Showcase of advanced sequencing technologies and their uses

March 2026: The One Health Genomics Edinburgh and Edinburgh Infectious Diseases networks came together for an afternoon discussing the uses of advanced sequencing technologies for infectious disease research (AASTID).

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AASTID speakers. From L-R: Kyle Ewart, Ross Fitzgerald, Natalie Ring, Antonia Chalka, Katerina Guschanski, Nick Loman, Adela Alcolea Medina, Joshua Dibble, Martin McHugh, manu shukla, Samantha Lycett, Tim Aitman.

Sequencing—reading the DNA or RNA of microbes—is transforming infectious disease research and public health. 

From classic Sanger methods to high‑throughput short‑read systems and portable long‑read devices, today’s tools can identify pathogens directly from samples, link cases in outbreaks, and track how variants evolve. They also reveal antimicrobial resistance and virulence markers, guiding treatment and infection control. 

AASTID brought together researchers using these approaches across viruses, bacteria, and fungi to turn genomes into actionable intelligence for surveillance, clinical care, and policy.

Two keynotes

We were delighted to be joined by two keynotes: Dr Adela Alcolea-Medina, Clinical Scientist at St Thomas' Hospital, Synnovis, and Kings College London and Professor Nick Loman, Director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham.

Both keynotes are experts in their fields with Dr Alcolea-Medina discussing next generation sequencing initiatives particularly long-read sequencing, metagenomics, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Profess Loman's talk provided an overview of his research which explores the use of cutting-edge genomics and metagenomics approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of infectious disease.

Edinburgh's expertise

As well as our external keynotes, we were joined by a number of Edinburgh-based speakers.

After the first keynote, session one began with Manu Shukla (Biological Sciences) who discussed the dynamics and mechanisms underlying epimutation‑based resistance. Josh Dibble (Institute of Genetics and Cancer) reported initial findings from the DecodeME genome‑wide association study. Nat Ring (Roslin) illustrated One Health applications of nanopore sequencing across a veterinary campus.

Next, in session two, the programme moved from targeted to agnostic pathogen genome sequencing as Martin McHugh (Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh) traced the field’s evolution. Sam Lycett (Roslin) showed how viral sequence data had been leveraged to track avian influenza reassortants. 

In session three, the focus shifted to wildlife and public health. Katerina Guschanski (Biological Sciences)  used museum‑preserved wild animal microbiomes to reconstruct the history of antimicrobial resistance. Kyle Ewart (Roslin) presented adaptive workflows for wildlife diagnostics. Finally, Antonia Chalka (Roslin) explored machine learning, bacteriophages, and phage therapy. 

Oxford Nanopore joins the panel

In addition to the excellent talks, we were joined for the day by representatives from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT).

ONT are leaders in the development of DNA/RNA sequencing technology.

Sesssion two concluded with a panel featuring Jonathan McHugh, UK and Ireland Sales Director for Oxford Nanopore Technologies, the two keynotes Adela Alcolea-Medina and Nick Loman, alongside speakers Nat Ring, Martin McHugh and Lee Murphy from Edinburgh Genomics. The panel, chaired by Ross Fitzgerald, discussed the future of sequencing in infectious disease research and clinical care.

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Sponsors

We are very grateful to Oxford Nanaopore Technologies for generously sponsoring this event.  

We are also very pleased to have financial support from the Centre for Tropical Livestock, Genetics and Health, Edinburgh Infectious Diseases and One Health Genomics Edinburgh.

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