The first ever IMPC “Spring” Meeting to be held in Africa and aims to convene leading international experts to deliver overview lectures that provide a global perspective on our topic: “Beyond the Genome”. Advances in nucleic acid-based therapies, based on the conventional coding genome, but also on noncoding gene sequences, as well as epigenetic programming, continue to reshape healthcare worldwide, creating opportunities for us to deliver personalized medicine, innovative treatments for rare and previously incurable diseases, and the potential for more affordable therapies for all. Our meeting topics are specifically directed towards the noncoding genome and the impact of epigenetics on phenotype and disease therapy. This is an opportunity to network with fellow experts, academics and trainees in this field of expertise. Registration and functions for this event is free of charge. Delegates just need to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.
The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) is an international initiative to identify the function of every protein-coding gene and is generating a knock-out mutation for every single gene in the mouse genome, followed by comprehensive phenotyping of each mutant line, thus linking each gene to disease traits. So far, the IMPC has already generated roughly 10,500 mutant lines and phenotyped nearly
9 500, representing almost half of the orthologous genome. While the brunt of research of the IMPC focuses on the orthologous genome, and the relationship of gene function and disease, some of the members have initiated research into the role of epigenetics in disease, using IMPC-generated mouse models. The IMPC comprises 25 Institutional members, with the Preclinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP) at the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa, being the only African member since 2017. Each year one of the members get a chance to host the Annual Spring Meeting, which this year happens in “Autumn” as it is hosted in the Southern Hemisphere by the NWU for the first time on the African Continent.
The PCDDP functions as a national preclinical testing platform for qualitative and quantitative preclinical studies for research institutions and companies by:
- Performing pharmacokinetic, selected toxicology and safety pharmacology studies for new compounds and/or formulations.
- Performing potency & safety batch release assays of biologically-based products.
- Developing, establishing and maintaining models as it relates to infectious diseases, chronic conditions, neurobiology and treatment of a variety of disorders.
- Establishing the infrastructure and skills set required for performing the various in vitro and in vivo studies during the preclinical phase of drug development.
- Creating an enabling environment to attract both local and international customers to use of the facility.
- Creating an infrastructure that could enable South Africa to play a significant role in the production of pharmaceutical drugs and phyto-medicines.
When and Where?
The IMPC Spring meeting ‘Beyond the Genome’ will take place in Cape Town, South Africa from 28th-30th of April 2024.
Registration and more
The Registration and the Abstract Submission tools for the IMPC Spring meeting ‘Beyond the Genome’ are now open!
For more information on the conference HERE.
Register HERE.
Submit your abstract HERE.