Dr Mark Bruce, Oxford Nanopore Technologies

Unlocking the Future: How Oxford Nanopore Technologies Revolutionize Genomics and Beyond

Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) has introduced a paradigm shift in nucleic acid sequencing through its use of nanopore-based platforms capable of delivering long-read, real-time sequencing data. This presentation will examine the fundamental principles underlaying nanopore sequencing, including the use of membrane-embedded protein nanopores, motor proteins, and raw signal interpretation through machine learning-based basecalling. We will also discuss the technological innovations that differentiate ONT, such as long reads, direct RNA sequencing and methylation detection without chemical modification.
The second part of the talk will focus on the diverse applications of ONT, including genome assembly, metagenomics, epigenomics, cancer detection, and pathogen surveillance. Case studies will illustrate how ONT enables novel experimental designs in both laboratory and field settings. Finally, we will touch on developments aimed at improving the current system as well as new sensing approaches for proteins and small molecules. This session will provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of how ONT platforms can be integrated into cutting-edge genomic workflows across disciplines.