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AAV Empty-Full Analysis: One-Day Course on Viral Vector Purity

  • April 29, 2025

Registration is not available at this time.

new course

Why should you attend?

Manufacturers ensure the quality of their medicines by defining, monitoring, and controlling critical quality attributes (CQAs). Gene therapy products are predominantly viral vector-based and are more chemically and physically complex compared to traditional biopharmaceuticals such as protein therapeutics. They are comprised of a large protein capsid enclosing a nucleic acid payload, which necessitates CQAs that are in many ways different from other modalities. One specific challenge with using viral vectors is the presence of empty or partially filled vectors which do not contain the full therapeutic nucleic acid payload. Many analytical tools have been customized to analyze the ratio of empty and full capsids, each with its own benefits and shortcomings.

Enroll in this one-day course for interactive lectures and hands-on labs related to adeno-associated virus (AAV) empty-full analysis. Analytical methods covered include:

  • Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) session, the gold standard
  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) lab, a visual assessment of capsid content
  • High-performance liquid chromatography size exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering (HPLC-SE / MALS) lab, a multi-attribute, rapid assessment of purity
  • ddPCR lab and PCR/ELISA workshop, an approach conducive for upstream samples

Who should attend

This course will benefit those looking to learn about one of the key challenges in AAV-based gene therapy analytics. Our list of satisfied participants comes from a variety of positions in biomanufacturing and supporting industries including manufacturing associates, scientists, engineers, quality associates, and sales professionals.

We welcome those who are:

  • New to the field or transitioning to a role in gene therapy
  • Development scientists seeking an enhanced understanding of supporting analytic methods
  • Managers and directors interested in broadening in their expertise
  • Quality assurance professionals interested in learning more about the science and theory of gene therapies
  • Sales professionals looking to better understand the landscape of available analytical equipment and products

Attend and you will receive

  • 1 day (8 hours) of instruction
  • Notebook containing all course lecture and lab materials
  • Morning coffee and tea
  • Lunch
  • Certificate of completion

Instructors

Fee

$799

Location

The Golden LEAF BTEC building is located at 850 Oval Drive on NC State University's Centennial Campus.

If a course is full: Waitlist policy

If a course you want to take is already full, you are welcome to email mswoodya@ncsu.edu and ask to be placed on a waitlist for that course. The waitlist is used to fill any seats that become available when individuals registered for the course are unable to attend. If one or more seats become available, individuals on the waitlist are contacted in the order in which they were added to the list.

In addition to ensuring popular courses remain full, waitlists provide a means of tracking interest and determining if additional sessions are necessary. BTEC makes every effort to schedule additional course offerings if sufficient people are wait-listed. If a new offering is scheduled, those on the waitlist are notified before registration opens to the public.

Placement on a waitlist does not commit individuals to attending a course. It simply ensures that they are given first opportunity to enroll if a seat becomes available in a full course and that they are among the first to know if an additional course offering is scheduled during the current year.

BTEC is unable to provide information about the number of those wait-listed for any given course or an individual's place on such a list.

Payment

BTEC requires payment by credit card at the time of registration. BTEC accepts payment from all major credit cards including American Express, Visa, and MasterCard.

After registration, a payment receipt is automatically emailed. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folders.

Any additional questions prior to registration should be directed to mswoodya@ncsu.edu.

Discounts available

A 20% discount is available for NIIMBL members for the following courses:

Check out BTEC’s professional development certificate program for an additional way to save money on in-person course costs. Any additional discount questions prior to registration should be directed to Serena Hodge, Industry Training Coordinator, at shodge@ncsu.edu.

Cancellation policies

Cancellation by registrant

To cancel a registration and be eligible for a refund of course fees, you must notify BTEC by email to mswoodya@ncsu.edu. Fees are refunded according to the following schedule:

  • 100% refund – If notification is received at least 15 business days in advance of course start date
  • 75% refund – If notification is received 10–14 business days in advance of course start date
  • 50% refund – If notification is received 6–9 business days in advance of course start date
  • No refund will be issued if notice is received 5 or fewer business days in advance of course start

Refunds will take 60–90 days for processing. Refunds requested more than 90 days after payment will be issued as a check.

Substitutions may be made up to two business days prior to the course start date. Notify the BTEC office by emailing shodge@ncsu.edu. Please include the name and email contact for the replacement. Please note that BTEC is unable to honor substitutions for individuals taking discounted courses as part of the professional development certificate program.

Cancellation by BTEC

BTEC retains the right to cancel an in-person course no less than 10 business days in advance of the scheduled course start date. Registrants will be notified by BTEC if a course is cancelled and will receive a full refund of registration fees paid. BTEC is not responsible for airfare penalties or other costs incurred due to cancellation.

Pre-course communication

Upon successful registration for a course, you will receive an automatically-generated email as well as another email from Melody Woodyard confirming your registration. If you do not receive these emails within two business days of registering for a course, please email mswoodya@ncsu.edu to confirm your registration.

Once registered, confirmed course participants will receive a series of emails approximately two weeks before the scheduled course with detailed information regarding travel to BTEC, parking information, and a short pre-course questionnaire.