A truly unique event for the NGS community
For two days, the EMBL conference venue was filled with science, networking, and inspiration. The NGS Innovation Summit brought together around 200 participants from 17 countries, all united by one powerful application: Next Generation Sequencing.
With 20 internationally renowned speakers, the summit delivered a high-level scientific program covering a diverse range of topics, including Epigenetics, Human Genetics, Clinical Diagnostics, Surveillance Sequencing, RNA Sequencing and much more.
The networking opportunities were lively used to make valuable connections among like-minded scientists and leading minds in the European NGS community. Alongside NEB, 10 partner companies were on-site, for exciting discussions about the latest tools, platforms, and automation solutions.
The feedback was overwhelming, and we thank everyone for their engagement that made this event truly exceptional. We’re already looking forward to reconnecting at the next NGS Innovation Summit in 2027!
“The summit was an exhilarating blend of scientific innovation and social interaction, arguably making it one of the most engaging events I’ve ever participated in.
The chance to speak directly with the brilliant minds behind various assays was invaluable. I gained insights and practical tips to enhance our work’s efficiency and impact.
Events like these are a reminder of the vibrant, collaborative spirit that drives our field forward. I’m already looking forward to the next one!”
Wencke Walter, Head of Innovation, Munich Leukemia Laboratory,
Speaker NGS Innovation Summit 2025
Explore the comprehensive agenda of the NGS Innovation Summit, featuring a diverse array of sessions covering the latest advances and applications in Next-Generation Sequencing.
Wednesday, October 1st, 2025
| 09:30 – 10:00 am | Registration | |
| 10:00 – 10:15 am | |
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Welcome Carsten Lanwert General Manager, New England Biolabs GmbH, Frankfurt |
| 10:15 – 10:45 am | |
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Clinical application & interpretation of RNA-Seq data Wencke Walter Head of Innovation Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Munich |
| 10:45 – 11:15 am | |
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Whole-genome rare-variant analysis of 400 alopecia areata patients Fabian Brand Bioinformatician / Post-Doc, Clinic for Dermatology, Human Genetics, University Hospital Bonn |
| 11:15 – 11:45 am | Coffee Break – Sponsored by Analytik Jena | |
| 11:45 am – 12:15 pm | |
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Epigenetic analyses then and now Ivo Gut Director, Centro Nacional de Analisis Genomico CNAG, Barcelona |
| 12:15 – 12:45 pm | |
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Non-canonical epigenome regulation in development and disease Alexander Meissner Director and Head of the Dept. of Genome Regulation, MPI of Molecular Genetics, Berlin |
| 12:45 – 01:45 pm | Lunch Break – Sponsored by Agilent | |
| 01:45 – 02:15 pm | |
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Implementation of whole-genome sequencing from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens (FFPE) in molecular pathology diagnostic workflow Matthias Hamdorf Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Bonn |
| 02:15 – 02:45 pm | |
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NEBNext UltraShear – a versatile workflow for WES and WGS from challenging material Michaela Pogoda Scientist | Development and Automation NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), University Hospital Tübingen |
| 02:45 – 03:15 pm | |
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Clinical whole genome sequencing for routine cancer diagnostics and care Edwin Cuppen Scientific Director Hartwig Medical Foundation, Amsterdam |
| 03:15 – 03:45 pm | Coffee Break – Sponsored by Tecan | |
| 03:45 – 04:15 pm | |
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MGI-compatible NEB library preps. Seeing is believing Davide Cacchiarelli Professor of Molecular Biology Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics School of Medicine, Naples |
| 04:15 – 05:00 pm | |
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My 40 years with DNA sequencing Vladimir Benes Head of Genomics Core Facility EMBL, Heidelberg |
| 05:00 – 05:30 pm | |
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Products with a purpose – enabling genomic innovation Salvatore Russello Chief Executive Officer, New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, United States |
| 06:00 – 10:00 pm | Social Evening – Dinner, Drinks & DJ | |
Thursday, October 2nd, 2025
| 08:30 – 09:00 am | Registration | |
| 09:00 – 09:30 am | |
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NEBNext portfolio development Andrew Barry Associate Director, Portfolio Management, NGSMarketing NEBNext, New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, United States |
| 09:30 – 10:00 am | |
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What matters in your long-read sequencing projects Marta Gut Head of the Sequencing Unit, CNAG, Barcelona |
| 10:00 – 10:30 am | |
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Protocol implementation in a facility setting: Novel low-bias small-RNA Stephanie Falk Post-Doc Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg |
| 10:30 – 11:15 am | Coffee Break – Sponsored by Beckman Coulter | |
| 11:15 – 11:45 am | |
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Advantages and limitations of liquid handling in NGS library preparations Ferris Jung Senior Engineer for NGS Automation, EMBL, Heidelberg |
| 11:45 am – 12:15 pm | |
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Application of Ultima Genomics sequencing for crops with large genomes Richard Feron Scientist Molecular Technology Innovation, BASF Vegetable Seeds, Nunhems |
| 12:15–01:15 pm | Lunch Break – Sponsored by Hamilton | |
| 01:15 – 01:45 pm | |
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NGS-based pathogen characterization and animal disease diagnostic Dirk Höper Lab Head, Institute of Diagnostic Virology (IVD), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald |
| 01:45 – 02:15 pm | |
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Understanding intra-host evolution of viral pathogens Jonas Fuchs Lead Scientist NGS laboratory – Bioinformatician, Institute for Virology, University Medical Centre, Freiburg |
| 02:15 – 02:45 pm | |
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Advancing infectious disease surveillance with genomic sequencing Somayyeh Sedaghatjoo Senior Scientist, Genome Competence Center, RKI, Berlin |
| 02:45 – 03:15pm | |
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Look to the Future: Upcoming Products from NEB Nicole Nichols Executive Director of Applications and Product Development, New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, United States |
We are proud to present renowned experts from academia, industry and public bodies who will showcase a wide range of expertise on various NGS applications.
Confirmed Speaker:
Vladimir Benes
Head of Genomics Core Facility
EMBL, Heidelberg
Ivo Gut
Director, Centro Nacional de Analisis Genomico
CNAG, Barcelona
Alexander Meissner
Director and Head of the Dept. of Genome Regulation
MPI of Molecular Genetics, Berlin
Wencke Walter
Head of Innovation
Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Munich
Edwin Cuppen
Scientific Director
Hartwig Medical Foundation, Amsterdam
Matthias Hamdorf
Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Bonn
Richard Feron
Scientist Molecular Technology Innovation
BASF Vegetable Seeds, Nunhems
Ferris Jung
Senior Engineer for NGS Automation
EMBL, Heidelberg
Davide Cacchiarelli
Professor of Molecular Biology
Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics
School of Medicine, Naples
Jonas Fuchs
Lead Scientist NGS laboratory – Bioinformatician
Institute for Virology, University Medical Centre, Freiburg
Andrew Barry
Associate Director, Product Portfolio Management, NGS
New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, USA
Somayyeh Sedaghatjoo
Senior Scientist
Genome Competence Center, RKI, Berlin
Stephanie Falk
Post-Doc
Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg
Dirk Höper
Lab Head
Institute of Diagnostic Virology (IVD), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald
Marta Gut
Head of the Sequencing Unit
CNAG, Barcelona, Spain
Michaela Pogoda
Scientist | Development and Automation
NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT),
University Hospital Tübingen
Fabian Brand
Bioinformatician / Post-Doc, Clinic for Dermatology
Human Genetics, University Hospital Bonn
Carsten Lanwert
General Manager
New England Biolabs GmbH, Frankfurt
Nicole Nichols
Executive Director of Applications and Product Development
New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, United States
Salvatore Russello
Chief Executive Officer
New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, United States
Venue of the NGS Innovation Summit is the Advanced Training Centre (ATC) of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg.
Address
EMBL Heidelberg
Meyerhofstraße 1
Advanced Training Centre (ATC)
69117 Heidelberg Germany
Travel
EMBL Heidelberg is a 10-15 minute drive from Heidelberg’s city centre and main station.
Car
EMBL is located in Meyerhofstraße in the forest (on your right, shortly after you have left Boxberg).
The Carpark P1 is located on the left hand side after turning into Meyerhofstraße.
Train and long distance bus
Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is located close to the city centre. It is well connected to the majority of European countries either by express or regional trains.
Public transport around Heidelberg:
The Bus 28 (direction Mombertplatz) regularly runs to EMBL from Heidelberg Neuenheim via Hauptbahnhof Süd and Alois-Link-Platz.
Airports
Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) – 82 km
The closest and most convenient airport for Heidelberg.
The Lufthansa Airport Shuttle Bus from Frankfurt International Airport to Heidelberg can be used for your transfers.
About EMBL
With support from more than 30 countries, laboratories at six sites across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a powerhouse of biological expertise. EMBL is an intergovernmental organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg, and was founded in 1974 with the mission of promoting molecular biology research in Europe, training young scientists, and developing new technologies.
EMBL currently employs more than 1800 people in Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Heidelberg, EMBL-EBI Hinxton (near Cambridge), and Rome.
Publishing hundreds of research articles and hosting dozens of conferences every year, EMBL is driving visionary fundamental research, and training Europe’s future scientific talent.
The partner companies will be present at the NGS Innovation Summit with a company booth providing you a unique opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and technical experts to explore the latest advancements, technologies, and innovations in the field of next-generation sequencing. You can ask specific questions and receive personalized advice tailored to your research needs.
Main Sponsor and Organizer:
Lunch Break Sponsor:
Coffee Break Sponsor:
Exhibition Sponsor:
