Trending Topics at the Festival of Genomics 2023
- 3rd February 2023
- Posted by: Breige McBride
- Category: Events
The Festival of Genomics and Biodata is the UK’s largest genomics event. This year’s event took place at the Business Design Centre in London on the 25th and 26th of January and was the first in-person version of the event since 2020. The Fios Genomics team, like many attendees, were excited to once again be attending in person and learning about this year’s trending topics.
Trending Topics at the Festival of Genomics
Whether our team were answering delegate’s bioinformatics questions at our exhibitor booth, or attending some of the many expert talks happening over the course of the Festival, some key topics came up again and again.
Long-read sequencing
There was much discussion at the Festival about advances in long-read sequencing. As long-read sequencing technology develops, its use is becoming much more common place. Researchers are more readily leveraging the advantages of the technology, which include the ability to span genomic regions that are typically difficult to characterise. Long-read sequencing can also capture whole transcripts, allowing for the investigation of alternative splicing and fusion detection.
Big Data
Big data was top of mind for many at the Festival. There was a lot of feeling that the COVID-19 pandemic and the data it is generating, provides an opportunity to accelerate how we process, access and communicate data within the medical research community. However, the challenges that big data presents were also at the forefront of these discussions. Many in the industry feel that the exchange of data between countries during the pandemic has not worked well. The bottle-neck taking the blame for this is bureaucracy, as obtaining consents and regulatory clearances has been a longer than ideal process for many.
Data infrastructure also appeared to be at the root of some key challenges, such as democratising data access and allowing access in real-time. Another key challenge in the big data space centres on public trust. More specifically, how to engage with the public to build trust around the generation and use of big data.
Spatial Transcriptomics
The Festival was buzzing with mentions of spatial transcriptomics. Many of the expert sessions focused on spatial transcriptomics tools, applications and case studies. Although the first protocols and platforms developed for spatial transcriptomics were not single-cell resolution, it was evident at the festival that new protocols are under development to allow true single-cell or even subcellular resolution. Examples include Stereo-seq and Xenium in situ.
Single-Cell Sequencing
Single-cell sequencing was also one of the trending topics at the Festival of Genomics and Biodata. Discussions at the Festival made it clear that the volume and heterogeneity of single-cell data (coming from different conditions, tissues and species) is increasing. This has led to an increasing need for advances in data integration methods.
The use of single-cell data in clinical practice was also a point of discussion. While using single-cell data in clinical practice will further the understanding of mechanisms of resistance and enable the tailoring of treatment to each patient, cost is currently a barrier.
Those were the main topics that our team were attending talks about and discussing with delegates. As a bioinformatics services provider, we provide analysis solutions for many types of biological data including all those mentioned above. We also make sure we are aware of and knowledgeable about the challenges facing our clients, which is one reason why we attend industry events like the Festival of Genomics and Biodata 2023.
Missed us at the Festival?
There is no need to worry, our team are always available to discuss your bioinformatics needs. Whether you need advice on the most suitable analyses to further your research, or know exactly what you want and just need a quote, we can help. Contact us today!
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