Illumina Innovation Symposium

Following the success of our 2025 Innovation Symposium, we are excited to announce the 2026 edition, dedicated to advances in clinical research. 

This year’s virtual Innovation Symposium brings together leading voices across genomic science, clinical research, and patient advocacy—alongside Illumina experts. Join us as we explore how cutting-edge genomic technologies are being implemented in real world clinical research and how these innovations are shaping the future of medicine. 

Across three focused sessions, attendees will gain insights into the latest developments in whole-genome sequencing for clinical research, breakthrough progress in newborn screening, Illumina’s roadmap for clinical research, and emerging applications such as 5-Base chemistry for simultaneous genomic and epigenomic analysis. The program will also highlight advances in software and data interpretation, as well as expert perspectives on the evolving landscape of national genomic initiatives, the growing role of data infrastructure and its macroeconomic impact, and the importance of evidence generation. 

Agenda

Opening

Illumina’s Technology Roadmap 2026 and a Glimpse to the Future

Steve Barnard
Chief Technology Officer
Illumina

Evaluating Constellation: Insights into NHS pediatric acute care pathways

Emma Baple
Professor of Genomics Medicine
University of Exeter
UK

Andrew Parrish
Head of Department
Exeter Genomics Laboratory
UK ​

Data to insights: Bioinformatic Innovation for Long-Range Genomics and beyond

Rami Mehio
Senior Vice President & General Manager BioInsight
Illumina

Citywide integration of Whole-Genome Sequencing for early diagnostics and preventive screening

Ahmad Abou Tayoun
Director of Dubai Health’s Genomic Medicine Center
United Arab Emirates

Live Q&A and panel discussion

With speakers and Sean Humphray
Sr. Director R&D
Illumina

Redefining Cancer Genomics. Illumina Roadmap

Traci Pawlowski
Vice President, Head of Clinical Solutions
Illumina ​

Oncology Portfolio Harmonization

Heather Robinson
Sr. Manager, Product Management ​
Illumina ​

Streamlining Comprehensive Sequencing – From Large Panel to Whole Genome

Kirsten Reuter-Jessen
Scientific Head of Molecular Pathology
University Medical Center Göttingen
Germany

Early detection of MRD by liquid biopsy: The GUIDE.MRD consortium

Klaus Pantel,
Director Institute of Timor Biology
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Germany
Chairman of the European Liquid Biopsy Society

Live Q&A and panel discussion

Integrated 5‑base sequencing and episignature analysis – a paradigm shift in understanding rare disease

Bekim Sadikovic
Director of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory
London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute​ ​

Leveraging large-scale epigenetic profiling to understand disease

Jonathan Mill
Professor of Epigenomics
University of Exeter Medical School​

Streamlining Comprehensive Sequencing – From Large Panel to Whole Genome

Kirsten Reuter-Jessen
Scientific Head of Molecular Pathology
University Medical Center Göttingen
Germany

From National Infrastructure to European Strategy – Health Economic and Policy Dimensions of Biobanking and Genomics

Maximilian Marks
Director Government Affairs​
Illumina ​

From Innovation to Evidence: Advancing Human Genomics Through Scientific Partnership

Sven Schaffer
Senior Director Medical Affairs ​
Illumina ​

Shaping Tomorrow's Medicine: A patient advocacy perspective

Speaker TBC
​

Live Q&A and panel discussion