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，作为一种有效和精确修改几乎任何生物体基因组的机制。 由于基因工程广泛采用CRISPER技术，因此需要一支受过使用CRISPER技术培训的生物技术队伍。社区学院擅长满足快速变化的劳动力需求。 为此，特拉华州技术社区学院提议开发基于CRISPR的基因编辑培训，并将其纳入其生物技术课程。这项工作将与位于特拉华州的医疗保健组织ChristianaCare的基因编辑研究所合作完成。该项目还旨在提供研讨会，培训全国社区大学教师使用基于CRISPR的基因编辑技术。经过培训的教师可以反过来教育大量的学生了解这种基因编辑技术，以更好地为当前的生物技术劳动力做好准备。该合作伙伴关系将基因编辑研究所工作人员的内容专业知识与特拉华州技术社区学院的教师的内容专业知识相结合，以开发和实施具有高影响力的基于CRISPR的基因编辑课程，并为教师提供培训研讨会。该项目包括与行业伙伴和国家生物伦理学专家的接触。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教学，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州技术社区学院的近100名生物科学学生和90名社区学院教师提供服务。其目的是帮助学生获得所需的知识和技能，以促进一个迅速扩大的领域，具有广泛的应用。该项目的具体目标是：（1）继续更新和提供最先进的基因编辑技术的有效培训，使学生在为期两年的生物技术课程中为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当前课程和高影响力的教学实践模式。毕业生的就业技能将得到加强和扩大与课堂活动的使用，涉及生物信息学数据的分析和解释，技术口头演示，科学文献的理解和评价，并作为例子小组工作。通过这些努力，项目团队希望为国家对基因编辑技术熟练的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，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。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.