C2D3 Computational Biology Annual Symposium 2026
C2D3 event
Conference
In person

Wed, 13 May 2026 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Organiser
Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery

We warmly invite you to the C2D3 Computational Biology Annual Symposium 2026. This event is open to everyone in the Computational Biology Community.

 

Early Career Researcher: Abstract Submission

We are inviting Early Career Researchers to present their research during the symposium. Talks should be 17 minutes each, and a short Q&A will follow. Please submit your abstract below, ensuring you are free on the symposium day itself and have registered for the event.

Abstract submission - Deadline 9am 1st April 2026.

 

Registrations

Registration is essential. A waitlist will open if capacity is reached.

Registrations - Deadline 9am Monday 4th May 2026.

 

Programme

09.00-09.20 Registration and refreshments

09.20-09.25 Welcome Gos Micklem (Genetics/DAMTP)

Session 1 - Chair: Gos Micklem (Genetics/DAMTP)

  • 09.25-09.45 Samantha Ip (Department of Public Health and Primary Care)
  • 09.45-10.05 ECR talk
  • 10.05-11.05 Keynote: Natasha Latysheva (Google DeepMind) "Advancing regulatory variant effect prediction with AlphaGenome". 

11.05-11.25 Break with refreshments

Session 2 - Chair: Siddhartha Kar (Early Cancer Institute)

  • 11.25-11.45 ECR talk
  • 11.45-12.20 Susanne Bornelöv (Biochemistry) A foundation model to study the molecular principles of post-transcriptional gene regulation
  • 12.20-12.55 Valeriya Malysheva (VIB Centre for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp)

12.55-13.35 Lunch

Session 3 - Chair: Valeriya Malysheva (VIB Centre for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp)

  • 13.35-14.10 Heather Machado (Pathology) "Using somatic mutations to study the adaptive immune system in ageing and disease"
  • 14.10-14.45 Teuta Pilizota (Physics) "Mathematical and Physical Approaches to understanding Bacteria"

14.45-15.05 Break with refreshments

Session 4 - Chair: Heather Machado (Pathology)

  • 15.05-15.40 Hana Aliee (Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Institute)
  • 15.40-16.15 Lorenzo di Michele (Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology)
  • 16.15-16.50 Gamze Gürsoy (Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University; from April 2026 DAMTP)  "Privacy and Knowledge Discovery with Genome Graphs"

16.50-17.30 Drinks reception

 

Speaker Biographies

  • Susanne Bornelöv 
Image
Susanne Bornelöv.jpg

I obtained a PhD in Bioinformatics in 2014 from Uppsala University, Sweden. During my PhD, I developed expertise in machine learning methods for genomics data and focused on understanding the role of histone modifications in gene regulation. To gain more experience in genomic methods, I joined Prof Leif Andersson's group at Uppsala University as a postdoc. Here, I worked on mapping genes to function in domesticated chickens using high-throughput sequencing data. I then moved to Cambridge and joined the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute where I spent four years with Prof Michaela Frye, focusing primarily on RNA modifications and their impact on translation. When Prof Frye's lab relocated to Germany, I joined Prof Greg Hannon's group at the neighbouring institute to strengthen my skills in RNA biology and sequencing-based approaches through studies of the piRNA pathway. Supported by a Wellcome Career Development Award, I now lead a group at the Department of Biochemistry using AI and other data-driven approaches to better understand genome organisation and regulation, with a specific focus on post-transcriptional gene regulation.

https://www.sblab.uk
https://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/research/faculty/susanne-bornelov
https://bsky.app/profile/susbo.bsky.social


  • Gamze Gursoy
Image
gamze gürsoy.jpg

I am an Assistant Professor of Computational Biology in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMPT) at the University of Cambridge. My lab focuses on developing algorithmic and machine learning approaches to address key challenges in biology and medicine. Our research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying gene dysregulation through functional genomics data, quantify and mitigate privacy risks associated with sharing and analyzing omics datasets, and integrate clinical and genetic information to improve the precision of patient phenotyping. We design adaptable computational methods that keep pace with emerging data modalities and analytical demands, with particular emphasis on privacy-preserving analysis and knowledge extraction. I lead a multidisciplinary team of computational and experimental researchers and foster cross-disciplinary training opportunities within the group.

Previously:  https://datascience.columbia.edu/people/gamze-gursoy/


  • Sam Ip
Image
Sam Ip.jpg

I am an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge. I work across the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit and the Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, and am also affiliated with the Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine (CCAIM). My work combines methods development and applied analyses using whole-population electronic health records (EHRs). Methodological interests include causal inference, associational analyses, prediction modelling (including dynamic prediction), and missing-data methodology, with emphasis on statistical and computational efficiency for population-scale analyses, including implementation in trusted research environments under computational constraints. Application areas include COVID-19 impact and early cancer detection. I trained in mathematics (MMath, University of Cambridge) and theoretical physics (PhD, Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik).

https://www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/staff/dr-samantha-ip


  • Natasha Latysheva
Image
Natasha Latysheva image

I am a Senior Research Engineer in the Genomics Initiative at Google DeepMind in London. My work focuses on integrating deep learning with molecular biology and genomics, particularly in understanding regulatory DNA and predicting variant effects. I hold a PhD in computational biology from Cambridge University and a Biochemistry BSc from St Andrews University. Before joining DeepMind, I worked in data science and machine learning roles in gaming and natural language processing.

 

 


 

  • Heather Machado 
Image
Heather Machado.jpg

I am interested in the role of the adaptive immune system in ageing and disease, particularly cancer. My background is in evolutionary genomics, having studied population genomics and genome evolution during my PhD at Stanford University and somatic genomics during my postdoc at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. I approach this from the lens of somatic evolution. I use somatic mutations and evolutionary genetic methods to study the co-evolution of immune and non-immune cells, elucidating the role of the adaptive immune system in cancer progression and ageing.

https://www.machado-lab.org/


  • Teuta Pilizota
Image
Teuta Pilizota.jpg

I completed my diploma in physics at the University of Zagreb before moving to do a DPhil in single-molecule biophysics at the University of Oxford. In 2008 I commenced postdoctoral work at Princeton University, where I established the experimental and theoretical framework needed to study bacterial pressure regulation at a single-cell level. In 2013 I was appointed a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh where I established my research laboratory.  I was appointed a Professor of Biophysics at the University of Edinburgh in August 2020 and moved to Cavendish Laboratory in 2024. My lab is a biological physics lab that focuses predominantly on energy generation and pressure regulation through ion flows in unicellular organisms such as bacteria. Developing novel experimental and theoretical tools for the purpose, including state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging techniques, microfluidic devices and optical trapping techniques. While mostly driven by basic research questions we also translate our findings into real-world solutions, including co-founding startup and spinout companies.

https://pilizotalab.bio.ed.ac.uk/


Organising committee

Siddhartha Kar, Heather Machado, Valeriya Malysheva, Gos Micklem & C2D3

Cancellation and No-shows

Please let us know as soon as possible if your plans have changed and you are no longer able to attend. We operate a waiting list for spaces. You should note our Cancellation and No-Show policy, summarised below.

  • Delegates who have registered to attend but did not turn up to the event on the day, may be charged a conference fee.
  • Charges may be given if less than 7 days' notice is given to the conference organisers. 
Image
Computational Biology Annual Symposium 13 May 2026