MENA Microbiome
From Biomarkers Discovery
to Microbiota-based Therapeutics
Date: 17th and 18th October 2026
Venue: Andaz Hotel – Sahara Ballroom
Shotgun Metagenomics| Non-CPD Workshop
Organizers: MENA Microbiome Conference 2026 & Microbiome and Biomarker Discovery Lab
Date: 19 October 2026
Supported by New Concept Pharma – Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT)
Workshop Agenda
| Time | Session | Speaker | Location |
| 07:30–08:00 | Registration/Check-in | ||
| 08:00-08:30 | Welcome Remarks & Workshop Overview | Dr. Souhaila Al Khodor Sidra Medicine |
OPC-C5.401 |
| 08:30–09:00 | Brief walkthrough of the SQK-RPB114.24 protocol and overview of the experimental workflow | ONT team | OPC-C5.401 |
| 09:00–10:00 | Wet Lab: Attendee group distribution and start of library preparation using the Zymo Mock Community. Proceed through the protocol up to the PCR step. | ONT team | OPC-C5-73100 |
| 10:00 -10:30 | Coffee Break OPC- C6-301 |
||
| 10:30–12:00 | Introduction to how Oxford Nanopore sequencing works. Detailed walkthrough of the SQK-RPB114.24 workflow, including DNA extraction strategies, depletion approaches, recommendations, and laboratory setup. | OPC-C5.401 | |
| 12:00–13:00 | Lunch OPC- C6-301 |
||
| 13:00–13:30 | Wet lab: While PCR is still ongoing: MinKNOW software overview, flow cell QC/check, and preparation for sequencing. | OPC-C5-73100 | |
| 13:30- 14:30 | Continue library preparation, flow cell priming and loading. | OPC-C5-73100 | |
| 14:30- 15:30 | Instrument and software walkthrough; interpretation of MinKNOW sequencing metrics and real-time data outputs/graphs. | OPC-C5-73100 | |
| 15:30-16h30 | Introduction to the EPI2ME metagenomics workflow and hands-on analysis of initial sequencing data while the run is ongoing. | OPC-C5-73100 | |
| 16:30-17:00 | Q&A | OPC-C5.401 | |
| 17:00-17:30 | Quiz and Awards ceremony ONT and Sidra Medicine teams |
OPC-C5.401 | |