ASLM 2023
Oxford Nanopore are sponsoring, exhibiting and presenting at this event.
The Oxford Nanopore breakfast seminar, Rapid and scalable infectious disease sequencing and surveillance to combat outbreaks and characterise drug resistance profiles, will take place in Room 2.4.1-2.4.6 on Friday 15th December between 07:00 - 09:00.
Please check below for full speaker details and register to save your seat at the seminar.
Please also visit us at Booth #20A if you are able to attend the event.
Speakers
Walaa Mohamed, Clinical Sales Specialist, Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Walaa possesses a wealth of professional experience, having dedicated over a year and a half to her role as a Senior Field Scientist with the Genomics Consultant Solution team at Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Recently, she transitioned to the Clinical Specialist team within the same organization. Walaa has accumulated over a decade of experience in genetics and genomics research, during which time she has developed a strong inclination toward elucidating the genetic variants that cause rare genetic disorders in the Arab population. Before joining Oxford Nanopore, Walaa held the position of Research and Development Scientist, during which time she significantly contributed to the supervision of the Emirati Genome Project's validation phase. Walaa graduated from the prestigious Autonomous University of Barcelona with a Ph.D. in Human Genetics. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the investigation of novel mutations causing hearing loss, underscoring her commitment to furthering knowledge regarding the complexities of genetics in relation to human health. Her extensive professional experience and scholarly education serve to emphasize her dedication to innovative research and her significant contributions to the domain of clinical and genomics.
Representatives from Lasec, Whitehead Scientific and Biotools, - - - Oxford Nanopore distribution partners will share how they improve the accessibility of genomic sequencing across Africa and empower scientists, researchers, and clinicians to make advancements that will transform human health.
Justin O'Grady, Senior Director, Translational Applications, Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Prof Justin O'Grady gained his BSc, MSc and PhD in microbiology and infectious diseases at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG). He remained at NUIG for his first post-doc, focussing on foodborne pathogens. This was followed by a two-year stint in industry (Beckman Coulter) developing real-time PCR based tests for infectious diseases. Prof O’Grady then returned to academia, taking a post-doc position at University College London on TB diagnostics. In January 2013 he was appointed Assistant Professor in Medical Microbiology at the University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK), was promoted to Associate Professor in August 2016 and promoted to Professor in January 2021. He was seconded to the University of Cambridge during the COVID pandemic as Deputy Director of COG-UK, to help lead the UK’s SARS-CoV-2 sequencing effort. He then joined Oxford Nanopore Technologies as Senior Director of Translational Applications in June 2021. His research continues to focus on the development of rapid diagnostic tests, to maximise community and patient benefit.
Genomics Core platform with interest in One Health, viral and bacterial metagenomics studies in infant sepsis, inflammation and co infection with Malaria, human population genetics, pathogen and vector evolution: Africa exceeds every continent on Earth in genetic diversity. There is exponential growth in the interest and implementation of genomics research in Africa. The resurgence of emerging or re-emerging disease epidemics in our sub-region and the inadequacy of local biological diagnostic capacities increased the urgent need for regional capacities for the early detection and control of public health threats and/or diseases with epidemic potential. Genomic surveillance leverages advances in molecular biology to discover pathogens, track their evolution, characterize their differentiation into new lineages and variants, and determine chains of transmission and sources of infection. A Regional Reference Laboratory Network (RRLN) of ECOWAS member countries was established by WAHO, with the objective of improving the quality and accessibility of biological diagnostics in West Africa. The unit genomics platform was designated as one of the 3 Centres of Excellence set up for the West Africa sub-region. The ability to undertake detailed genomics analysis locally is critical in creating a deeper independent understanding of the public health issues faced in The Gambia and more widely across Africa.The move towards high throughput technologies, easily accessible technology provided by ONT platform has increased the unit genomics sequencing and data output. The genomics platform at MRCG at LSHTM, with wide of range of research areas conducted in the unit, has strengthen current capabilities and contributed to the establishment of a centre of excellence for establishing SOP and protocols, supporting acquisition of the ONT platform, and training in the sub-region. I will describe some of our pathogen genomics project, protocol development, in human, animal and environmental health.
Genomics Core platform with interest in One Health, viral and bacterial metagenomics studies in infant sepsis, inflammation and co infection with Malaria, human population genetics, pathogen and vector evolution: Africa exceeds every continent on Earth in genetic diversity. There is exponential growth in the interest and implementation of genomics research in Africa. The resurgence of emerging or re-emerging disease epidemics in our sub-region and the inadequacy of local biological diagnostic capacities increased the urgent need for regional capacities for the early detection and control of public health threats and/or diseases with epidemic potential. Genomic surveillance leverages advances in molecular biology to discover pathogens, track their evolution, characterize their differentiation into new lineages and variants, and determine chains of transmission and sources of infection. A Regional Reference Laboratory Network (RRLN) of ECOWAS member countries was established by WAHO, with the objective of improving the quality and accessibility of biological diagnostics in West Africa. The unit genomics platform was designated as one of the 3 Centres of Excellence set up for the West Africa sub-region. The ability to undertake detailed genomics analysis locally is critical in creating a deeper independent understanding of the public health issues faced in The Gambia and more widely across Africa.The move towards high throughput technologies, easily accessible technology provided by ONT platform has increased the unit genomics sequencing and data output. The genomics platform at MRCG at LSHTM, with wide of range of research areas conducted in the unit, has strengthen current capabilities and contributed to the establishment of a centre of excellence for establishing SOP and protocols, supporting acquisition of the ONT platform, and training in the sub-region. I will describe some of our pathogen genomics project, protocol development, in human, animal and environmental health.
Abdul Sesay, Assistant Professor and Head of Genomics Strategic Core Platform, MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM