State of Innovation - CRISPR series 

Rodolphe Barrangou, PhD, 

 "The CRISPR craze: exploiting genome editing machines in academia and industry"

 

Please join us for the academic research portion of the State of Innovation Speaker Series. 

 

Professor Rodolphe Barrangou will be speaking on the CRISPR craze 

 

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), together with associated sequences (cas) constitute the CRISPR-Cas system, which provides adaptive immunity against invasive elements in many bacteria and most archaea. In prokaryotes, CRISPR-Cas systems afford DNA-encoded, RNA mediated, nucleic acid targeting, using a diverse set of Cas nucleases that yield various cleavage outcomes, and carry out various biological functions. Recently, the CRISPR machinery has been repurposed to fuel the Cas9-enabled genome editing craze. Actually, the democratization of CRISPR-based technologies in the past three years hinges on the portability and functionalities of these molecular machines, and has revolutionized biology. I will look back on the historical milestones that have paved the way for the CRISPR era, and discuss the diverse applications that have impacted and continue to shape the fields of Medicine, Ag, Food and Biotechnology. I will also discuss numerous CRISPR-based molecular machines in bacteria that can be readily repurposed in a diversity of applications, including genotyping, phage resistance, immunization against invasive nucleic acids and antimicrobials. Lastly, I will consider the impacts this transformative field has had on science and society, and discuss business implications of this disruptive technology. In many ways, the CRISPR craze is a compelling template for the commercialization of a disruptive and innovative technology technology across industries, business segments, and company types. 

Where: CSU Lory Student Center, Longs Peak Room (Room 302)

When: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 

Time: 3:00-5:00 pm

 

 

 

A reception will follow with refreshments and light appetizers. 

The event is free and open to the public, however registration is required.

 

**Graduate Students and Post-Doctoral Fellows: There is an option for a professional working lunch with Prof. Barrangou. This professional development lunch will include discussion of acquiring the non-technical skills scientists need to become proficient and successful professionals. Free to attend with lunch provided, but registration is required. The event will take place November 7th, Library Events Hall, 12:30-2:00 PM. 

Register Now! 

About Rodolphe Barrangou: Dr. Barrangou earned a BS in Biological Sciences from Rene Descartes University in Paris, France, a MS in Biological Engineering from the University of Technology in Compiegne, France, a MS in Food Science from NC State, a PhD in Genomics from NC State and a MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He spent 9 years in R&D and M&A at Danisco and DuPont. Currently, Rodolphe Barrangou is the T. R. Klaenhammer Distinguished Scholar in Probiotics Research and an Associate Professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University, focusing on the evolution and functions of CRISPR-Cas systems, and their applications in bacteria used in food manufacturing. Rodolphe is also an associate member of the Microbiology graduate program, the Biotechnology graduate program, the Functional Genomics graduate program, the Genetics program and the Comparative Medicine Institute. Recently, Rodolphe received the 2016 Warren Alpert Prize, the 2016 Canada Gairdner International Award, and the 2017 NAS award in Molecular Biology. Dr. Barrangou is also the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Caribou Biosciences, a co-founder and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Intellia Therapeutics, and a co-founder and chairman of the SAB of Locus Biosciences. 

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