Oxford Nanopore at PAG 33
)
Overview
Oxford Nanopore will be at Booth 211 in the exhibit hall at the 33rd Plant and Animal Genome Conference in January, 2026, hosted in San Diego. We will also host an Industry Workshop on Monday, January 12. See additional details below.
Industry Workshop
Unlocking a new era of plant and animal genomics with streamlined telomere-level completeness, integrated multiomics, and global accessibility
Date: Monday, January 12
Time: 12:50 - 3:00 PM PT
Location: Town and Country Resort, Ballroom C
Oxford Nanopore invites you to discover how innovations in accessible, information-rich, high-quality sequencing technology are enabling a new era of plant and animal genomics. This industry symposium will showcase how researchers and industries worldwide are applying nanopore technology to deliver truly complete genomes, integrate multiple layers of biological information, and harness decentralized sequencing to unlock insights from crop improvement to biodiversity discovery. With streamlined telomere-to-telomere assemblies, scientists can now achieve gapless genomes without reliance on multiple platforms, democratizing access to reference-quality data. Presentations will also highlight how Oxford Nanopore enables accurate pathogen surveillance in agriculture, supports pangenome population-scale breeding programs, and provides powerful tools for investigating epigenetics and gene regulation to unravel complex traits.
From fundamental genome research to applied agricultural innovation, Oxford Nanopore sequencing is transforming the way scientists investigate genomes, ecosystems, and evolutionary processes. This session offers a unique opportunity to learn how a single, flexible platform is empowering the plant and animal genomics community with complete, actionable, and globally accessible insights.
Agenda
12:50-3:00 PM PT | Talk title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
12:50 - 1:00 PM | Welcome and introductions | Aaron Pomerantz, Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
1:00 - 1:20 PM | You too can T2T: Democratizing telomere-to-telomere assembly | Sergey Koren, NIH/NHGRI |
1:20 -1:40 PM | Driving genome innovation with Oxford Nanopore Technologies: From ultra-long reads to multi-omics | Xiaojun Su, Sailgene |
1:40 - 2:00 PM | Tracking the genomic adaptation of Eastern Filbert blight in the Pacific Northwest using Oxford Nanopore sequencing | Alex Zaccaron, Oregon State University |
2:00 - 2:20 PM | The Chilean 1000 Genomes Project: Adapting from the arid Atacama to the icy Antarctica | Julianna Vianna, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile |
2:20 - 2:40 PM | Single-nucleus transcriptomics and comparative sequencing reveal gene regulation of tomato exodermal suberization under drought | Alexander Wittenberg, KeyGene |
2:40 - 3:00 PM | Networking |
Workshop Speakers
)
Aaron Pomerantz, Director, Global Segment Marketing - Non-Human and Applied Market, Oxford Nanopore TechnologiesAaron Pomerantz is the Director of Global Segment Marketing at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he focuses on Infectious Disease, Microbiology, Biopharma, and AgBio markets.
He earned his PhD in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley, specializing in next-generation sequencing, genome editing, and bioimaging techniques in non-model organisms. He became a National Geographic Explorer in 2014 to establish the use of portable scientific instruments, such as origami microscopes, 3D-printed centrifuges, and handheld DNA sequencers for biodiversity research in the Amazon rainforest.
With over a decade of NGS experience, he is passionate about driving development and awareness of innovative genomic solutions in the life sciences market.
)
Sergey Koren, Bioinformatician, NIH/NHGRISergey received his PhD in computer science in 2012 under the supervision of Mihai Pop at the University of Maryland. He joined the National Bioforensics Analysis Center in 2011 and was appointed as an associate principal investigator in 2014. During this time, he pioneered the use of single-molecule sequencing for the reconstruction of complete genomes. In 2015, he joined the National Human Genome Research Institute as a founding member of the Genome Informatics Section.
His research focuses on the efficient analysis of large-scale genomic datasets and new methods for metagenomic analysis and assembly of high-noise single-molecule sequencing data. His work has allowed the study of previously invisible human genomic regions, corrected errors in the current reference, and led to the first truly complete human genomic sequence. Dr. Koren’s work continues to build on this success so that complete and accurate genomes become routine.
)
Xiaojun Su, Genomic Product Director, SailgeneI am the Genomic Product Director at Sailgene Technology Co. Limited, specializing in Oxford Nanopore sequencing. I focus on ONT-only genome assemblies, including T2T and haplotype-resolved genomes, and on optimizing workflows for complex and challenging samples, enabling high-quality assemblies and integrative analyses across diverse species.
)
Alex Zaccaron, Postdoctoral researcher, Oregon State UniversityAlex Zaccaron is originally from Brazil, where he earned his BS and MS in Computer Science. He completed his PhD in Integrative Genetics and Genomics at UC Davis in 2024. Alex is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Weisberg and LeBoldus labs in the Botany and Plant Pathology department at Oregon State University. His research focuses on comparative genomics and transcriptomics of fungal plant pathogens, with an emphasis on understanding how these organisms evolve to overcome host resistance.
)
Juliana Vianna, Chair of the Chilean 1,000 Genomes Initiative, Institution Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileI am Chair of the Chilean 1,000 Genomes Initiative, a national effort affiliated with the Earth BioGenome Project and ERGA to sequence reference genomes of native Chilean eukaryotic species. I am an Associate Professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Deputy Director of the Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), and Principal Investigator at the Millennium Institute for Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE). My research has significantly advanced knowledge in evolutionary biology, population genetics, and adaptive genomics, with a particular focus on wild vertebrates, including birds and reptiles. I have over 15 years of experience studying seabirds in Antarctica, generating novel hypotheses and findings related to biodiversity, phylogeography, species adaptation, and cryptic speciation. My work is reflected in over 80 high-impact publications, and I have mentored more than 50 students’ theses. I am deeply committed to knowledge transfer, public engagement and promote gender equality.
)
Alexander Wittenberg, Genomics Scientist, KeygeneAlexander is a Genomics Scientist at KeyGene, specializing in omics technologies for crop improvement. Since 2015, he has pioneered the use of Oxford Nanopore sequencing to develop high-quality crop reference genomes. Within the "Reveal and understand genetic variation" theme, Alexander leverages data science and advanced DNA/RNA technologies to uncover genetic and phenotypic variation. His practice-oriented approach bridges scientific discovery with market application, ensuring KeyGene's partners benefit from cutting-edge genomics advancements and reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation in crop improvement.
