Virtual workshop: Practical experiences and challenges of Coronavirus PCR and serological testing methods
International Laboratory Network, organized by Mustafa(Pbuh) Science and Technology Foundation, is going to hold an online workshop on "Practical experiences and challenges of coronavirus PCR and serological testing methods" on June 1, 2020.
MSTF Media reports:
During this two hour workshop,
Kayhan Azadmanesh, professor of biotechnology and virology in Pasteur Institute of Iran, and
Mehdi Totonchi, professor of Cellular & Developmental Biology in Royan Institute, will discuss "Serological Methods in COVID-19" and "Practical Challenges of PCR Test," respectively.
The workshop covers a wide range of topics including setting up molecular tests, challenges in coordinating National Laboratory Network for COVID-19, safety in COVID-19 test laboratories, etc.
Kayhan Azadmanesh is currently the head of Rapid Response team for infectious diseases at Pasteur Institute of Iran and head of Virology Research Division of this institute. He has been involved in setting up the tests and establishing the national laboratory network for COVID-19 since January 2020.
He is going to explain how Iran chose the tests, set up the labs, and expanded the laboratory network to more than 120 labs in 2 months. His presentation includes a brief history of COVID-19 in Iran, setting up the molecular tests, evaluation of new kits, the role of serological tests in Iran, establishment of the National Laboratory Network for COVID-19, and challenges in coordinating the network.
Mehdi Totonchi, has established the “clinical bioinformatics” group at Genetics department of Royan Institute. The main goal of this group is genetic basis of infertility and cancer using whole exome sequencing (WES) technology. They try to discover novel gene/pathogen variants using family-based exome sequencing. He is currently the head of the coronavirus laboratory and head of genetics & stem cell Departments in Royan Institute. He has been involved in setting up the tests and establishing the laboratory for COVID-19 since January 2020.
He is going to discuss the practical challenges of PCR testing methods as well as the safety of COVID-19 tests in the laboratory. Profiling of Initial Available SARS-CoV-2 Sequences from Iranian Related COVID-19 Patients is another topic he will talk about. It is vital to uncover and investigate the full genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 throughout the world to track changes in this virus.
Ph.D. Students, Postdoc Students, and all academics and researchers are free to sign up for this workshop.
Visit
www.step.mstfdn.org/events/workshops to register and obtain more information about the program.
