Leading the way in genomic science - from biodiversity to biomedicine

08 March 2017
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The Earlham Institute (EI) is hosting two prestigious conferences for leading scientists and industry in life sciences - presenting the latest ground-breaking research and technological developments in genomics.

For the first time, the Earlham Institute will host the Genome 10K (G10K) and the Genome Science conferences, simultaneously. This dual event, organised by EI’s Director of Science and council member of Genome 10k Prof Federica Di Palma, will bring together comparative and conservation genomics, with technological advances and innovative applications of genomics and computational science across plants, animals, microbes and human health.

The G10K community includes scientists representing major zoos, museums, research centres, and universities worldwide dedicated to coordinating efforts for the genomic sequencing and analysis of 10,000 vertebrate species, representing all vertebrate groups. The G10K initiative was founded by David Haussler, Oliver Ryder, and Stephen O'Brien, who launched the project in April 2009 at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The programme is now chaired by Erich Jarvis, a neuroscientist and genome biologist that helped lead the Avian Phylogenomics Initiative.

Founded in 2011 by the UK Next Generation Sequencing DeepSeq facility at the University of Nottingham, Genome Science is the UK’s largest conference centred on genomics, genomic technologies and computational biology. The conference provides a unique opportunity for both academia and industry to share their expertise, innovations and challenges in global genomics research data and cutting edge technologies.

Supported by a wide range of sponsors from international technologies companies to UK funding bodies and local councils, the double conference event will feature a diverse programme of sessions including Evolutionary Genomics, Population Genomics, Clinical and Translational Biology, and Single- Cell Genomics.  World-renowned speakers will come together to present their cutting-edge research to a diverse audience united by a common theme of genomics research; a key link to the research and talent based at the Norwich Research Park.

Participants will be able to extend their professional networks through the scientific poster sessions, social mixer and conference dinners. A number of continuing professional development opportunities are available for student and early-career researchers to build their skill sets. The conference will also host ‘Special Interest Group’ sessions to monitor progress in the genomics and computational biology sectors, and set new milestones for the G10K project.

Prof David Haussler, founding member of G10K, said: “We are now entering a new era for genomics: we can actually sequence the chromosomes of a species, not just scattered, unordered pieces of the genome. Now is the moment where the science takes another leap."

Co-Founder of Genome Science, Prof Mick Watson, said: “Genome Science grew organically from a movement within the UK genomics community, and is now an international conference at the forefront of genomics.  We are hugely excited to have speakers who will discuss their use of new technologies such as long-range sequencing, genome editing and single-cell genomics”

Director of the Earlham Institute, Prof Neil Hall, said: “I am delighted to welcome both of these prestigious conferences, Genome 10K and Genome Science UK to the Earlham Institute, Norwich UK, this summer. The two conferences will provide an outstanding opportunity for researchers and leaders around the globe to exchange information and collaborate around areas of genomic science and technologies. We’re looking forward to an impressive gathering and a tremendous scientific event.”

For further information, including early bird registration details, please see the ‘Genome 10K and Genome Science 2017’ web page.

Notes to editors.

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact:

Hayley London

Marketing & Communications Officer, Earlham Institute (EI)

  • +44 (0)1603 450 107

hayley.london@earlham.ac.uk

About Earlham Institute

The Earlham Institute (EI) is a world-leading research institute focusing on the development of genomics and computational biology. EI is based within the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) - £6.45M in 2015/2016 - as well as support from other research funders. EI operates a National Capability to promote the application of genomics and bioinformatics to advance bioscience research and innovation.

EI offers a state of the art DNA sequencing facility, unique by its operation of multiple complementary technologies for data generation. The Institute is a UK hub for innovative bioinformatics through research, analysis and interpretation of multiple, complex data sets. It hosts one of the largest computing hardware facilities dedicated to life science research in Europe. It is also actively involved in developing novel platforms to provide access to computational tools and processing capacity for multiple academic and industrial users and promoting applications of computational Bioscience. Additionally, the Institute offers a training programme through courses and workshops, and an outreach programme targeting key stakeholders, and wider public audiences through dialogue and science communication activities.

www.earlham.ac.uk

About BBSRC

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.

Funded by Government, BBSRC invested over £509M in world-class bioscience in 2014-15 and is the leading funder of wheat research in the UK (over £100M investment on UK wheat research in the last 10 years). We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes