Workshops

Organized by: Dr. Eddy Odari (JKUAT, Kenya), Dr. Lucy Ochola (Institute of Primate Research, Kenya), Prof. Collins Ouma (Maseno University, Kenya), Dr. Kennedy Okeyo (Kyoto University, Japan), and Prof. Paul Robinson (Purdue University)

AIBBC 2021 proudly presents SIX highly educative workshop courses covering a broad range of topics in diagnostics, biotechnology, life sciences and infectious diseases. At the registration site, you will be asked to choose any three courses you would wish to participate in, in order of priority. Please note that your choice will be respected but placement will be at the discretion of the organizers.

We are confident that your participation in any of the workshops listed below will make an impact in you. Thank you in advance for choosing to participate.

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REGISTRATION FORM IS CLOSED. Use the registration page to register for AIBBC.

Our courses:

Course No.	Capacity	Course title	Instructors
Course 1	25	Flow Cytometry: Understanding & applications	Prof. J. Paul Robinson, Purdue University, USA Dr. Heather Paich, Agilent Technologies, Inc. USA Dr. Lucy Ochola, Institute for Primate Research, Kenya
Course 2	25	Point-of-care diagnostics for resource-limited settings	Prof. Aman Russom, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden Prof. Tamara Kinzer-Ursen, Purdue University, USA Prof. Linnes Jacqueline, Purdue University, USA Dr. Melinda Lake, Purdue University, USA Mr. Martin Wekesa Sifunah, Chiba University, Japan
Course 3	25	Molecular diagnostics	Prof. Masood Kamali-Moghaddam, Uppsala University, Sweden Dr. Radiosa Gallini, Uppsala University, Sweden MSc. David Mwaura, Primate Research Institute, Kenya
Course 4	25	New insights into HIV and Covid-19 infections	Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI, Kenya Prof. Andrea Cossarizza, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy Prof. Guido Poli, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy Dr. Eddy Odari, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya Dr. Isabel Pagani, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
Course 5	25	Malaria control and elimination workshop	Prof. Akira Kaneko, Osaka City University, Japan, & Karolinska Institute, Sweden Prof. Tomoya Matsumoto, Otaru University of Commerce, Japan Dr. Evariste Tshibangu-Kabamba, Osaka City University, Japan Dr. Masaru Nagashima, Waseda University, Japan Dr. Wataru Kagaya, Osaka City University, Japan Dr. Makoto Nishi, Hiroshima University, Japan Dr. Akinori Hamada, Kansai University, Japan Dr. Jesse Gitaka, Mount Kenya University, Kenya
Course 6	15	Genomics and bioinformatics (If you select this course, you cannot participate in the other courses)	Prof. Daniela Maria Cirillo, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy Dr. Andrea Cabibbe, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy Dr. Steven Nyanjom, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya Mr. Kimita Gathii, USAMRU-Kisumu, Kenya

Workshops details:

Course 1: Flow Cytometry: Understanding & Applications

This exciting course delivered by a team of flow cytometry gurus led by Prof. Paul Robinson will no doubt ignite your passion in cytometry. Covering from basics to applications, the course will introduce key theoretical elements of flow cytometry and provide insight into how this powerful technology has transformed life sciences and medicine. Participants will grasp how the technology has evolved over the years, as well as future clinical and basic science applications. Specifically, you will have the opportunity to learn about the impacts of the technology on informatics, automation and clinical diagnostics, as well as quality control and instrumentation differences across all current commercial technologies.

What’s more, our sponsors will be on the ground to provide you with equally illuminating and educative demos as you try out new instruments out of there. For more, sign up and find for yourself!

Instructors:

Prof. J. Paul Robinson, SVM Professor of Cytomics and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, USA
Dr. Heather Paich, Senior scientist and flow cytometry expert, Agilent Technologies, Inc. USA
Dr. Lucy Ochola, Senior Scientist, Department of Tropical Infections, Institute for Primate Research, Kenya

Course 2: Point-of-care diagnostics for resource-limited settings

The importance of point-of-care diagnostics to healthcare management in resource-limited clinical settings in Africa cannot be overstressed.  Sometimes the most sophisticated technology is not the best technology – particularly if it cannot be maintained at the place of need. Advances in medical technology has availed high-end instruments, but most cannot operate in remote areas in Africa where basic infrastructure such as water and electricity are still hard to come by. Point-of-care technology promises to provide cheap, effective and easy-to-operate diagnostic tools which can be used anywhere by anyone! The technology holds the promise of transforming disease diagnosis at the point of care in resource-limited areas of Africa.

In this course, participants will learn basics of point-of-care diagnosis, including the underlying technology of microfluidics, device instrumentation and measurement techniques, etc. In addition, practical demonstrations will be provide insight into potential clinical applications. Join the course and experience the excitement of assembling your own original POC device.

Instructors:

Prof. Aman Russom, Professor of nanobiotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
Prof. Tamara Kinzer-Ursen, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, USA
Prof. Jacqueline C Linnes, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, USA
Dr. Melinda Lake, Postdoctoral Fellow, Purdue University, USA
MSc. Martin W. Sifunah, Chiba University, Japan

Course 3: Molecular diagnostics

A highly popular course introducing the key concepts and application of molecular diagnostics. In this course, you will learn about advanced new technologies such as proximity ligation assays (PLA) and proximity extension assays (PEA). Proximity assays are versatile technologies for protein analyses which can be used to detect proteins with high sensitivity and specificity in body fluids such as blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluids, in cell/tissue lysates as well as in cell/tissue sections. They allow for the detection of proteins, post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions. An application for detection of viral immunity against Covid-19 will be presented along with recent approaches to molecular diagnostics for disease diagnosis. The workshop will be hands-on and will involve both wet lab and data analysis practical sessions. Active discussion and creative thinking will be encouraged. Participants can look forward to staying ahead of the pack with new trends in molecular diagnostics.

Session 1 (Theory):

• Introduction to protein detection assays: basics of immunoassays and how specificity can be an issue. Advantage of combining multiple binders.
• In-solution assays and the quest to increase sensitivity: amplification of signals obtained by combining affinity binders with oligonucleotide sequences amplification.
• Overview on the latest applications of proximity assays as molecular diagnostic and research tools.
• Discussion and feedback.

Session 2 (Theory):

• Introduction to the practical lab for the Proximity Assay on solution samples: step-by-step covering and explaining of the assay’s design and protocol.
• Discussion and feedback.

Session 3 (Theory):

• Introduction to quantitative amplification of targets by polymerase chain reaction.
• Advantages and disadvantages of absolute and relative quantifications by linear and exponential amplification.
• Discussion and feedback.

Session 4 (Practical computer session):

• Data analysis: standard curve, dynamic range, regression curve, limit of detection, absolute quantification.
• Discussion and feedback.

Session 5 (Practical wet lab):

• Preparation of samples / preparation of capturing reagents.
• Incubation with capturing reagents / incubation with probes.
• Amplification of signals.
• Quantitative detection by qPCR.
• Discussion and feedback.

FINAL OUTPUT: Each participant will be encouraged to think about a practical application of the assay in her/his own research area.

Instructors:

Prof. Masood Kamali-Moghaddam, Professor of Molecular tools, Uppsala University, Sweden
Dr. Radiosa Gallini, Research scientist of Molecular tools, Uppsala University, Sweden
MSc. David Mwaura, Graduate research student at Primate Research Institute, Kenya

Course 4: New insights into HIV infections

Although great strides have been made with regards to HIV/AIDS management, thanks to the development of pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs and other interventions strategies, challenges still persist. Indeed, HIV infections remain the largest contributor to disease burden in Africa, and present a major health challenge undermining the fragile healthcare systems in the continent. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms of infection, current diagnostics and therapeutic strategies, as well as emerging challenges such as drug resistance continues to be pivotal to HIV stewardship in the continent. This course will introduce systematically the HIV situation in Africa, address new diagnostics approaches and containment measures, and illuminate on the future of HIV stewardship in the continent. You can look forward to an enlightening discussions on the HIV situation in Africa.

Instructors:

Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi, Chief research officer and global health expert, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI, Kenya
Prof. Guido Poli, Professor of Pathology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy
Ms. Isabel Pagani, Ph.D. candidate, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
Dr. Eddy Odari, Senior Lecturer, Department of Medical Microbiology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

Course 5: Malaria Control and Elimination Workshop

Welcome to AIBBC’s newest addition to the workshop lineup. This workshop will explore multidisciplinary approaches to malaria control and elimination. The workshop will blend onsite demonstrations with highly informative lectures. Below are full details.
Co-organized by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS, JAPAN) under the program “Interdisciplinary research for an integrated community-directed strategy to eliminate malaria in tropical Africa”
PM: Prof. KANEKO Akira; Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, JAPAN, & Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Session 1: Epidemiology of malaria

• Discussion around the possibility of malaria elimination and eradication with both historical and up-to-date data.
• Overview the current malaria situation in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya.
• Familiarize participants with Baysian analysis, useful for predicting the true disease prevalence.

Session 2: Entomology of malaria vectors

• Current situation of malaria entomology.
• Novel vector control measures, such as ceiling nets.
• Designing method of field interventional study.

Session 3: Current diagnostics and therapeutic strategies

• Malaria diagnosis and treatment from the basics to the advanced knowledge.
• Demonstration of a novel malaria diagnostic system using an automated hematology analyzer.
• Discussion of mass therapeutic strategies based on field research.

Session 4: Genomics of parasites, vectors and humans

• Cutting edge analysis of genomics including NGS and single-cell RNAseq, which is applicable for and give us a huge advantage on analysis of wide range of organisms.

Session 5: Economical aspects of malaria control/elimination

• Analysis of the link between malaria and economics on both individual level and population level.
• Overview of our interventional study on behavioral change which utilize behavioral economics.

Session 6: Cultural anthropological aspects of malaria control/elimination

• Community acceptance and access to innovative tools for malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
• Contribution of cultural anthropology to the path towards malaria elimination.

Instructors:

Prof. Akira Kaneko, Osaka City University, Japan, & Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Prof. Tomoya Matsumoto, Otaru University of Commerce, Japan
Dr. Evariste Tshibangu-Kabamba, Osaka City University, Japan
Dr. Masaru Nagashima, Waseda University, Japan
Dr. Wataru Kagaya, Osaka City University, Japan
Dr. Makoto Nishi, Hiroshima University, Japan
Dr. Akinori Hamada, Kansai University, Japan
Dr. Jesse Gitaka, Mount Kenya University, Kenya

Course 6: Genomics and Bioinformatics

Welcome to AIBBC’s another newest addition to the workshop lineup. This introductory course on genomics and bioinformatics aims to make participants appreciate the role of genomics in disease surveillance and metagenomics in modelling potential disease outbreaks and future pandemics. Organized in the context of ONE HEALTH (OH) approach, definitely this course will be attractive to biomedical scientists, epidemiologists, veterinary and climate scientists with special interests in molecular biology. This introductory course will explore application of genomic tools to solve problems in health (pandemics), agriculture (food and nutritional security) and environment (antimicrobial resistance). The workshop will be hands-on and will involve both wet and dry lab practical courses.
Due to the intensity and laboratory requirements, the course will only admit 15 participants on a first-come-first serve basis.

Session 1 (Theory):

• Introduction: Role and importance of genomics in various sectors (health, agriculture, etc.)
• Application of Metagenomics in the context of One Health.
• Modelling of genomic data for disease outbreak prediction.

Session 2 (with groupwork):

• Introduction to NGS (Short Read Sequencing (Illumina Miseq), & Long Read Seq (MinION))
• Introduction to Bioinformatics (Databases, Comparative genomics, Linux, CLC workbench, Galaxy etc.)
• Practical Session on Long Read Sequencing with the MinION
• Practical Session on Clade/Lineage assignment, Phylogenetics

Session 3 (Practical session working in small groups):

• Long Read Sequencing with the MinION [SARS-CoV-2 as case study]
• Genome QC and assembly. Align reads to reference genome.
• Long Read Sequencing with the MinION
• Clade/Lineage assignment, Phylogenetics

FINAL OUTPUT: Group poster sessions during the conference. Each group must produce a poster for the hands on work. All posters will be printed on Wednesday/ Thursday morning for presentation on Friday.

Instructors:

Prof. Daniela Maria Cirillo, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy
Dr. Andrea Cabibbe, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy
Dr. Steven Nyanjom, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Mr. Kimita Gathii, USAMRU-Kisumu, Kenya