and host animal handling. The week-long minicourse is held at University of Georgia (Athens, GA), and is taught by FR3 personnel and filariasis researchers. It is a great way to learn filarial biology, ask lots of questions, and network with leading filariasis researchers. Please join us in 2013! For more information, click here for the 2012 syllabus.

FR3 Minicourse information: Shelly Michalski (michalsk@uwosh.edu)