Model Animal Research Center (MARC), Nanjing University, China (Director: Dr. Xiang Gao) and RIKEN BioResource Center (BRC), Japan (Director: Dr. Yuichi Obata) co-organized a short educational program focusing on mouse genetics and related experimental technologies for young scientists. RIKEN BRC hosted the 1st International Short Summer Course of the Mouse from Aug 27 to Aug 29 in Tsukuba, Japan. This summer, Nanjing University MARC hosted the 2nd program from July 29 to July 31 in Nanjing, China.

Place: Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University
Periods: from July 29 to 31, 2013
Number of participants: 60 from China and 1 from Korea.
Number of professors: 10 from China (Nanjing University MARC), 1 from Korea, 1 from the UK, 1 from the USA, and 7 from Japan (RIKEN BRC) including:

Dr. Obata (Director), Dr. Abe (Deputy Director), Dr. Yoshiki (Head of Experimental Animal Division), Dr. Ogura (Head of Bioresource Engineering Division), Dr. Wakana (TL of Japan Mouse Clinic), Dr. Gondo (TL of Mutagenesis and Genomics Team), and Dr. Masuya (UL, Technology and Development Unit for Knowledge Base of Mouse Phenotype).

Themes of lectures:
With the following 4 themes, 21 lectures were held in total.

1. Genome manipulation and mouse models
2. Mouse Resource and international consortium
3. Disease Model and application I
4. Disease Model and application II

During sessions for open discussion when students were allowed to ask questions to the lectures, many of them actively joined in the discussion.

Three experimental courses of the following content with hands-on training were offered on July 31.

1. SHIRPA Operator Training
2. Microinjection
3. Visiting the Phenotypic analysis room and echocardiography

In the SHIRPA Operator Training, there were 21 participants. Dr. Wakana (TL), Dr. Masuya (UL), Ms. Ozawa (technical staff member), Mr. Hirota (staff member) were invited as instructors working with Dr. Qi Xin of Nanjing University MARC.

The 3rd International Short Summer Course was scheduled to take place from July 28 (Mon) to 30 (Wed), 2014 at RIKEN BRC in Tsukuba.

More than 80 people joined the program.

Dr. Gao, Director of Nanjing University MARC and Dr. Obata, Director of RIKEN BRC awarding certificate to a participant

Professors and staff members from Japan