NGS module

Responsible
Carla Mavian and Richard Scheuermann

TIME

CONTENT

SPEAKERS

SUNDAY X AUGUST

17:00
to
18:00

Welcome to VEME

TBA

18:00
to
20:00

Coffee break.

Monday X AUGUST

07:00
to
08:00

Registration.

8:00
to
8:30

Welcome and practical instructions

TBA

8:30
to
9:00

Introduction to next generation sequencing

R. Scheuermann

9:00
to
10:00

Reference alignment: theory

C. Mavian

10:00
to
10:30

Coffee break.

10:30
to
12:00

Introduction and logging in to Terra Reference alignment and SNP calling practice (Terra)

C. Tomkins-Tinch, G. Mboowa

12:00
to
13:00

Lunch.

13:00
to
14:30

Reference alignment and SNP calling practice (CMD)

T. Paisie, C. Mavian

14:30
to
15:30

Reference alignment: examining results

T. Paisie, C. Mavian, C. Tomkins-Tinch, G. Mboowa

15:30
to
17:00

Coffee break + poster session.

Tuesday X AUGUST

8:00
to
9:00

De novo assembly: theory

H. Schmidt

9:00
to
10:00

De novo assembly practice (Terra & miniWDL)

C. Tomkins-Tinch, G. Mboowa

10:00
to
10:30

Coffee break.

10:30
to
12:00

De novo assembly practice (CMD)

T. Paisie, C. Mavian

12:00
to
13:00

Lunch.

13:00
to
14:30

De novo assembly: examining results

T. Paisie, C. Mavian, C. Tomkins-Tinch, G. Mboowa

14:30
to
15:30

Introduction to computing

C. Tomkins-Tinch

15:30
to
16:00

Coffee break.

16:00
to
17:00

Metagenomics: taxonomic classification with kraken (Terra)

C. Tomkins-Tinch, G. Mboowa

Wednesday X AUGUST

8:00
to
9:00

Metagenomics: theory

C. Mavian

9:00
to
10:00

Metagenomics: taxonomy classification with kraken (CMD)

C.Mavian, T. Paisie, Ortiz S

10:00
to
10:30

Coffee break.

10:30
to
12:00

Metagenomics: de novo assembly and blast

Ortiz S, C. Mavian

12:00
to
13:00

Lunch.

13:00
to
14:00

Metagenomics: examining results

C. Tomkins-Tinch, G. Mboowa, C. Mavian, Ortiz S

14:00
to
14:30

Illumina Innovations for Viral Genomics

Leandro Ucela Alves

14:30
to
15:00

Genome detective

K Deforche, V. Fonseca, J. Xavier

15:00
to
16:00

Dashboard

J. Xavier, C.Mavian, T. Paisie

16:00
to
17:00

Coffee break + poster session.

17:00
to
17:30

Keynote 1:

TBA

17:30
to
18:00

Keynote 2:

TBA

Thursday X August

8:00
to
9:00

Bulk transcriptomics: Theory

R. Scheuermann

9:00
to
10:00

Bulk transcriptomics: Practice 1

R. Scheuermann, D.Pintard

10:00
to
10:30

Coffee break.

10:30
to
12:00

Bulk transcriptomics: Practice 2

R. Scheuermann, D.Pintard

12:00
to
13:00

Lunch.

13:00
to
14:30

Single cell transcriptomics: Theory

R. Scheuermann

14:30
to
15:30

Single cell transcriptomics: Practice 1

D.Pintard, R. Scheuermann, J. Xavier

15:30
to
16:00

Coffee break.

16:00
to
17:30

Single cell transcriptomics: Practice 2

D.Pintard, R. Scheuermann, J. Xavier

18:30
to
20:30

Course teachers dinner

Important VEME Update
2025 Workshop Cancelled
2026–2027 Secured

Dear VEME applicants,

We regret to inform you that, due to a global decline in international funding, we will need to cancel VEME2025. Despite our best efforts to secure financial support for this exceptional workshop, we were unable to obtain the necessary commitments to host the event at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) this year.

While this is disappointing news, we are pleased to share that funding has been secured for VEME2026—and most likely for 2027 as well. The 2026 edition is expected to take place in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and the 2027 workshop in Dakar, Senegal. Both events will be supported through the CERI and IPD African Stars Fellowship Program, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Unfortunately, these funds could not be applied to the 2025 event, as it was reliant on a different funding source.

We thank you for your patience and regret we cannot give you better news. We encourage you to apply again for next year’s VEME. Now more than ever, it is essential that our VEME training continues to prepare the next generation of scientists to respond to global health challenges.

Warm regards,
Xavier, Tulio, Luiz, and Anne-Mieke