Virus Genomics and Evolution

We are pleased to announce the second Virus Genomics and Evolution conference. This meeting will provide a multidisciplinary forum for scientists interested in the genomics and evolutionary analysis of viruses and will address the fundamental questions of viral origins, transmission and pathogenesis.

Virus genome sequencing is now widespread and the conference will
showcase advances in viral genomics, bioinformatics and sequencing
technology. Genomic studies have provided major insights into the
epidemiology transmission and pathogenesis of viral infections, and are
increasingly being applied to patient management and public health. The
conference will cover the genomics of epidemic and non-epidemic viruses,
emerging viral infections and pathogen discovery.

This meeting will bring together international participants working in
diagnostic and public health, who are generating data from clinical
samples, with evolutionary biologists and bioinformaticians, who are
developing methods and models to interrogate the genomic data.

We welcome the submission of abstracts from all areas relevant to the
main themes of the meeting. Several oral presentations will be chosen
from the submitted abstracts.

The conference will start at 12.00 on Monday 18 June and close at 13.30
on Wednesday 20 June 2018.

The following topics will be covered:

• Viral genome sequencing: diagnostics and public health
• Virus evolution
• Epidemics and outbreaks
• Evolution of pathogenesis
• Emerging viral infections and zoonoses

The final programme is available here.

Scientific programme committee
Judith Breuer University College London, UK
Andrew Rambaut University of Edinburgh, UK
Emma Thomson University of Glasgow, UK

Keynote speakers
Elodie Ghedin New York University, USA
Mike Worobey University of Arizona, USA

Confirmed speakers

Simon Frost University of
Cambridge, UK

Mary Kate Grabowski Johns Hopkins University, USA

Yonatan Grad Harvard TH Chan
School of Public Health, USA

Nicholas Grassly Imperial College
London, UK

Katie Hampson University of
Glasgow, UK

Christian Happi Redeemer’s University, Nigeria

Tan Le Van Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Vietnam

Katrina Lythgoe University of Oxford, UK

Martha Nelson Fogarty International Center, USA

Malik Peiris University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Moriah Szpara Pennsylvania State University, USA

Emma Teeling University College Dublin, Ireland

Lia van der Hoek University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

David Wentworth Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA

Conference organiser
Zoey Willard Wellcome Genome Campus, UK

Registration Fees:

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster
sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments
during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have
booked accommodation.

*Owing to space constraints, the early-bird discount rate is limited to
100 delegates.

Registration deadlines
Early Bird registration: Closed
Standard registration:  Closed

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 18 and 19 June 2018, when
booked with your conference registration. Please note: there is limited
onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come,
first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is recommended.

Accommodation is also available at the Red Lion in Hinxton and Holiday Inn Express, Duxford. A complimentary shuttle to and from the
Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre will be provided from the Holiday Inn Express. The Red Lion in Hinxton is a short walk to the campus. If you need other accommodation suggestions, please contact the conference organiser.

If you wish to book accommodation either side of the conference dates,
please contact the Conference Centre,
the Red Lion in Hinxton or the Holiday Inn Express, Duxford directly.

Once available accommodation is sold out, the
accommodation option will no longer be visible on the website.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a
travel visa application. Please note: letters will only be provided to
confirmed registrants.

Non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationals may be required to have a
visa to enter the UK.
Early application is strongly advised, as this process can take 6-8 weeks
or longer.

Please visit the following websites for further information:
UK Border Agency website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/

Information for general visitors and business visitors: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/business/business-activities/

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students
to attend this conference (up to 50% of the standard registration fee)
from Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

The following documents will need to be provided:

• Abstract
• CV
• A justification letter from applicant
• A supporting letter from supervisor stating financial need

To apply, please contact the conference organiser.

Bursary deadline: Closed

Additional funding opportunities
Visit
our Funding webpage for additional funding opportunities currently
available.

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the
meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral
presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.

Abstracts will only be considered from registered delegates. Please use our online abstract submission system and follow the instructions given to ensure your abstract is submitted correctly. All abstracts must be submitted by the deadline. If you are intending to submit more than one abstract, please contact the conference organiser prior to registration.

The scientific programme committee will assess your abstract after the
deadline has passed and you will be notified whether you have been
selected for an oral or poster presentation.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0-
portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the
conference programme book and poster boards will be allocated at the
conference.

Abstract deadline: Closed

Abstract guidelines can be viewed here.

Poster prize
A poster prize will be awarded by Virus Evolution to the author of
the best scientific poster at this year’s conference.
The prize will be awarded to the poster that presents compelling new
research in the field of virus evolution.

Virus Evolution is a new open access journal, published by Oxford
University Press. The journal was voted ‘Best New Journal’ at the 2017
PROSE Awards.