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The Genome Engineering, Virus Production and Transgenics Facility at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), together with the MRC Mary Lyon Centre, recently organised the 2026 Genome Engineering Forum at the MRC WIMM, bringing together over 100 academic researchers, staff and students from across Oxfordshire.

2026 Genome Engineering Forum brings together Oxford research community

The event provided a platform for sharing the latest advances in genome engineering, from complex allele modelling to emerging genome engineering technologies. The programme featured speakers from the WIMM, MRC Mary Lyon Centre, the Centre for Human Genetics, the Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and the Rosalind Franklin Institute, highlighting the collaborative nature of this rapidly evolving field.

The first session focused on complex alleles, with talks covering disease modelling, including Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, craniosynostosis and acute myeloid leukaemia, as well as innovative approaches for genome engineering and characterising complex genetic variants.

The second session explored technology development, with presentations on prime editing optimisation, generative approaches to nucleotide sequence analysis, novel delivery methods for genome editing tools, and techniques to enhance genome editing efficiency, helping Oxford-wide researchers stay at the forefront of these technologies.  

The forum concluded with informal networking over pizza and drinks, providing attendees with further opportunities to connect and discuss potential collaborations. 

Thank you to Chris Babbs, Head of Genome Engineering at the WIMM, and Lydia Teboul, Head of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the MRC Mary Lyon Centre, for event oversight and chairing the informative sessions. Special thanks to our sponsors TransnetYX, Source Bioscience and WIMMGenYX for contributing to such a collaborative and engaging event.

Genome Engineering Team at the MRC WIMM; Maria Ababi, Chris Babbs, Jackie Sloane Stanley and Zoe Holloway during OGEF 2026