Summary
We welcome all to open lectures on the CRISPR-Cas genome editing revolution. The first lecturer will be Emmanuelle Charpentier: She has laid the foundation for the development of a highly versatile and specific genome editing technology – CRISPR-Cas9 – that is revolutionizing life sciences, biotechnology and medicine. For her groundbreaking discovery and innovative research, she has received numerous prestigious international awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 and the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience in 2018. The second lecturer, Sigrid Bratlie, works at the intersection between science and research, communication and policy in the biotechnology field. In 2020 she published her first book "Fremtidsmennesket/Reinventing Human" about how biotechnology can override human biology in all stages of life. She will in her talk cover the intersection of science and society in the context of CRISPR.
Programme for Friday, September 1st
10.15-10.30. Opening remarks
Svein Stølen, Rector, University of Oslo
10.30-11.15. The CRISPR-Cas genome editing revolution: the power of microbiology
Emmanuelle Charpentier, Professor, Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Berlin, Germany
11.15-11.25. Short Q&A with Emmanuelle Charpentier
Chaired by Nils Chr. Stenseth, University of Oslo
11.25-11.50. CRISPR at the intersection of science and society
Sigrid Bratlie, Project manager at NCE Heidner Biocluster and Strategic Advisor to the Norwegian Cancer Society
11.50-12.00. Short Q&A with Sigrid Bratlie
Chaired by Nils Chr. Stenseth, University of Oslo
12.00-12.20. Conversation and questions with Emmanuelle Charpentier and Sigrid Bratlie
Chaired by Nils Chr. Stenseth, University of Oslo
12.20-12.30. Closing remarks
Kjetill S. Jakobsen, Chair of CEES, IBV, University of Oslo
ABSTRACTS AND BIOGRAPHIES
Emmanuelle Charpentier
Lecture title: The CRISPR-Cas genome editing revolution: the power of microbiology
Abstract
Over the past decade, research into the biology and applications of CRISPR-Cas systems has become one of the most dynamic and evolving fields in the life sciences, with great promise for future biotechnical and biomedical developments.
CRISPR-Cas is originally an RNA-mediated immune system that has evolved extensively in bacteria and archaea into multiple systems and whose function is to protect these microorganisms from invasion by mobile genetic elements such as viruses (phages). Decoding the detailed mechanism of one of the CRISPR-Cas systems – CRISPR-Cas9 – has led to the development of a transformative technology in the biological sciences, enabling rapid and efficient targeted genome editing and engineering, chromosome tagging and gene regulation in a wide variety of cells and organisms. The RNA-programmable CRISPR-Cas9 tool is efficient, versatile, easily programmable, and has been widely adopted by the scientific community. Originating in the evolution of the microbial world, the CRISPR technology now enables us to study the evolution of life in multiple other varieties of cells and organisms.
I will take you through the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism and its development as a revolutionary genome engineering technology, discuss the biological roles, mechanisms and evolution of CRISPR-Cas immune systems, as well as more recent aspects and developments of CRISPR-based genome engineering in life sciences and medicine.
Biography
Emmanuelle Charpentier studied biochemistry, microbiology and genetics at the University Pierre and Marie Curie (now Sorbonne University), Paris, France and obtained her Ph.D. in microbiology for her research performed at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France. She then continued her work in the United States, at The Rockefeller University, New York University Medical Center (now NYC Langone Health) and the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine (all in New York, NY) and at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (in Memphis, TN). Emmanuelle returned to Europe to establish her own research group as Assistant and Associate Professor at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (now Max Perutz Labs) at the University of Vienna in Austria where she obtained her habilitation in the field of microbiology. She was then appointed Associate Professor at The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS, part of Nordic European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Partnership for Molecular Medicine) at Umeå University in Sweden, where she habilitated in the field of Medical Microbiology and was active as a Visiting Professor until 2017. Between 2013 and 2015, Emmanuelle was Head of the Department of Regulation in Infection Biology at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, and Professor at the Medical School of Hannover in Germany. In 2013, she was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, which she held in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, Emmanuelle was appointed Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society. From 2015 to 2018, she was Scientific Director and Head of the Department of Regulation in Infection Biology at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, Germany. Since 2016, Emmanuelle has been an Honorary Professor at Humboldt University in Berlin. Since 2018, she has been Scientific and Managing Director of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin, an independent institute she founded together with the Max Planck Society. Emmanuelle has laid the foundation for the development of a highly versatile and specific genome editing technology – CRISPR-Cas9 – that is revolutionizing life sciences, biotechnology and medicine. For her groundbreaking discovery and innovative research, she has received numerous prestigious international awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, and is an elected member of national and international scientific academies. She is co-founder of CRISPR Therapeutics and ERS Genomics with Rodger Novak and Shaun Foy. More information about Emmanuelle is available at www.emmanuelle-charpentier.org.
(Source: www.emmanuelle-charpentier.org).
Affiliation
Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, 10117 Berlin, Germany; and Institute for Biology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Sigrid Bratlie
Lecture title: CRISPR at the intersection of science and society
Abstract
CRISPR allows us to edit the code of life, enabling rapid translation of biological knowledge into tangible societal benefit. CRISPR can provide solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including life-saving treatments for patients, green transformation of food systems and restoration of natural ecosystems. However, realizing this potential while avoiding the biggest pitfalls will not be easy. How do we ensure that this powerful technology benefits people and planet in an equitable way and not further deepens social divides and exacerbates unsustainable use of natural resources? Can we prevent CRISPR falling prey to the spiraling mis-infodemic and geopolitical agendas that erode trust in technologies and science? What laws and policies do we make to control a technology that allows us to override not just our own evolution, but the evolution of all life on earth? This talk aims to provide a starting point for discussing and addressing such fundamental questions that confront us as CRISPR makes its way out of the labs and into society.
Biography
Sigrid Bratlie works at the intersection between science and research, communication and policy in the biotechnology field. She currently works as Project leader at NCE Heidner Biocluster for bioeconomy and as Strategic advisor to the Norwegian Cancer Society. She is also a member of the research consortium GENEinnovate that explores genome editing as a breeding tool in Norwegian agriculture and aquaculture. Sigrid is also an active science communicator to the public and regularly appears in the media to explain everything from new cancer treatments to resurrection of extinct species. In 2020, she published her first book "Fremtidsmennesket / Reinventing Human" about how biotechnology can override human biology in all stages of life. Sigrids main goal is to raise public awareness about how biotechnology can contribute to sustainable development and to promote science as a tool for better policymaking. Sigrid holds a degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Glasgow and Imperial College London, UK, and a Phd from the Institute for Cancer Research at the Norwegian Radium Hospital for which she was awarded the Kings gold medal.
Affiliation
NCE Heidner Biocluster, and the Norwegian Cancer Society.
The Kristine Bonnevie lectures is part of the University of Oslo's Annual Festivities.