DNA sequencing has been one of the major advances in science over the last 30 years. It has increased our knowledge and understanding about the behaviour of the building blocks of life and why some people develop certain diseases and other do not. This has given medical researchers and the medical profession the ability to treat diseases. The Human Genome Project to sequence the human genome cost $3 billion. High throughput sequencing has reduced this cost substantially. However, the cost to sequence the genome to change healthcare practice on a large scale remains high. One technique that is being developed, the DNA transistor, offers the real prospect of reducing the cost of sequencing to $1,000 for an individual. Dr Stefan Harrer, of IBM’s Systems Biology and Functional Genomics Group, will discuss his research in the development of a DNA transistor. The DNA nanopore sequencing technique has the advantage of being a real-time single molecule DNA sequencing method with little to no sample preparation and inherently low cost. Hear Dr Harrer describe how he and his team are addressing the challenges of developing this next-generation sequencing technology.

Stefan Harrer recieved the B.Sc., Diploma, and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science with special focus on medical engineering, nanotechnology and nanoelectronics from the Technical University of Munich.

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Melbourne Law School Theatre
Ground Floor, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, ( map )
Carlton South, Victoria Austrlia

This is an ICT 4 Life Sciences Event