Symposium 2026 Draws 1,250 Attendees to Showcase OGM Scaling and Stratys Throughput
Bionano Genomics hosted Symposium 2026 in San Diego with over 1,250 registrants, 35 external speakers, 33 presentations and 50 posters showcasing scaling optical genome mapping workflows including automated processing of 500 samples in 2025 with a target of 3,000 annual samples. Speakers detailed Stratys system throughput of up to 4,000 cancer samples per year versus 240 for long-read sequencing and highlighted Ionic system scalability for high-purity DNA/RNA isolation to boost NGS assay performance.
1. Symposium Overview
Bionano Genomics concluded a four-day Symposium 2026 in San Diego attended by over 1,250 registrants, featuring 35 external speakers, 33 presentations and 50 posters. The event highlighted optical genome mapping (OGM) innovations and community engagement across Europe, Canada and the United States.
2. Scaling OGM Workflows
Dr. Alexander Hoischen reported fully automated UHMW DNA isolation and labeling workflows at Radboud University, processing approximately 500 samples in 2025 with a goal of 3,000 annually. Dr. Chantal Courtemanche demonstrated how the Ionic system’s isotachophoresis-based purification yields higher purity DNA and RNA for next-generation sequencing, with multi-sample runs per day.
3. Analytical Software Advancements
Speakers showcased VIA software and the OMKar digital karyotyping tool to integrate complex structural variant data into interpretable reports. Presentations by Henry Ford, Groningen and UC San Diego teams emphasized unified visualization, standardized workflows and efficient interpretation of OGM data in hematologic malignancy research.
4. Throughput and Cost Comparisons
Dr. Adam Smith contrasted Stratys system’s capacity to process up to 4,000 cancer samples yearly with long-read sequencing’s 240 samples at suitable coverage. He estimated that scaling OGM to 10,000 annual samples requires under one-eighth the initial investment of a high-throughput long-read platform.