Advanced Applications of Sequencing Technologies for Infectious Diseases

We are delighted to be co-hosting this event – Advanced Applications of Sequencing Technologies for Infectious Diseases (AASTID) – on Wednesday 11 March 2026.

The aim is to connect colleagues across Edinburgh to share advances in sequencing technologies and the downstream genomic and genetic analyses for research in infectious diseases.

Keynote lecture 1: Next Generation Sequencing initiatives - long-read sequencing, metagenomics, and AMR

Our first keynote lecture will be given by Dr Adela Alcolea-Medina, Clinical Scientist at St Thomas' Hospital, Synnovis, and Kings College London.

About Adela

Keynote lecture 2: The role of sequencing technologies in public health

The second keynote presentation will be given by Professor Nick Loman, Director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham.

About Nick

Programme (provisional)

A sandwich lunch will be available from 12 pm, and the first session will start at 12.30 pm.

SESSION 1 
Ross Fitzgerald, EID and Tim Aitman, OHGEIntroduction and welcome
KEYNOTE 1:  Adela Alcolea-Medina, Kings College LondonNext Generation Sequencing initiatives: long-read sequencing, metagenomics, and AMR
Manu Shukla, School of Biological SciencesDynamics and mechanisms of the emergence of epimutation–based resistance 
Josh Dibble, Institute of Genetics and Cancer Initial Findings from the DecodeME Genome-wide Association Study 
Nat Ring, Roslin InstituteOne Health applications of nanopore sequencing across a veterinary campus
Coffee and tea 
SESSION 2 
Martin McHugh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh The evolution of pathogen genome sequencing: targeted to agnostic strategies
Sam Lycett, Roslin InstituteLeveraging viral sequence data for tacking avian influenza reassortants
Panel discussion:  Nat Ring, Lee Murphy, Martin McHughThe future of sequencing in infectious diseases research and clinical care
Leg stretch 
SESSION 3 
Katerina Guschanski, School of Biological SciencesUncovering the history of antimicrobial resistance through sequencing of museum-preserved wild animal microbiomes
Kyle Ewart, Roslin InstituteAdaptive workflows for wildlife diagnostics
Antonia Chalka, Roslin InstituteMachine Learning, Bacteriophage and phage therapy
KEYNOTE 2:  Nick Loman, University of BirminghamThe role of sequencing technologies in public health
CLOSE 

Sponsors

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

Oxford Nanopore Technologies

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.

Centre for Tropical Livestock, Genetics and Health

Edinburgh Infectious Diseases 

One Health Genomics Edinburgh

Logos of units suporting AASTID meeting