This year’s annual Spring Meeting of MolecularDiagnostics.be took place in Brussels, bringing together 85 researchers and professionals from across Belgium for a vibrant day of exchange, insight, and innovation. The meeting offered a platform for experts to deep-dive into recent developments in microbiology and hematology, and explore how molecular diagnostics continues to evolve in both research and clinical practice.
A Spotlight on Microbial Genomics
Among the highlights of the meeting was the joint session organized by the Working Group Bioinformatics and the Working Group NGS in Microbiology. This session provided a rare behind-the-scenes look at the computational tools and strategies that drive microbial genomics forward. Speakers stood out not only for their technical expertise, but also for their transparency and openness—engaging directly with questions and addressing real-world challenges.
This session served as a unique opportunity to explore how complex data analyses are translated into clinical and epidemiological action, bridging the gap between bench and bedside.
Inaugural Meeting of the cfDNA Oncology Working Group
Another milestone event was the first meeting of the Working Group on cfDNA Oncology, which brought together 31 experts from 13 diagnostic laboratories to discuss the promising field of circulating free DNA (cfDNA) in oncology. Participants shared their experiences—past, present, and future—on implementing cfDNA as a non-invasive biomarker for cancer detection.
The meeting covered a wide range of critical technical topics, including:
- Blood collection tubes
- cfDNA extraction protocols
- Downstream analysis for detecting tumoral DNA in blood
Lively and constructive discussions weighed the pros and cons of different approaches, generating valuable insights and collaborative momentum. The strong spirit of cooperation was one of the most promising outcomes, laying the foundation for future initiatives in cfDNA diagnostics across Belgium.
Bioinformatics Workgroup Evolves: New Expert Meetings
In a move to foster even stronger collaboration between Bioinformaticians and Biologists, the Bioinformatics Workgroup is evolving its in-person meetings into a new format:
Expert Bioinformatician Meetings.
These meetings will focus on one clear, specific topic, with the goal of finding consensus, setting up benchmarking studies, or even implementing new tools or custom code.
Topics will be selected by vote, and your input is welcome:
👉 Suggest a topic or join the discussion
Upcoming Events – Save the Date!
🧪 Pipeline Engines Training – October 2025
Following the great success of our 2024 edition, we are excited to announce a new basic bioinformatics training session this October.
Pre-register and propose topics here:
👉 Pre-registration and topic submission
☁️ Google Genomics Workshop (Oct–Nov 2025)
In collaboration with Google and AZ Delta, this workshop will provide a hands-on introduction to running Nextflow pipelines on Google Cloud, alongside real-world success stories on cloud adoption in genomics.
👉 Pre-register now – exact date to be announced.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of molecular diagnostics—fostering innovation, collaboration, and impact in Belgium and beyond.
#MolecularDiagnostics #cfDNA #NGS #Bioinformatics #Oncology #Belgium #Genomics
