New and Interesting Fungi. 7.

Read more about New and Interesting Fungi. 7.

Starship giant transposable elements cluster by host taxonomy using kmer-based phylogenetics

Read more about Starship giant transposable elements cluster by host taxonomy using kmer-based phylogenetics

Harnessing landrace diversity empowers wheat breeding

Read more about Harnessing landrace diversity empowers wheat breeding

Event Science

Norwich Single-Cell and Spatial Symposium

Now in its eighth year, and extended to a two-day event, the Norwich Single-Cell and Spatial Symposium at Earlham Institute covers single-cell and spatial genomics technologies and their application in microbial, plant, animal and human health and disease.

Start date: 18 June 2025

End date: 19 June 2025

Time: 09.00 - 16.30

Venue: Earlham Institute (Norwich UK)

Organiser: Emily Angiolini

Enquiries:

training@earlham.ac.uk

Cost: £175.00

About the event

Single-cell and spatial technologies continue to develop at pace, generating new insights into cellular diversity within living systems.

This event aims to bring together researchers who are curious about applying single-cell technologies with those who are experts working at the forefront of the field and across a wide range of species.

Held in partnership with the UEA School of Biological Sciences, the symposium covers single-cell and spatial technologies, and their applications in microbial, plant, animal and human health and disease.

Offering a forum for researchers working on similar challenges in diverse systems to discuss the latest developments in single-cell genomics, while networking with other researchers with the intention of catalysing future development and application of single-cell genomics across the UK.

The event will feature talks from keynotes, invited speakers and selected abstracts, and we are keen to capture as broad a range of single-cell applications as possible.

Abstracts

Download the 2025 Speaker Abstract Booklet

Sponsors and Supporters

The Norwich Single-Cell and Spatial Symposium is held in partnership with the University of East Anglia and with support from our sponsors.

Logos of sponsors the Norwich Single Cell symposium including UEA, BioLegend, illumina, Vizgen, Singleron, Pixelgen Technologies, Parse Biosciences, BD Biosciences, 10x Genomics and Proteintech

Organisers and trainers

Wilfried Haerty

Group Leader

Ashleigh Lister

Senior Research Assistant

Iain Macaulay

Group Leader

David Monk

Professor of Developmental Epigenetics, UEA

Anita Scoones

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Edyta Wojtowicz

Group Leader

David Wright

Senior Computational Biologist

Emily Angiolini

Head of Advanced Training

Beth Bankes-Jones

Events Manager

Guest Speakers

Keynote: Dr Pascal Barbry

Research Director, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, CNRS

Talk: Integrating single cell and spatial transcriptomics in healthy and pathological lungs

Keynote: Dr Tanya Foley

Postdoctoral Researcher, Zebrafish Neurogenetics Group, Institut Pasteur

Talk: Integrating single-cell transcriptomic data modalities to resolve neural stem cell substates and dynamics

Keynote: Prof Muzlifah Haniffa, FMedSci

Head of Cellular Genetics and Senior Group Leader, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Talk: The tapestry of the human prenatal immune system

Keynote: Dr Ramunas Stepanauskas

Single Cell Genomics Centre Director, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

Talk: Discovering genomes and activities of individual microbial cells and viruses in the wild

Invited speaker: Dr Mirjam Belderbos

Research Group Leader in translational stem cell biology, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology

Talk: Single-cell multiomics of pediatric bone marrow reveals age-dependent differences in lineage differentiation linked to stromal cell heterogeneity

Picture of Dr Susan Duncan sitting at a tabletop microscope

Invited Speaker: Dr Susan Duncan

Postdoctoral Scientist, John Innes Centre

Talk: Unravelling RNA Structure in Space: Imaging and Spatial Transcriptomic Innovations

Invited speaker: Dr Chen Ji

Postdoctoral Researcher, John Innes Centre

Talk: Exploring Wheat Grain Development with Single-Nucleus Sequencing and Spatial Transcriptomics

Invited speaker: Dr Melanie Krause

Postdoctoral Fellow, Steinmetz Group, EMBL

Talk: Introducing Cell organization and disturbance-mapping using image activated cell-profiling (CODIAC) as a novel tool for high content screening

Invited Speaker: Dr Kenny Roberts

Senior Staff Scientist, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Talk: Spatial genomics for broad applications using Xenium automated in situ sequencing

Invited speaker: Dr Tina Schreier

BBSRC Discovery Fellow, Department of Biology, University of Oxford

Talk: Unveiling the Cellular Blueprint for Efficient Photosynthesis in C4 Plants

Selected Speaker: Dr Christabel Dube

Research Associate, University of Manchester

Talk: A high-resolution spatial transcriptomic map of the developing human intervertebral disc

Selected Speaker: Dr Zhengao Di

Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Earlham Institute

Talk: Elucidation and targeted engineering of plant nitrate-responsive gene circuits

Selected Speaker: Dr Michele Chirichella

Postdoctoral Fellow, AstraZeneca Cambridge

Talk: Predicting Antibody Affinity using gene expression markers

Selected Speaker: Dr Matthew Parker

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

Talk: Expression quantitative trait locus mapping in recombinant gametes using single nucleus RNA sequencing

Selected Speaker: Dr Zeliha Turan

Research Fellow, UCL

Talk: Analysis of single-cell somatic copy number variations in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients and healthy control

Selected Speaker: Haoyu Wang

PHD Student, UCL

Talk: Transcriptional Profiling of Embryonic Diapause in Turquoise Killifish: Characterizing Diapause Stages, Stress Response, and Development Resumption

Programme

Download the 2025 Speaker Abstract Booklet

Day 1

09.30 - 10.00

Registration and coffee

10.00 - 10.15

Welcome

10.15 - 11.00

Keynote: Prof Muzlifah Haniffa

Head of Cellular Genetics and Senior Group Leader, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Talk: The tapestry of the human prenatal immune system

11.00 - 11.30

Invited Speaker: Dr Tina Schreier

BBSRC Discovery Fellow, Department of Biology, University of Oxford

Talk: Unveiling the cellular blueprint for efficient photosynthesis in C4 plants

11.30 - 12.30

Sponsors showcase

BioLegend: BioLegend Single-Cell and Spatial Solutions
10X Genomics: 5 Important Things In 5 Minutes
Illumina: Illumina Single Cell Prep
Vizgen: Deep Dive into Spatial Biology With MERFISH 2.0 Technology and the MERSCOPE ULTRA Platform
Pixelgen: Using Single-Cell Protein Interactomics to Understand Immune Cell Behavior
BD Biosciences: Unlocking Cellular Secrets the SMART way: BD Rhapsody's Microwell Single Cell Technology
Parse Biosciences: The Future of Exponentially Scalable Single Cell-omics
Singleron: Singleron Uncovered: A Smarter and Flexible Path to Single-Cell Multi-Omics Discovery
Proteintech: Driving Discovery: Single-Cell Multiomics with the MultiPro® Human Discovery Panel

12.30 - 14.00

Lunch and networking

14.00 - 14.15

Selected Speaker: Dr Christabel Dube

Research Associate, University of Manchester

Talk: A high-resolution spatial transcriptomic map of the developing human intervertebral disc

14.15 - 14.30

Selected Speaker: Dr Zhengao Di

Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Earlham Institute

Talk: Elucidation and targeted engineering of plant nitrate-responsive gene circuits

14.30 - 15.00

Invited Speaker: Dr Kenny Roberts

Senior Staff Scientist, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Talk: Spatial genomics for broad applications using Xenium automated in situ sequencing

15.00 - 15.30

Break

15.30 - 16.00

Invited Speaker: Dr Melanie Krause

Postdoctoral Fellow, Steinmetz Group, EMBL

Talk: Introducing cell organisation and disturbance-mapping using image activated cell-profiling (CODIAC) as a novel tool for high content screen

16.00 - 16.45

Keynote: Dr Ramunas Stepanauskas

Director of Single Cell Genomics Centre, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

Talk: Discovering genomes and activities of individual microbial cells and viruses in the wild

16.45 - 17.00

Wrap up of Day 1

17.00 - 18.30

Networking with drinks and canapes

Day 2

09.30 - 10.00

Registration and coffee

10.00 - 10.15

Welcome to Day 2

10.15 - 11.00

Keynote: Dr Pascal Barbry

Research Director, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, CNRS

Talk: Integrating single cell and spatial transcriptomics in healthy and pathological lungs

11.00 - 11.30

Invited Speaker: Dr Mirjam Belderbos

Group Leader, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology

Talk: Single-cell multiomics of pediatric bone marrow reveals age-dependent differences in lineage differentiation linked to stromal cell heterogeneity

11.30 - 12.00

Invited Speaker: Dr Susan Duncan

Postdoctoral Scientist, John Innes Centre

Talk: Unravelling RNA Structure in Space: Imaging and Spatial Transcriptomic Innovations

12.00 - 12.15

Selected Speaker: Dr Michele Chirichella

Postdoctoral Fellow, AstraZeneca Cambridge

Talk: Predicting Antibody Affinity using gene expression markers

12.15 - 12.30

Selected Speaker: Dr Matthew Parker

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

Talk: Expression quantitative trait locus mapping in recombinant gametes using single nucleus RNA sequencing

12.30 - 14.00

Lunch and networking

14.00 - 14.15

Selected Speaker: Dr Zeliha Turan

Research Fellow, UCL

Talk: Analysis of single-cell somatic copy number variations in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients and healthy control

14.15 - 14.30

Selected Speaker: Haoyu Wang

PhD Student, UCL

Talk: Transcriptional Profiling of Embryonic Diapause in Turquoise Killifish: Characterizing Diapause Stages, Stress Response, and Development Resumption

14.30 - 15.00

Invited Speaker: Dr Chen Ji

Postdoctoral Researcher, Borrill Group, John Innes Centre

Talk: Exploring wheat grain development with single-nucleus sequencing and spatial transcriptomics

15.00 - 15.45

Keynote: Dr Tanya Foley

Postdoctoral Researcher, Zebrafish Neurgenetics Group, Institut Pasteur

Talk: Integrating single-cell transcriptomic data modalities to resolve neural stem cell substates and dynamics

15.45 - 16.15

Wrap up of Day 2, networking and refreshments

Further information

Registration Information

Registration includes lunch and refreshments on both days.

There is no dress code for our events, please dress however you feel comfortable.

You will find information about travelling to Earlham Institute here.

Booking Terms and Conditions

Please carefully review our standard online event booking terms and conditions prior to registering for this event. Completing an online registration and associated payment process will mean that you are bound by these terms and conditions. Any supplemental terms or changes to these conditions on a per event basis will be included on this page. If you have any queries regarding our events or in relation to your booking, please contact us at training@earlham.ac.uk.

Register today.

Participation: Open to all

Register your interest in attending Norwich Single-Cell and Spatial Symposium today.

Expression of interest

Meha Patel

Clinical Research Fellow

Macaulay Group

Biography
Publications

Biography

Contact details:

+44 (0)1603 450 871

meha.patel@earlham.ac.uk

I am a Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD Fellow in the Macaulay group. My PhD is focused on using single cell technologies to define the tissue-resident and circulating immune cell landscape in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare liver disease.

I graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2015, having undertaken an intercalated Biomedical Science degree from 2012-2013 with Dr Mark Webber, looking at antibiotic resistance mechanisms in GyrA mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

I moved to Oxford to start my academic clinical training, during which I contributed to a project looking into using health informatics data to describe clearance dynamics in chronic hepatitis B infection with Professor Katie Jeffery, Professor Ellie Barnes and Dr Philippa Matthews.

Prior to starting my PhD, I completed an Academic Clinical Fellowship and I am currently a Specialty Registrar in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the East of England.

Publications

Regulation of intestinal senescence during cholestatic liver disease modulates barrier function and liver disease progression

Read more about Regulation of intestinal senescence during cholestatic liver disease modulates barrier function and liver disease progression

Article Science

Boosting beans for breeders

27 September 2024

Sam Speak

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Haerty Group

Biography

Personal pronouns: He/him

Contact details:

+44 (0) 1603 450 778

sam.speak@earlham.ac.uk

ORCiD

I am a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Haerty Group, working on the Tilapia Genomic Resources project. As part of this project, I will be using bioinformatic and transcriptomic techniques including bulk and single-cell RNA-Seq. My work aims to identify loci associated with aquaculture relevant traits related to environmental stress, including temperature, salinity and pathogen resistance within Tilapia species.

Prior to this position, I was a NERC ARIES DTP PhD student at the University of East Anglia, the Natural History Museum London and Chester Zoo working on the conservation genomics of endangered bird species in zoos.

This project focused on quantifying the genetic load of individuals in captive breeding programs using CADD scores within the ultraconserved elements of the genome. These methods were applied to species that had been through intense population bottlenecks including the pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) and the whooping crane (Grus americana). These approaches were designed to inform optimal mate pairings for captive breeding and reintroduction programs, to avoid inbreeding depression.

In 2019 I completed my BSc Hons in Biological Sciences at the UEA and in 2020 my MScR where I applied bioinformatic analyses to detect signature of genetic drift and adaptive evolution in diatoms at the UEA.

Projects

Publications

Pan-European project generates genomes showcasing continent's rich biodiversity

16 September 2024

The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) has today announced the success of its Pilot Project, bringing together collaborators from 33 European countries to produce high-quality reference genomes for 98 species.

Notes to editors.

Covering vast regions with one long read

16 September 2024

New and Interesting Fungi. 7.

Starship giant transposable elements cluster by host taxonomy using kmer-based phylogenetics

Harnessing landrace diversity empowers wheat breeding

Norwich Single-Cell and Spatial Symposium

About the event

Abstracts

Sponsors and Supporters

Organisers and trainers

Guest Speakers

Keynote: Dr Pascal Barbry

Keynote: Dr Tanya Foley

Keynote: Prof Muzlifah Haniffa, FMedSci

Keynote: Dr Ramunas Stepanauskas

Invited speaker: Dr Mirjam Belderbos

Invited Speaker: Dr Susan Duncan

Invited speaker: Dr Chen Ji

Invited speaker: Dr Melanie Krause

Invited Speaker: Dr Kenny Roberts

Invited speaker: Dr Tina Schreier

Selected Speaker: Dr Christabel Dube

Selected Speaker: Dr Zhengao Di

Selected Speaker: Dr Michele Chirichella

Selected Speaker: Dr Matthew Parker

Selected Speaker: Dr Zeliha Turan

Selected Speaker: Haoyu Wang

Programme

Day 1

Day 2

Further information

Registration Information

Booking Terms and Conditions

Register today.

Register your interest in attending Norwich Single-Cell and Spatial Symposium today.

Related reading.

Latest themes in single-cell genomics

Sixth single-cell symposium showcases diversity in cellular systems

The art of being single: advanced single-cell sequencing technology

Meha Patel

Biography

Publications

Regulation of intestinal senescence during cholestatic liver disease modulates barrier function and liver disease progression

Boosting beans for breeders

Related reading.

Using local knowledge to guide bean breeding programmes

Genetic integrity needed for Biodiversity Net Gain to flower

Orphan Crops: the neglected side of food security & climate change

Earlham Institute and Tozer Seeds receive knowledge transfer award

Red clover genome to help restore sustainable farming

How does this “orphan crop” tolerate toxic aluminium?

Sam Speak

Biography

Projects

Tilapia Genomic Resources

Cell expression heterogeneity impact on environmental response

Publications

Pan-European project generates genomes showcasing continent's rich biodiversity

Notes to editors.

Related reading.

The fish, the fungus, the grass, the bee - and the brassica

COPO: providing context through metadata

Decoding Biodiversity: bridging the gap between data and discoveries.

European consortium launched to reverse biodiversity loss through genomics research

Liberators of knowledge: COPO launches for Darwin Tree of Life

UK project underpins global effort to map genomes of all life on earth

Covering vast regions with one long read

Related reading.

Investigating accidents on the DNA highway

Could long-read RNA sequencing be the future of drug discovery?

Cellular Genomics: understanding why being different is normal