Application of Molecular Diagnostics in Forensic Microbiology, ESCMID Postgraduate Technical Workshop

2 - 3 June 2016, Leuven, Belgium

Organizers
  • ESCMID Study Group for Forensic and Postmortem Microbiology (ESGFOR)
  • ESCMID Study Group for Molecular Diagnostics (ESGMD)
Course Coordinators
  • Bruce Budowle, Forth Worth, TX, United States
  • Amparo Fernández-Rodríguez, Madrid, Spain
  • Jacob Moran-Gilad, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Veroniek Saegeman, Leuven, Belgium
  • Wim Van de Voorde, Leuven, Belgium
Course Objectives

The role of molecular diagnostics is increasingly being recognized in clinical and public health microbiology. In recent years, molecular methods have been used in forensic and post-mortem microbiology for establishing the cause of death due to infectious diseases and also to generate and present forensic evidence at the judicial court. This course aims to boost the knowledge of forensic microbiology and the role of molecular diagnostics in this field by allowing attendees to join leading scientists in forensic and molecular microbiology, who will present their insights into the most recent breakthroughs and current applications. Moreover, the course aims to create new networks between microbiologists, forensic pathologists and allied professions and build capacity in order to facilitate the application of molecular microbiology in this multidisciplinary field across Europe.

Course Venue

Salons Georges
Hogeschoolplein 15
Leuven

Accommodation

Novotel Leuven Centrum, Herestraat 49,
3000 Leuven, Belgium

Target Audience

30–35 microbiologists (medical, clinical, forensics including trainees), pathologists and other professionals working in forensic science or forensic medicine, and public health practitioners.

Contact Person (Scientific Programme & Administrative Secretariat)

Veroniek Saegeman
Laboratoriumgeneeskunde UZ Leuven
Herestraat 49
3000 Leuven
Belgium

Phone +32 163 424 23
Fax +32 163 470 42
veroniek.saegeman[at]uzleuven.be

Course Programme

 

Presentations are availabe in the ESCMID Online Lecture Library.

Thursday, 2 June 2016

09:00 Welcome and introduction of the Study Groups. ESGFOR and ESGMD board representatives
09:30 Overview of medical forensics – CSI and beyond. Paul Fornes
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 The role of microbiology in forensic science and post-mortem examinations: a special focus on molecular diagnosis. Amparo Fernández-Rodríguez
12:00 Overview of recent developments in molecular diagnostics for clinical microbiology.
Marijke Raymaekers
12:45 Lunch
13:45 Overview of recent developments in Next- Gen Sequencing for clinical microbiology. John Rossen
14:30 Human microbiome analysis. Paul Savelkoul
15:15 Coffee break
15:45 Practical session on molecular diagnostics I. Industry representatives
16:30 New molecular typing techniques – a forensic approach to cluster investigation. Sophia David
17:15 Perspective on microbial population analysis in forensics.
Fernando González-Candelas
19:00 Social programme and dinner

Friday, 3 June 2016

08:30 Ancient DNA – methods, quality and acceptance criteria. Alexander Herbig
09:15 How to present molecular findings on HIV/HCV as evidence in court?
Anne-Mieke Vandamme
10:00 Quality control aspects of molecular diagnostics – implications to forensic microbiology. Jacob Moran-Gilad
10:45 Coffee break
11:15 Validation requirements of molecular assays in forensic microbiology. Sarah Schmedes
12:00 Practical session on molecular diagnostics II. Industry representatives
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Educational quiz: presentation and discussion of forensic cases.
Speakers: Laurent Andréoletti, Sarah Schmedes, Wim Van de Voorde, Veroniek Saegeman &
Anne-Mieke Vandamme
Moderator: Jacob Moran-Gilad
15:30 Coffee break
16:00 Capacity building for Europe: open discussion about laboratory methods, standards and collaborative research. ESGFOR and ESGMD board representatives
17:15 Concluding remarks & farewell. ESGFOR and ESGMD board representatives

Faculty Members
  • Laurent Andréoletti, Reims, France
  • Sophia David, Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • Amparo Fernández-Rodríguez, Madrid, Spain
  • Paul Fornes, Reims, France
  • Fernando González-Candelas, Valencia, Spain
  • Alexander Herbig, Tübingen, Germany
  • Jacob Moran-Gilad, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Marijke Raymaekers, Hasselt, Belgium
  • John Rossen, Groningen, Netherlands
  • Veroniek Saegeman, Leuven, Belgium
  • Paul Savelkoul, Maastricht, Netherlands
  • Sarah Schmedes, Forth Worth, TX, Unites States
  • Wim Van de Voorde, Leuven, Belgium
  • Anne-Mieke Vandamme, Leuven, Belgium
CME Accreditation

The event was granted 12 European CME credits (ECMEC) by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME).