Principles of Molecular Microbiological Diagnostics, ESCMID Postgraduate Education Course


5 - 7 March 2014, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Organisers
  • ESCMID Study Group for Molecular Diagnostics (ESGMD)
  • Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  • Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Bioanalytica AG, Lucerne, Switzerland
  • Edinburgh Specialist Virology Centre, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • Jessa Hospital, Site Virga Jesse, Hasselt, Belgium
Course Coordinators
  • Tanja Geelen, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Marlies Mooij, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Paul Savelkoul, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Petra Wolffs, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Course Objectives

The course provides an overview of the general principles of state-of-the-art molecular techniques for diagnosis of infectious diseases: Quantitative PCR, (Next-Generation) Sequencing and Mass Spectrometry. In addition, the course
educates participants on the set-up, validation and quality control of the different techniques and discusses the latest and upcoming developments in the field.

Attention: Course Venue has changed!

Course Venue

Hotel Van der Valk
Nijverheidsweg 35
6227 AL Maastricht
The Netherlands

Route description

Accessibility Maastricht

Accommodation

A preliminary reservation for a number of hotel rooms has been made. Participants can book their own room for the special price of EUR 103.05 per night. Please mention “ESCMID Course” in the booking. Booking is necessary before 5 February 2014.

The address can be found below:

Hotel Van der Valk
Nijverheidsweg 35
6227 AL Maastricht
The Netherlands

Phone  +31 43 38 73 500
Fax +31 43 38 73 515

Website

For other hotels in Maastricht, please visit this link.

Target Audience

Up to 100 MDs, biologists, post-doctoral fellows and PhD students who are working in the field of microbiology and are interested in molecular diagnostics.

Registration closed

If you have questions, please contact the Administrative Secretariat directly.

Attendance Grants

ESCMID provides a number of attendance grants for ESCMID “young scientist members”. The grant covers the registration fee, but not accommodation or travel costs. Please apply via the link provided on the right before 8 January 2014. Applicants will be informed about their acceptance by 22 January 2014.

Please note that attendance grant application does not include registration for the course. Please register online with the link supplied on the right.

CME Accreditation

The organisers of the course will apply for European CME accreditation through
EACCME and for accreditation through NVMM (Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology).

Contact Person

Paul Savelkoul
P. Debyelaan 25
P.O. Box 5800
6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands

Phone +31 433 876 644
Fax +31 433 876 643


Administrative Secretariat

Secretary Office Dept. Medical Microbiology
Maastricht UMC
P. Debyelaan 25
P.O. Box 5800
6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands

Phone + 31 433 876 644
Fax +31 433 876 643

Course Programme

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

08:30 Welcome. Paul Savelkoul
09:00 Real-time PCR: the basics. Carl Wittwer

Applications of real-time PCR
09:30 Quantitative PCR. Eric Claas
10:00 Multiplex PCR to maximum. Kate Templeton
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 Gene expression profiling. Till Bachmann
11:30 High Resolution Melting. Carl Wittwer
12:00 Digital PCR. Jim Huggett
12:30 Lunch
13:30 PCR design & computer simulations. Stephen Bustin
14:00 PCR parameters for optimisation. Peter Radström
14:30 Troubleshooting for PCR. Mikael Kubista
15:00 Coffee break
15:30 Molecular detection of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors.
           Roel Nijhuis
16:00 Point of care detection systems. Bert Niesters
17:30 Social programme
19:30 Welcome dinner

Thursday, 6 March 2014

09:00 Next-Generation Sequencing: the basics. Jonathan Green

Applications of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
09:30 The use of modern sequencing techniques for typing and resistance.
           Judith Breuer

10:00 Microbiome analysis. Harro Timmerman
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 Setup of NGS workflow.Judith Breuer
11:30 Sample handling for NGS. John Penders
12:00 Troubleshooting NGS workflow. John Rossen
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Advanced PCR detection: possibilities. Paul Savelkoul
14:00 Application of micro-arrays. Thierry Naas
14:30 Broad Spectrum PCR for clinical diagnostics. Martin Altwegg
15:00 Coffee break
15:30 Mass Spectrometry: the basics (types and principles). Gilbert Greub
16:00 Applications of Mass Spectrometry in medical microbiology. Hans Kusters

Friday, 7 March 2014

09:00 DNA / RNA isolation & sample processing. Petra Wolffs
09:30 One-assay approach and principles of CE-IVD (in vitro diagnostics).                         Margareta Ieven
10:00 Quality assurance (internal/external). Anton van Loon
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 Guidelines molecular diagnostics. Marijke Raymaekers
11:30 Molecular diagnostics: when to use and when not to use.
           Jacob Moran-Gilad
12:00 The future developments in molecular diagnostics. Paul Savelkoul
13:00 Closing lunch & presentation of new equipment by companies

Confirmed Faculty Members
  • Martin Altwegg, Lucerne, Switzerland
  • Eric Claas, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • Tanja Geelen, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Margareta Ieven, Antwerp, Belgium
  • Hans Kusters, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Colin Mackenzie, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Marlies Mooij, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Jacob Moran-Gilad, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Bert Niesters, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Roel Nijhuis, Velp, The Netherlands
  • John Penders, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Marijke Raymaekers, Hasselt, Belgium
  • John Rossen, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Paul Savelkoul, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Kate Templeton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • Anton van Loon, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Rob Willems, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Carl Wittwer, Salt Lake City, United States
  • Petra Wolffs, Maastricht, The Netherlands