Webinars

Standardization in microbiome measurements: Considerations from sampling to analysis

Microbiomes are complex systems, and gaining insights often requires analysis of large data sets from large numbers of samples. Microbiome measurements are subject to the introduction of error and bias at many steps and robust analysis requires overcoming challenges due to variability introduced during collection, extraction, and downstream applications. The lack of precise methods, standardized procedures, reference materials and quality control metrics for analyzing microbiomes limits reproducibility/comparability among studies (at best), and can lead to discordant data interpretation and false inferences (at worst); ultimately, limiting progress in identifying specific disease modulatory mechanisms in microbiome research. The microbiome field can only reach its translational potential when hypotheses are rigorously tested with optimized and reproducible methods.

In this webinar, the experts at CoreBiome and DNA Genotek cover a range of topics on microbiome standardization, including:

• Best practices in experimental design and computation analysis,
• Overcoming informatics interpretation challenges,
• New algorithms and software tools that enable new types of biomarker discovery in microbiome data, and
• The application of these tools to clinically relevant human and primate studies.

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High Quality Libraries for Human WGS with Direct Saliva Input

Experts in DNA sequencing and DNA from saliva talk about what's trending in whole genome sequencing (WGS). Joshua Burgess, Manager of Research and Development at Illumina, and Rafal Iwasiow, Vice President of Research and Development at DNA Genotek, will discuss why human genomic research is moving towards WGS and what this means for research study design and planning. They will also look at the viability of saliva as a DNA sample source, as compared to blood, for whole genome sequencing using Illumina's Nextera DNA Flex to produce high quality libraries for WGS.

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The Key to Eliminating Bias in Genetic Studies Could be in Our Spit

In recent years, saliva has emerged as an increasingly useful source of DNA, making its mark in epigenetic studies of psychiatric diseases, diagnosing HIV, and in the rise of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. The ease of which a saliva sample can be collected and its ability to be stored at room temperature without DNA degradation has allowed for the increased inclusion of children and under-represented, non-European populations in genetic studies. But does the quality and integrity of DNA from saliva match up to the standard? A panel of experts including: Dr. Joan O’Brien, chair of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Ophthalmology and Dr. Alicia Smith, Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine, come together to discuss the benefits and drawbacks on the use of saliva DNA in genetic studies and how it’s currently being used to diminish biases in our databases and uncovering the role of epigenetics in psychiatric disorders.

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Microbiome-centric human health: a call for systems biology

Research to date has implicated microbial activity in autoimmune disease, cancer, and the obesity epidemic. As a major source of variability across people, understanding and altering an individual's microbiome is both a challenge and novel avenue for personalized medicine and nutrition. Dr. Eran Segal of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel shares his research using OMNIgene·GUT, summarizes the state of the science, and discuss the next steps in developing personalized microbiome-based therapies.

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Curating massive amounts of biological material and phenotypic data for robust & reproducible microbiome discovery

Over 100 microbiome-centred therapeutics programs are currently moving through clinical development. Venture and industry investment in the field has topped $1B in the past 5 years. Over that same period, academic research funding has seen compound growth exceeding 20% per year. Of these enormous inputs, what proportion has generated real insight and how much of this output is noise? This short talk will highlight solutions DNA Genotek has deployed for its customers conducting population-scale research and delivering Direct-to-Consumer insights. We make curating massive amounts of biological material and phenotypic information scalable and reproducible.

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Integrating the Microbiome into Your Research

Watch this presentation highlighting how you can effectively integrate the microbiome into any genetic research project.

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Overcoming Challenges in DNA Sample Acquisition for Cancer Research

Obtaining high quality genomic DNA is critical for studies that aim to evaluate the role of genetic factors in cancer. However, cancer research studies often require very large numbers of samples from a dispersed population and non-invasive methods for DNA collection. Saliva samples, which are painless for the donor and relatively easily collected, are quickly becoming the preferred choice. Cancer research groups around the world are now focusing on the potential of this common bodily fluid for detecting the genetic link to the disease and studying genes.

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