Training and events
The large number of patients suffering from rare diseases and the insufficient availability of corresponding gene therapies in the clinic strongly illustrates the urgent requirement for more research and product development in that area.
To address this need, GetRadi will train experts in gene therapy technologies with excellent knowledge in current and upcoming technologies related to gene therapy, model systems for rare disease, and for the molecular biology underlying the disease phenotypes. Furthermore, they will be able to transfer improvements of genome editing methods into products of use for the patient, which needs entrepreneurship, and knowledge in IPR and industrial project management. These experts must have the ability to efficiently collaborate in international teams in-person as well via digital means. Moreover, they have to be able to communicate their results to a scientifically trained audience, but also to the broad public.
The GetRadi network will provide common courses, workshops and training visits in Industry and with other partners in the network.
The GetRadi consortium met in person for the first time in Copenhagen on March 30 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to let the consortium members and the fellows meet each other, network and exchange scientific ideas. The Coordinator Cord Brakebusch and EU liaison officer Karin Norris introduced participants to the main goals of the project as well as its administrative and financial aspects. The fellows were given an opportunity to hear about culture shock and adjustment challenges, and a lively discussion followed afterwards. The afternoon was dedicated to the presentations of the fellows' projects, with comments and input from the consortium. The day was concluded with a walk and a dinner.
On 27. April 2023, the GetRadi fellows participated in an online seminar on Good scientific practice, organized by Ralf Kühn from Max Delbrück Center.
The fellows received an introduction to the different kinds of bias that can come up in models of scientific approach, to basic principles of collaborative working and types of research misconduct. Furthermore, they became familiar with the Singapore statement on research integrity.
On September 4-8 2023, the first GetRadi Summer school took place in Leiden. At the Summer school, the fellows presented progress of their projects and received valuable input from the consortium. Day 2 of the Summer school was dedicated to scientific symposium “Genetic therapies: principles, models and applications” which featured poster presentations of GetRadi fellows, allowing them to receive feedback from GetRadi supervisors and local experts. The Summer school also included sessions on outreach (provided by GetRadi partner EuroGCT), storytelling, patents and regulatory affairs as well as ethics.
On January 30-31 2024, first Winter meeting took place in Mölndal, hosted by AstraZeneca. First day of the meeting was dedicated to updates on progress of fellow projects and Supervisory board meeting, finishing with a dinner. On the next day, fellows and supervisors attended scientific symposium where they had an opportunity to learn about research on stem cells as well as industrial project management.
On September 2-6 2024, the second GetRadi Summer school took place in Copenhagen, organized by supervisor Hans Wandall. At the Summer school, the fellows updated the consortium about progress of their projects and received input from everyone on project challenges they currently face. Day 2 of the Summer school was dedicated to scientific symposium “Structure, function, and delivery of CRISPR editing tools” with invited speakers from the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University. The second Summer school focused on innovation - it hosted three sessions with speakers sharing their experiences with founding and running biotech companies as a researcher. The fellows were divided into groups of two, and each group developed a pitch with business proposal of their own company with topic of gene editing. The Summer school also included sessions on outreach (provided by GetRadi partner EuroGCT), where the fellows practiced explaining their research to general audience and received a task of developing a glossary for EuroGCT website.
