Technician Training in CRISPR-based Gene Editing

基于 CRISPR 的基因编辑正在彻底改变生物学研究，成为一种高效、精确地修改几乎所有生物体基因组的机制。 由于基于 CRISPER 的技术在基因工程中的广泛应用，因此需要接受过使用该技术的培训的生物技术劳动力。社区大学善于满足诸如此类快速变化的劳动力需求。 为此，特拉华技术社区学院建议开发基于 CRISPR 的基因编辑培训并将其纳入其生物技术课程。这项工作将与特拉华州医疗机构 ChristianaCare 的基因编辑研究所合作完成。该项目还旨在举办研讨会，对全国社区大学教师进行基于 CRISPR 的基因编辑技术的培训。训练有素的教师反过来可以向大量学生传授这种基因编辑技术，以便更好地为学生做好当前生物技术劳动力的准备。此次合作将基因编辑研究所工作人员的内容专业知识与特拉华技术社区学院教师的内容专业知识相结合，开发和实施基于 CRISPR 的高影响力基因编辑课程，并为教师提供培训研讨会。该项目包括与行业合作伙伴和国家生物伦理学专家的合作。专业发展研讨会将使参与者能够扩大与 CRISPR 使用相关的生物技术指导以及相关的伦理问题。 通过这些活动，该项目预计将为特拉华技术社区学院近 100 名生物科学专业的学生和 90 名社区学院教师提供服务。目的是帮助学生获得所需的知识和技能，为快速扩展的具有广泛应用的领域做出贡献。该项目的具体目标是：（1）继续更新并提供最先进的基因编辑技术的有效培训，为两年生物技术课程的学生进入生物科学职业或继续教育做好准备； (2) 通过为期三天和五天的基因编辑研讨会，向社区大学教师传播先进的、最新的课程和高影响力的教学实践模型。通过课堂活动，包括生物信息数据的分析和解释、技术口头报告、科学文献的理解和评估以及小组合作等，毕业生的就业技能将得到加强和拓宽。通过这些努力，项目团队期望为满足国家对基因编辑技术技术人员的需求做出贡献。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划重点关注推动国家经济发展的先进技术领域的技术人员教育。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

CRISPR-based gene editing is revolutionizing biological research as a mechanism to efficiently and precisely modify the genome of almost any organism. As a result of the wide incorporation of CRISPER-based technologies in genetic engineering, there is a need for a biotechnology workforce that is trained in its use. Community colleges are adept at meeting rapidly changing workforce needs such as this. To this end, Delaware Technical Community College proposes to develop and incorporate CRISPR-based gene editing training into its biotechnology curriculum. This work will be done in collaboration with the Gene Editing Institute at ChristianaCare, a Delaware-based healthcare organization. The project also aims to provide workshops to train community college faculty across the nation in CRISPR-based gene editing techniques. The trained faculty can in turn educate large numbers of students about this gene editing technique, to better prepare students for the current biotechnology workforce. This partnership combines the content expertise of staff at the Gene Editing Institute with that of faculty at Delaware Technical Community College to develop and implement a high impact CRISPR-based gene editing curriculum and to offer training workshops for faculty. The project includes engagement with industry partners and national experts in bioethics. The professional development workshops will enable participants to broaden biotechnology instruction related to CRISPR use, as well related ethical issues. Through these activities, the project expects to serve nearly 100 bioscience students at Delaware Technical Community College and 90 community college faculty. The intention is to help students gain the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to a rapidly expanding field with a wide range of applications. The specific aims of the project are to: (1) continue to update and provide effective training in state-of-the-art gene editing techniques to prepare students in a two-year biotechnology program to enter bioscience careers or further education; (2) disseminate an advanced, current curriculum and model high impact teaching practices to community college instructors through three and five day gene editing workshops. The employability skills of graduates will be strengthened and broadened with the use of classroom activities that involve analysis and interpretation of bioinformatic data, technical oral presentations, understanding and evaluation of scientific literature, and group work as examples. As a result of these efforts, the project team expects to contribute to the national need for technicians who are skilled in gene editing technologies. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.