Course Genome Engineering

The course B244/12 Genome Engineering is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, spring 2027.

Criteria for participation: University degree in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or Master’s degree in other fields and/or postgraduate research fellows (PhD students and research-year medical students).

Requirements for participation: no

Aim: 

This course aims to:

1. Provide students with the state-of-the-art knowledge on genome engineering and CRISPR gene editing technology
2. Introduce the different types of CRISPR gene editing tools (e.g., base editing, prime editing) and their applications
3. Provide trainings on CRISPR designing with high on-target efficiency and low off-target
4. Provide trainings on design CRISPR and donor vectors for gene knockin, tagging
5. Introduce CRISPR data science, CRISPR AI, and high-throughput CRISPR computing
6. Provide trainings on analysing and understanding CRISPR editing data with TIDE, ICE and NGS
7. Provide theocratical trainings and education on CRISPR gene therapy
8. Introducing state-of-the-art methods for CRISPR delivery
9. Prepare PhD students with essential knowledge, tools and skills for their gene editing projects

Learning outcomes: 

1. Acquire a systematic knowledge on CRISPR gene editing technology, progresses, and applications
2. Know how to design the CRISPR gRNA for gene knockout
3. Learn how to design the donors for gene knockin
4. Independently select the best CRISPR system and strategy for a gene editing project
5. Independently analyse and interpret CRISPR gene editing results
6. Know the concept, resources and potential of CRISPR data science
7. Understand the progresses, but also remaining challenges, in CRISPR gene therapy

Workload: The full workload of the course is expected to be 60 hours

Content: 

1. The principle of CRISPR gene editing
2. The different genetic manipulation tools derived from CRISPR-Cas9
3. Base editing
4. Prime editing
5. Methods used for quantifying CRISPR editing efficiency
6. Ways of delivery CRISPR vectors in vitro and/or in vivo: plasmid, RNP, lentivirus, AAV
7. CRISPR data science – on-target activity and off-target effect prediction
8. Group workshop on CRISPR vector design for gRNA, data analysis, gene therapy cases, and genome editing project design.
9. Design of CRISPR for gene knockout, knockin, tagging and single nucleotide mutagenesis
10. Analysis of CRISPR editing results based on Sanger sequencing and deep sequencing
11. Group workshop on data analysis
12. Introduction to CRISPR gene therapy

Instructors: 

Yonglun Luo, Aarhus University (Course leader)

Anne Louise Askou, Aarhus University

Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen, Aarhus University

János Haskó, Aarhus University

Rasmus O. Bak, Aarhus University

Jan Gorodkin, University of Copenhagen

Morten Frodin, University of Copenhagen

Eric Paul Bennett, Novo Nordisk A/S

Venue: Aarhus University, Aarhus (other)

Participation in the course is without cost for:

• PhD students, Health Research Year students from Aarhus University
• PhD students enrolled at partner universities of the Nordoc collaboration
• PhD students from other institutions in the open market agreement for PhD courses

Course dates:

• 26 April 2027 09:00 - 16:00
• 27 April 2027 09:00 - 16:00
• 28 April 2027 09:00 - 16:00
• 29 April 2027 09:00 - 16:00
• 30 April 2027 09:00 - 16:00