Programme for Tuesday 4 November

8.30 - 9.15 Arrival Refreshments and Networking (Kempe and Newton)

Closet space is available in each of these rooms for coats and luggage. Self-service tea and coffee stations are also available. If you need to take a call during the conference, please feel free to use these rooms, or the main reception seating area. Wi-Fi information is available at the reception desk.

9.15 - 9.30 Welcome and introduction - Jacqui Shaw, Professor of Translational Cancer Genetics, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre Cancer Theme Lead (The Grand Hall)

Session 1: Decoding the Genetic Architecture of Lung Function

(Chair: Professor Ian Hall, University of Nottingham and Co-chair: Dr Livia Delpiano, University of Cambridge) (The Grand Hall)

• 9.30 - 10.05 Progress and challenges in respiratory genomics discovery - Dr Catherine John, University of Leicester
• 10.05 - 10.20 Association of rare variants with lung function identifies new genes, functional exonic variants, and allelic series to inform functional genomics and drug development - Dr Nick Shrine, University of Leicester 
• 10.20 - 10.35 Characterisation and prioritisation of genome-wide association signals for efficient translation into experimental models of lung biology - Dr Samuel Moss, University of Leicester 
• 10.35 - 10.50 Exploring the Genetic Architecture of Lung Function Traits Using UK Biobank Whole-Genome Sequencing Data - Dr Chiemela S. Odoemelam, University of Leicester

10.50 - 11.20 Refreshments, Exhibitors and Networking (The Grand Hall, Kempe and Newton)

Session 2: Integrative and Functional Genomics Approaches

(Chair: Professor Ian Sayers, University of Nottingham and Co-chair: Dr Beatriz Guillen Guio, University of Leicester) (The Grand Hall)

• 11.20 - 11.55 Using longitudinal cohort data to explore respiratory genetics across the lifecourse - Professor Erik Melén, Karolinska Institutet
• 11.55 - 12.10 Integrative analysis of single-cell chromatin accessibility and GWAS statistics to prioritize enhancers and partition trait heritability in lung development - Professor Michael Cho, Harvard Medical School 
• 12.10 - 12.25 The coding variant landscape of alternative isoforms - Dr Simon Biddie, University of Edinburgh
• 12.25 - 12.40 Pharmacogenetic modification of lung function decline - Professor Lies Lahousse, Ghent University & Erasmus Medical Center

Wellcome Trust Fellowship Opportunities 

• 12.40 - 12.55 Early and Mid-Career Fellowship and Grant Opportunities with Wellcome Trust - Dr Urszula Pawlicka-Deger, Research Manager in the Discovery Research programme

12.55 - 13.55 Lunch  (The Grand Hall)

Kempe and Newton rooms are open and available if you’d like a space to enjoy your lunch

Session 3: From Early Origins to Cellular Mechanisms

(Chair: Professor Emma Rawlins, Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge and Co-chair: Dr Richard Allen, University of Leicester) (The Grand Hall)

• 13.55 - 14.30 Early origins of obstructive lung diseases: the role of CC16 - Professor Stefano Guerra, University of Arizona
• 14.30 - 14.45 Spontaneous remission of asthma is associated with an increase in ciliated cells and loss of hillock-like cells – Tessa Gillett, University Medical Center Groningen
• 14.45 - 15.00 Mechanical regulation of alveolar cell fate during lung development - Dr Federica Michielin, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
• 15.00 - 15.35 Pluripotent stem cells in the era of respiratory genomics: from disease models to regenerative therapies - Professor Darrell Kotton, Boston University and Boston Medical Center

15.35 - 15.50 Refreshments and Networking (Kempe and Newton)

Session 4: Poster Viewing (Kempe and Newton Rooms) 

• 15.50 - 17.30 Presenters to be available to discuss their posters

18.30 Conference Drinks Reception and Dinner - St Martins House Conference Centre (The Grand Hall) 

20.30 After Dinner Speech – Professor Ivan Browne, OBE, introduced by Professor Henrietta O’Connor