DAY 01 — Introduction to CRISPR and Gene Therapy

1. Introduction to genes, genomes, and disease-causing mutations
2. Overview of genome editing — historical context and technology evolution
3. Limitations of conventional editing tools (ZFNs, TALENs) and why CRISPR changed everything
4. Origin and biological basis of CRISPR systems — how bacteria use CRISPR as an immune defence
5. CRISPR-Cas terminology — PAM sequences, spacers, tracrRNA, crRNA, and sgRNA
6. Introduction to gene therapy — definition, history, and therapeutic rationale
7. Somatic vs germline gene therapy — scientific, clinical, and ethical distinctions
8. Major therapeutic applications of gene therapy — inherited diseases, cancer, infectious disease
9. Ethics and biosafety overview — regulatory frameworks and responsible genome engineering

📌 Learning Outcome: Explain the mechanism of CRISPR-mediated editing and the conceptual framework of gene therapy with scientific accuracy

DAY 02 — CRISPR Design Workflow I

1. CRISPR-Cas9 theoretical review — deep dive into mechanism, components, and DNA repair pathways (NHEJ vs HDR)
2. Retrieval of nucleotide sequences from NCBI for target gene selection
3. Introduction to target sequence selection — defining the genomic region of interest
4. Prediction of sgRNAs using 2 bioinformatics servers — hands-on walkthrough of guide design platforms
5. Understanding PAM sequence requirements for Cas9 and alternative Cas variants

📌 Learning Outcome: Retrieve target gene sequences and generate initial sgRNA predictions using multiple bioinformatics platforms

DAY 03 — CRISPR Design Workflow II

1. Retrieval of exonic sequences — targeting protein-coding regions for maximum functional impact
2. Prediction of sgRNAs using multiple servers — comparative guide design across platforms
3. Comparative understanding of guide selection approaches — why different servers produce different rankings
4. Continuation of sgRNA design workflow — building a shortlist of candidate guides for further evaluation
5. Practical: designing sgRNAs for a real disease-associated gene

📌 Learning Outcome: Design and compare sgRNAs across multiple servers and build a rational candidate guide shortlist

DAY 04 — Advanced sgRNA Prediction and Quality Evaluation

1. Expanded prediction of sgRNAs using additional bioinformatics servers — broadening the candidate pool
2. sgRNA quality evaluation using 2 dedicated quality assessment servers
3. Key parameters affecting sgRNA quality — GC content optimisation, self-complementarity avoidance
4. Mismatch tolerance and its implications for on-target vs off-target cleavage
5. Target specificity scoring — understanding rule sets used by different prediction algorithms
6. Practical: scoring and ranking candidate sgRNAs for a target gene

📌 Learning Outcome: Evaluate sgRNA quality using multiple parameters and rank candidate guides based on efficiency and specificity criteria

DAY 05 — Off-Target Analysis and Specificity Assessment

1. Concept of off-target editing — why unintended genomic modifications are a critical safety concern
2. Scientific importance of guide specificity in therapeutic and research CRISPR applications
3. In silico off-target prediction tools — walkthrough of leading off-target analysis platforms
4. Mismatch analysis — identifying genomic sites with sequence similarity to the target
5. Identification of potential unintended genomic targets — risk categorisation and interpretation
6. Interpretation of specificity scores — selecting guides with the best safety and precision profile

📌 Learning Outcome: Perform comprehensive in silico off-target analysis and select sgRNAs with the highest specificity and lowest off-target risk

DAY 06 — sgRNA Efficiency and Editing Performance Assessment

1. Guide efficiency scoring — understanding quantitative metrics that predict editing success rates
2. Determinants of editing efficiency — sequence composition, position of the cut site, and secondary structure
3. Sequence context and positional biases — how flanking nucleotides influence Cas9 activity
4. Influence of chromatin accessibility and epigenetic features on guide performance
5. Prioritisation of high-confidence sgRNAs — integrating efficiency, specificity, and quality scores into a final guide selection

📌 Learning Outcome: Integrate efficiency, specificity, and quality metrics to prioritise the optimal sgRNA for experimental use

DAY 07 — Base Editing and Prime Editing

1. Introduction to base editing — precision nucleotide substitution without creating double-strand breaks
2. Introduction to prime editing — the search-and-replace genome editing technology
3. Differences from nuclease-mediated double-strand-break editing — mechanistic comparison
4. Adenine Base Editors (ABEs) and Cytosine Base Editors (CBEs) — targets, windows, and applications
5. Prime editing guide design concepts — pegRNA architecture, spacer, RT template, and PBS design
6. Advantages, limitations, and therapeutic significance — when to choose base editing or prime editing over standard CRISPR-Cas9

📌 Learning Outcome: Understand and distinguish base editing and prime editing strategies and identify appropriate clinical applications for each

DAY 08 — Primer Design and HDR Template Design

1. Prediction of primers using 3 bioinformatics servers — designing PCR and sequencing primers for CRISPR validation
2. Principles of primer design for CRISPR experimental validation workflows
3. Designing Homology-Directed Repair (HDR) templates using 2 dedicated servers
4. Donor template architecture — structural elements of a well-designed HDR construct
5. Homology arm design — length, sequence, and positioning considerations
6. Insertion, correction, and repair strategy design — tailoring the HDR template to the therapeutic or research goal

📌 Learning Outcome: Design validation primers and HDR donor templates for CRISPR correction and insertion experiments

DAY 09 — Structural and Functional Interpretation of CRISPR Systems

1. Structural overview of Cas proteins — domains, functional regions, and their roles in editing
2. Protein-RNA-DNA interaction concepts — how Cas9 recognises, binds, and cleaves its target
3. Visualisation of Cas complexes using structural biology resources — interpreting 3D structures of CRISPR machinery
4. Mechanistic understanding of PAM recognition, target strand binding, and nuclease cleavage
5. Translational relevance of Cas protein structure in precision genome engineering and therapeutic design

📌 Learning Outcome: Interpret the 3D structure of CRISPR-Cas complexes and connect structural features to mechanistic and therapeutic understanding

DAY 10 — Applications, Case Integration, and Workshop Conclusion

1. Integration of the complete CRISPR design workflow — from sequence retrieval to validated guide selection
2. Clinical applications — CRISPR in inherited disorders (sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy), cancer immunotherapy, and functional genomics
3. Discussion of real-world case studies — approved therapies, ongoing clinical trials, and landmark research
4. Limitations, regulatory concerns, and the future of CRISPR-based therapeutics
5. Complete workshop recap — consolidating the learning arc from Day 1 to Day 10
6. Participant Q&A, open discussion, and concluding remarks from the BDG LifeSciences Technical Team

📌 Learning Outcome: Apply the complete CRISPR workflow to real disease targets and articulate the clinical, regulatory, and scientific landscape of gene therapy

NCBI Nucleotide

Target sequence retrieval

Multiple sgRNA Servers

Guide RNA design & prediction

Off-Target Prediction Tools

Specificity & mismatch analysis

sgRNA Quality Servers

Efficiency & GC content scoring

Primer Design Servers

PCR & sequencing primer design

HDR Template Servers

Donor template & homology arm design

Structural Biology Resources

Cas protein 3D visualisation

Base & Prime Editing Tools

pegRNA design & ABE/CBE planning

Master the Complete CRISPR Design Workflow — End to End

Most CRISPR courses teach the concept. This workshop teaches the workflow. By Day 10 you will have independently completed a full CRISPR pipeline — from retrieving a target gene sequence, designing and ranking sgRNAs, running off-target analysis, scoring efficiency, designing primers, building HDR templates, and interpreting Cas protein structure. This is the workflow used in real research labs and published papers.

10 Days of Structured Depth — Not a Rushed Overview

The expanded 10-day format was deliberately designed to give participants the time and depth that CRISPR technology deserves. Day 1 builds foundations. Days 2–3 introduce the design workflow. Days 4–6 develop evaluation and specificity skills. Days 7–8 cover advanced editing strategies. Days 9–10 address structural understanding and real-world clinical integration. Each day builds on the last — no gaps, no jumps.

Learn Advanced Topics Most CRISPR Courses Never Cover

Base editing, prime editing, pegRNA design, HDR template architecture, homology arm design, chromatin accessibility effects on guide efficiency, and structural interpretation of Cas proteins — these are advanced topics that define the frontier of CRISPR research. This workshop covers all of them, in depth, with guided practical sessions.

Directly Applicable to Your Research and Publications

Every analysis performed in this workshop — sgRNA design tables, off-target reports, efficiency scores, primer designs, HDR template maps — is directly usable in your thesis, dissertation, grant proposal, or research paper. Participants leave with real outputs, not just theoretical understanding. These are standard components of CRISPR-based publications.

Understand the Clinical & Regulatory Landscape of Gene Therapy

Day 10 integrates the entire workshop into a clinical context — discussing approved therapies (including Casgevy for sickle cell disease), ongoing clinical trials, regulatory frameworks, germline editing ethics, and the future trajectory of CRISPR-based medicine. This translational understanding is what separates technically capable researchers from scientifically rounded professionals.

Earn a Globally Recognized Certificate with Unique Barcode

Participants who successfully complete all assigned tasks receive a BDG LifeSciences Certificate of Completion carrying a unique barcode for independent verification — recognized by academic institutions and employers across India, Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. Add it to your LinkedIn, portfolio, or university application immediately.

Career Relevance in One of the Fastest-Growing Fields in Medicine

The global CRISPR and gene therapy market is projected to exceed $38 billion by 2030. Pharma companies, CROs, genomics firms, and academic institutions are actively hiring scientists with verifiable, hands-on CRISPR expertise. This workshop and certificate directly strengthens your profile for roles in computational genomics, gene editing research, drug discovery, molecular biology, and clinical research.

Session Recordings — Revisit Every Step of Every Analysis

Every session is recorded and shared with participants after each class via YouTube. CRISPR design workflows involve multi-step server-based analyses — the recordings allow you to pause, rewind, and re-run every step at your own pace until each task is fully mastered.

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Students

B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., MBBS, MD, M.Pharm students in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, and related disciplines

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Researchers & Academics

Research scholars, post-doctoral researchers, faculty, and professors who want to incorporate CRISPR design workflows into their research, strengthen grant applications, or teach CRISPR methodology at an advanced level

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Industry Professionals

Scientists and professionals from pharmaceutical R&D, biotech companies, CROs, genomics and diagnostics firms, clinical research organisations, and regulatory agencies who need verified, practical CRISPR expertise

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Wet-Lab Scientists

Experimental biologists planning CRISPR experiments who need to independently design sgRNAs, assess off-target risks, design validation primers, and create HDR templates — without relying on a separate computational team

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Drug Discovery Scientists

Medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and target validation scientists who want to understand CRISPR-based functional genomics, target knockouts, gene correction strategies, and base editing approaches for therapeutic target validation

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Clinical & Medical Professionals

Resident doctors, clinician-researchers, and medical professionals in oncology, haematology, rare diseases, and genomic medicine who want to understand how CRISPR-based therapies work at the molecular and clinical level

Technical Team | BDG LifeSciences

CRISPR Research & Computational Genomics Division

This 10-Day CRISPR and Gene Therapy Workshop is delivered by the BDG LifeSciences Technical Team — a group of specialists with advanced, hands-on expertise in CRISPR-Cas9 analysis, guide RNA design workflows, in silico off-target assessment, single-cell RNA sequencing, cancer genomics, bioinformatics pipeline development, and gene regulatory network modelling.

The team has extensive experience working with high-throughput genomics datasets, tumour microenvironment profiling, differential gene expression analysis, and computational biology pipelines using globally recognized platforms. Their combined expertise ensures that every session in this workshop reflects real-world CRISPR research methodology aligned with international scientific standards — not simplified textbook examples.

The Technical Team has published research in reputable peer-reviewed journals, presented at international scientific conferences, and guided student and institutional research projects across India, Australia, and internationally. Their instruction combines deep theoretical understanding with practical server-based demonstrations — the same workflow they apply in their own research.

Pioneer of CRISPR Workshops Since May 2017

BDG LifeSciences introduced the first CRISPR/Cas9 workshop in India in May 2017 — years before it became mainstream in training programmes globally. We have continuously updated and expanded our CRISPR curriculum to reflect the latest science, tools, and clinical developments. This 10-day programme is the most advanced version of that curriculum to date.

Live Expert Team — Not Pre-Recorded Content

Every session is delivered live by the BDG LifeSciences Technical Team in real time. Participants can ask questions, raise errors, request re-demonstration of any step, and receive personalised guidance mid-session. This is the critical difference between a passive online course and an interactive expert-led training programme.

Workflow-Based Learning — Theory Applied to Real Targets

This programme is not a lecture series about CRISPR. It is a workflow-based training that uses real disease-associated genes as targets throughout — participants design sgRNAs, run off-target analysis, evaluate efficiency scores, build primers, and construct HDR templates for real biological targets. Every output is directly relevant to research and publication.

Globally Trusted & Officially Registered

MSME-registered under the Government of India (UDYAM-UP-01-0019151) and officially authorised to operate in Australia and New Zealand via BBR Group Pty Ltd (ACN 608 550 849). Our certificates carry a unique verification barcode and are recognized by academic institutions and employers globally.

From Fundamentals to Frontier — All in One Programme

The 10-day structure is specifically designed to cover not just Cas9 basics, but also the frontier topics that define the current direction of CRISPR research — base editing, prime editing, pegRNA design, chromatin accessibility effects, structural analysis of Cas proteins, and allosteric targeting. Participants emerge with both foundational competence and advanced expertise.

Verified Certificate — A Credible Career Credential

The BDG LifeSciences Certificate of Completion is issued with a unique barcode for independent verification. It demonstrates that the holder has completed a structured, trainer-assessed, 10-day hands-on CRISPR design programme — a far more credible credential than a self-paced online course completion badge.

Q. What exactly is covered in this 10-day CRISPR workshop?

This workshop covers the complete CRISPR and gene therapy landscape across four structured phases: Phase 1 (Days 1–3) covers CRISPR foundations, gene therapy concepts, and the complete sgRNA design workflow including sequence retrieval and multi-server guide prediction. Phase 2 (Days 4–6) covers advanced sgRNA quality evaluation, off-target analysis and specificity assessment, and editing efficiency scoring. Phase 3 (Days 7–8) covers base editing, prime editing, pegRNA design, primer design, and HDR template construction. Phase 4 (Days 9–10) covers structural interpretation of Cas proteins and real-world clinical applications, case studies, and concluding integration of the full workflow.

Q. Do I need prior CRISPR or bioinformatics experience to attend this workshop?

No. Day 1 begins from the very beginning — genes, genomes, mutations, and an introduction to genome editing tools. No prior knowledge of CRISPR, bioinformatics, or computational biology is required. The programme is specifically designed to be accessible to participants at undergraduate, postgraduate, and early research levels. The live trainer guides every session step by step, and recordings are shared after every class so nothing is missed.

Q. What is the difference between this 10-day programme and the earlier 5-day CRISPR workshop?

The 10-day format was developed from the 5-day workshop by expanding the curriculum to include greater pedagogic depth, improved practical continuity, and entirely new modules that were not covered in the shorter format. These new additions include a dedicated session on sgRNA efficiency and editing performance assessment, a full session on base editing and prime editing with pegRNA design, a session on HDR template and primer design using multiple servers, and a dedicated session on structural and functional interpretation of Cas proteins. The 10-day format is a significantly more comprehensive and professionally relevant training experience.

Q. What tools and servers will be used during the workshop?

The workshop uses a combination of NCBI databases for sequence retrieval, multiple sgRNA prediction and quality evaluation servers, dedicated off-target analysis platforms, primer design servers (3 platforms), HDR template design servers (2 platforms), structural biology resources for Cas protein visualisation, and base and prime editing design tools. All tools are web-based and freely accessible — no paid software licenses or high-performance computing resources are required.

Q. What is the session duration and how are sessions delivered?

Each of the 10 sessions runs for 60 to 90 minutes and is delivered live via Zoom. The delivery format combines interactive lecture components, guided server-based demonstrations, practical hands-on exercises, conceptual diagrams, and discussion-based recap segments at the end of each session. Participants work on their own computer or laptop throughout. The meeting link is sent to all registered participants after the registration period closes.

Q. Are sessions recorded? What if I miss a day?

Yes. Every session is recorded and shared with all registered participants after each class via YouTube, using the Gmail ID you provide during registration. If you miss a session, you can complete all assigned tasks by watching the recording at your own pace. The programme is self-paced for revision purposes. Please register with the Gmail ID you actively use on YouTube to ensure seamless access to all 10 session recordings.

Q. Will I receive a certificate on completion?

Yes. A BDG LifeSciences Certificate of Completion is awarded to every participant who successfully completes all tasks assigned by the Technical Team across the 10 days. The certificate is issued as a professional digital softcopy via email, carrying a unique barcode for independent verification by employers, universities, and research institutions. You may print it, laminate it, add it to your LinkedIn profile, or include it in job applications and academic submissions. It will be issued exactly as per the name and details provided during registration.

Q. What is base editing and prime editing, and why are they covered in this workshop?

Base editing and prime editing are next-generation CRISPR-based genome editing strategies that allow precise DNA changes without creating double-strand breaks — making them safer and more precise than standard CRISPR-Cas9 for many therapeutic applications. Base editors (adenine and cytosine) convert one nucleotide into another at a specific position. Prime editing uses a pegRNA to write new genetic information directly into a target site. These technologies are now in clinical trials and represent the current frontier of CRISPR therapeutics. Day 7 covers both in depth, including pegRNA design concepts and selection criteria for when each approach is most appropriate.

Q. What is an HDR template and why does it matter in CRISPR research?

HDR stands for Homology-Directed Repair — a DNA repair pathway that can be harnessed after CRISPR creates a double-strand break to insert a specific, researcher-designed DNA sequence at the cut site. An HDR template (also called a donor template) is the DNA construct that carries the desired genetic correction or insertion, flanked by homology arms that guide its integration into the genome. Day 8 covers the full design of HDR templates and validation primers using multiple bioinformatics servers — a practical skill that is essential for gene correction experiments in both research and therapeutic contexts.

Q. How will this workshop benefit my PhD research or publications?

Every deliverable produced in this workshop — sgRNA design tables with quality and specificity scores, off-target analysis reports, efficiency rankings, primer designs, and HDR template maps — is directly usable in your thesis, dissertation, or research paper. These are standard components of computational CRISPR methodology sections in published journals. Additionally, understanding CRISPR at this depth significantly strengthens PhD applications, research fellowship proposals, and grant submissions in any genomics or molecular biology field.