2026 Scientific Program 

Download the CGC 2026 Scientific Agenda 

All session times are in US Central Daylight Time.
Sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing for our participants in different time zones.
Sessions are subject to change.

In-Person Unconference

Unconference participation incurs an additional registration fee. Click here for more information about the Unconference.

1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Unconference Session #1 

In-Person Unconference

Unconference participation incurs an additional registration fee. Click here for more information about the Unconference.

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Unconference Session #2

Opening of the 17th Annual Meeting of the Cancer Genomics Consortium

1:00 - 1:05 PM

Welcome
Cate Paschal, CGC 2026 Annual Meeting Chair
Seattle Children’s Hospital

1:05 - 1:15 PM

Presidential Address
Fady Mikhail, CGC President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

1:15 - 2:15 PM

Keynote Presentation
The complex functions of wild type and mutant p53 proteins
Gigi Lozano, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Introduction: Vince Duan

2:15 - 3:15 PM

Invited Session 1: TED-Style Session: Expanding Access and Representation in Genomic Research
Moderator: Cinthya Zepeda Mendoza, Mayo Clinic

Speakers:
Debra Murray, Baylor College of Medicine
Deborah Ritter, Baylor College of Medicine

3:15 - 4:00 PM

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall
Science Café Presentations
(No CME or CEUs available)

Moderator: Avinash Dharmadhikari, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California

Karina Rich, Applied Spectral Imaging

Turner Duncan, Pacific Biosciences

Taylor Powell, Bioview

Daniel Yue, Anchor Molecular

4:00 - 4:15 PM

Platinum Exhibitor Showcase: QIAGEN
A complete sample to insight solution for comprehensive genomic profiling & HRD
Brendan Burns and Michael Picker, QIAGEN
(No CME or CEUs available)

Introduction: Wesley Goar, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

4:15 - 4:30 PM

Platinum Exhibitor Showcase: Nabsys
Toward higher-resolution cytogenomics in hematologic malignancies using electronic genome mapping
Michael Gallagher, Nabsys
(No CME or CEUs available)

Introduction: Wesley Goar, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

4:30 - 5:00 PM

CGC Updates and Business Meeting
Fady Mikhail, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Award Presentations:

CGC 2026 Marilyn M. Li Award for Outstanding Service to the CGC Community
Presented by Gordana Raca, 2025 Marilyn M. Li Award Recipient

and

Technologists and Trainee Abstract Awards
Presented by Cate Paschal, CGC 2026 Annual Meeting Chair

Platform Session 1: Tech and Trainee Awardee Abstracts
Moderator: Min Fang, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Co-Moderator: Najla Al-Sweel, Rutgers University

Diagnostic testing for multiple myeloma in the era of precision medicine
Prasad Kopparapu, Indiana University School of Medicine
Trainee Award

Pairing molecular technologies with conventional cytogenetics to clarify atypical translocation t(8;21) patterns in AML
April Suarez,  Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Technologist Award

Single-cell, single-nuclei, and spatial transcriptomics reveals signature-specific microenvironments in hepatoblastoma
Abhishek Murti, University of California, San Francisco
Technologist Award

High-resolution multi-omic LINE-1 retrotransposon activity and structural variation in non-small cell lung cancer
Yingshan Wang, Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences and Technology
Trainee Award

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Welcome Reception 
CGC Exhibit Hall, Legends Ballroom

Case Studies
Moderator: Mariam Mathew, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Co-Moderator: Divya Mamilla, Mount Sinai Hospital

Cytogenetic analysis reveals underlying therapy-related myeloid neoplasm
Celeste Eno, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Comprehensive molecular characterization of isolated tetrasomy 13 in acute myeloid leukemia: A case report
Dibyendu Dutta, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Comprehensive characterization of a complex multiple myeloma genome
Nesrin Hasan, University Hospitals Ohio

Only the hits: Assessment for 'double hit' lymphoma using Hi-C sequencing
Phillip Michaels, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Invited Session 2: Harmonizing Cancer Variant Interpretation: New and Updated Standards for Clinical Practice
Moderator: Gordana Raca, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Speakers:

Marilyn Li, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania
Fady Mikhail, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Karen Tsuchiya, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

10:00 - 10:45 AM

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall
Supported by Michigan Medical Laboratories

Science Café Presentations
(No CME or CEUs available)

Moderator: Rebecca Smith, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Daiana Ganiewich, SeqOne Inc

Matt Varga, BillionToOne

Alex Hastie, Bionano

Aiko Otsubo, Michigan Medical Laboratories

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Platform Session 2: Solid Tumors and Cancer Predisposition
Moderator: Minjie Luo, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Co-Moderator: Wenrui Ye, University of Chicago

Advances in cancer genomics landscape: Final report from the CGC Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors Taskforce
Madina Sukhanova, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Chromothripsis and distinct copy number alteration patterns across histology and staging in wilms tumor
Ashan Dayananda, Nationwide Children's Hospital

AVIL as a therapeutic target in GBM: Insights into cell death mechanisms
Adelaide Fierti Amanor Sackey, University of Virginia

Cancer predisposition variants in mRNA processing genes in a pediatric pineoblastoma cohort
Ying-Chen Hou, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Evidence-based gene curation from the ClinGen Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Predisposition GCEP
Pamela Ajuyah, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Exhibit Lunch and Networking:
Select Tables with Discussion Topics supported by the CGC Corporate Council

Exhibit Hall and Foyer

1:00 - 1:15 PM

Platinum Exhibitor Showcase: Oxford Nanopore Technologies
From innovation to global impact: adaptive whole genome sequencing for childhood leukemia
Thomas Alexander, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
(No CME or CEUs available)

Introduction: Scott C. Smith, SUNY Upstate Medical University

1:15 - 1:45 PM

Diamond Exhibitor Showcase: Roche Diagnostics
Transforming oncology research workflows with AXELIOS 1 sequencing platform
Ana Guedes Hasegawa, Roche Diagnostics
(No CME or CEUs available)

Introduction: Scott C. Smith, SUNY Upstate Medical University

1:45 - 2:00 PM

Compendium of Cancer Genome Aberrations (CCGA) Updates
Jennelle Hodge, Indiana University
Katie Schieffer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

2:00 - 2:15 PM

Variant Interpretation for Cancer Consortium (VICC) Updates
Alex Wagner, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University

2:15 - 3:15 PM

Keynote Presentation
The genetic overlap between congenital anomalies and pediatric cancer: opportunities for discovery and surveillance
Philip Lupo, Emory University

Introduction: Avinash Dharmadhikari, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California

3:15 - 4:00 PM

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall
Science Café Presentations
(No CME or CEUs available)

Moderator: Rodney Wiltshire, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Lizmery Ferguson Schires, SOPHiA GENETICS

Rachel Kane, Countable Labs

Brian Coullahan, Element Biosciences

Audric Wertz, GenomOncology

Tony Sanchez, Invivoscribe

Invited Session 3: Adapting Variant Interpretation Frameworks in Community Settings
Moderator: Madina Sukhanova, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine

Speakers:

Wesley Goar, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Jason Saliba, Washington University School of Medicine
Alex Wagner, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University

Poster Session (Odd Numbered Posters)
Cash Bar
CGC Exhibit Hall

6:30 – 8:00 PM

Early Career Social 
For attendees in training or recently out of training
*Pre-registration is required. Please sign-up during meeting registration.

Case Studies
Moderator: Katie Bone, Medical College of Wisconsin
Co-Moderator: Megan Forrest, University of Chicago

Determining the constitutional origin of a ring chromosome 21 in an acute myeloid leukemia patient and her sibling donor
Rebecca Smith, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Unique case of a mosaic 5q deletion in an individual with multiple colon polyps
Ankita Jhuraney, University of Washington

Dynamic mosaic copy number gains identified by concurrent exome sequencing and microarray testing in a neonate
Avinash Dharmadhikari, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles/ University of Southern California

Sibling donor-derived hematopoietic cells confounding chromosomal microarray interpretation in a meningioma case
Jinbo Fan, University of Virginia

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Keynote Presentation
Darn good genomics: The team, the team, the team!
Annette Kim, University of Michigan

Introduction: Aiko Otsubo, University of Michigan

10:00 - 10:45 AM

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall
Science Café Presentations
(No CME or CEUs available)

Moderator: Beth Pitel, Mayo Clinic

Lara Toerien, Ultima Genomics

Rob Brown, Covaris

Amy Prater, Oxford Gene Technology

Alan Silverman, Clear Labs

10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Platform Session 3: Emerging Technologies
Moderator: Madhulatha Pantrangi, Weill Cornell Medicine
Co-Moderator: John O'Shea, University of Washington

Improving the detection of genomic rearrangements in lymphoma: An evaluation of Hi-C FFPE sequencing compared to FISH
Adam Smith, Labcorp

Six-base sequencing of aqueous humor cell-free DNA from retinoblastoma patients
Zejuan Li, Houston Methodist Hospital

RNAseq vs. whole transcriptome sequencing: selecting the right workflow for fusion detection for clinical applications
Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Rapid multi-omics profiling of acute leukemia using nanopore long-read sequencing
Derek Wong, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Multi-omic MMRD testing of tumours and cfDNA using an integrative DNA sequencing and methylation panel
Trevor Pugh, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Ultrarapid methylation classification and rapid comprehensive genomic profiling of pediatric CNS tumors
Feng Xu, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

12:15 - 1:30 PM

Round Table Discussions with Lunch for In-Person Participants
Please sign up for table topics during meeting registration.
Click here for more information.

1:30 - 1:45 PM

Platinum Exhibitor Showcase: Pillar Biosciences
Rapid NGS Testing in Myeloid Malignancies: Pillar Biosciences Workflow, Use Cases, and Long FLT3-ITD Detection
Holli M. Drendel, Odyssey Genetics and Genomics, LLC
(No CME or CEUs available)

Introduction: Celeste Eno, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

1:45 - 2:00 PM

Platinum Exhibitor Showcase: Labcorp
Molecular residual disease: From detection to clinical application in solid tumors
Heidi C. Ko, Labcorp Oncology
(No CME or CEUs available)

Introduction: Celeste Eno, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

2:00 - 2:15 PM

New CGC Programs Update
Alex Wagner, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University

2:15 - 2:30 PM

CGC Working Group Updates
Fady Mikhail, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2:30 - 3:45 PM

Platform Session 4: Bioinformatics and Variant Curation
Moderator: Huan Mo, Moffitt Cancer Center
Co-Moderator: Jeanine Ruggeri, Florida Cancer Specialist and Research Institute

Identification of tumor-associated antigens with multi-cancer therapeutic potential
Daniel Wickland, Mayo Clinic

Automating subtype-specific cancer gene prioritization at the OncoTree scale using Large Language Models (LLMs)
Suhasini Lulla, Baylor College of Medicine

Centralized genomic annotation to enable multi-site biomarker-driven oncology trials
Thuy Vu, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Predictive accuracy of liquid biopsy for comprehensive genomic profiling of solid tumors
Nathan Hassel, Kaiser Permanente

AmpliconSuite and AmpliconRepository: Enabling ecDNA biology at scale
Jens Luebeck, University of California San Diego, CA

3:45 - 4:30 PM

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall
Science Café Presentations
(No CME or CEUs available)

Moderator: Adam Smith, Labcorp

Shaun Lim, Vazyme International

Jonathan Bibliowicz, Illumina

Bryan Martinez, Promega Corporation

Brett Reed, Integrated DNA Technologies

Invited Session 4: Establishing Clinical Pharmacogenomics Testing: Assays, Implementation, and Resources
Moderators:

Mirian Birkeland, National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Jane Houldsworth, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Speakers:

Wahab Khan, Dartmouth College
Stuart Scott, Stanford University
Sherin Shaaban, University of Utah School of Medicine

Optional After Hours Social Activities
Register for activities during meeting registration.
Participants can pick up tickets at the CGC 2026 Registration Desk.
Click here for more information about the Optional After Hours Social Activities.

Bowling at Lucky Strike 
The Escape Game (arrive 15 minutes early)
Line Dancing

Platform Session 5: Hematologic Malignancies
Moderator: Gokce Toruner, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Co-Moderator: Nancy Arthur, Washington University

Gene amplification in AML and MDS - insights from the first-year NCI-MyeloMATCH trial
Thaiha Nguyen, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Optical genome mapping improves detection of cryptic structural variants in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Kim Hoang Ly Nguyen, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Cryptic rearrangements and enhancer hijacking are commonly detected in lymphoid malignancies by optical genome mapping
Xiaoming Wang, University of Michigan

Integrated cytogenomic profiling identifies distinct genomic clustering and predictors of TTFT in Indian CLL
Hemani Jain, Tata Memorial Centre, Panvel, India

Hematology outcomes of general population with MDS-related chromosomal alterations or mutations
Huan Mo, Moffitt Cancer Center

Characterization of DDX41 germline predisposition syndrome: A single site analysis
Catherine Levy, Huntsman Cancer Institute

10:30 - 11:00 AM

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall

Invited Session 5: Navigating Variant Classification in Low Penetrance Genes and Variants
Moderator: Jasmine Baker, Baylor College of Medicine

Speakers:

Sharon Plon, Baylor College of Medicine
Marcy Richardson, Ambry Genetics
Ryan Schmidt, University of Southern California, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

12:00 PM

Closing Remarks
Fady Mikhail, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Cate Paschal, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Download the CGC 2026 Scientific Agenda