webinar-icon.png

About the Webinar

Standard CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing relies on Cas9-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Recently, however, CRISPR-base editing has been developed to allow for the precise modification of targeted genomic bases without inducing DSBs. In this webinar, Dr. Pierre Billon, a research scientist at Columbia University Medical Center, will present a new strategy to efficiently inactivate genes by precisely converting four codons (CAA, CAG, CGA, and TGG) into STOP codons, which leads to gene disruption without DSB induction. A high frequency of these codons in a genome enables genome-wide disruption of genes in eukaryotic species and the precise modeling of over 32,000 cancer-associated nonsense mutations. Dr. Billon will also share his thoughts on the future development of improved base editors with increased precision and extended base type conversion and its impact on precision genome editing.

 

About the Presenter

Pierre_Billon-1

 

Dr. Billion received a Masters in Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of Toulouse, France and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Laval University, Canada, where he studied the functions and regulatory roles of acetylation to maintain the integrity of the genome in the laboratory of Jacques Côté. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Columbia University Medical Center in the laboratory of Alberto Ciccia. His work is focused on the characterization of the cellular DNA repair machineries involved in the repair of the different types of DNA breaks formed using genome editing technologies. He is also developing new CRISPR tools and approaches to increase the utility and to enhance the efficiency and specificity of genome editing.

Complete the form below to view the webinar on-demand: