ASHG 2026 · Tier 2–3 Academic

Ghent University at ASHG 2026

Name: ASHG 2026 Annual Meeting
Start: 2026-10-20
End: 2026-10-24
Location: Montréal

Ghent, Belgium

Ghent University at ASHG 2026 in Montréal: 6 presentations (5 posters, 1 lightning talk); 3 research groups.

presentations on the program

research groups identified

sessions invited to or moderated

Reviewers’ Choice abstracts

Explore everyone at ASHG 2026 →

Organization	ASHG 2026 Attendance
Ghent University Ghent, Belgium	5 PhD Students · 2 PIs
De Baere Labdebaerelab.com Wet + dry lab~22 people Studies rare retinal and developmental disorders with CRISPR/iPSC models, Hi-C, Pore-C, WES/WGS and RNA-seq. Uses patient-derived cells and Xenopus models. 24 papers since 2024 › De novo and inherited dominant variants in U4 and U6 snRNAs cause retinitis pigmentosa medRxiv, 2025 Multi-omics analysis in human retina uncovers ultraconserved cis-regulatory elements at rare eye disease loci Nature Communications, 2024 Comparative 3D genome analysis between neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium reveals differential cis-regulatory interactions at retinal disease loci Genome biology, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5077318534 Funded by FWO, FWO +2 more › FWO, fundamental research fellowship · 2023-2027 “funded by an FWO fundamental research fellowship (2023-2027)” MSCA, Doctoral Network fellowship · 2024-2027 “funded by a MSCA Doctoral Network fellowship (2024-2027)” FWO, fundamental research fellowship · 2022-2026 “funded by an FWO fundamental research fellowship (2022-2026)” +1 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 16 platforms and techniques › Works with Hi-C, Pore-C, bulk RNA-seq, single-cell transcriptomics, short-read RNA-seq, long-read RNA-seq, whole-exome sequencing, whole-genome sequencing Techniques CRISPR editing, CRISPRi perturbation, iPSC-derived RPE, patient-derived disease models, retinal organoids, multi-omics, Xenopus tropicalis models, targeted gene therapy Source: lab pages No openings posted	Talk Wed Oct 21 1:43 pm 3D genome rewiring and lncRNA-associated cis-regulatory disruption of the FOXL2 region underlie blepharophimosis syndrome, a rare enhanceropathy Clinical Genetics Across the Lifespan: From Gene Discovery to Prenatal, Developmental, and Pharmacogenomic Insights Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital Copy number/structural variationGene regulationMulti-omicsNon-coding RNA Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice 3D genome rewiring and lncRNA-associated cis-regulatory disruption of the FOXL2 region underlie blepharophimosis syndrome, a rare enhanceropathy Mendelian Phenotypes Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital Copy number/structural variationGene regulationMulti-omicsNon-coding RNA Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Integrated functional framework improves clinical interpretation of RPE65 variants and expands therapeutic eligibility in inherited retinal disease Molecular Effects of Genetic Variation Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel Genetic variationVariant interpretationGene therapyGenetic testing Moderator Fri Oct 23 4:30 pm Awards Recognition & Plenary Abstract Session III in“We have 'found our purpose' at #ASHG25 in Boston, and already look forward to designing an inspiring #ASHG26 meeting!” Attendee in“We have 'found our purpose' at #ASHG25 in Boston, and already look forward to designing an inspiring #ASHG26 meeting!”
Lab for Cancer Predisposition and Precision Oncologylabclaes.com Wet + dry lab~13 people Studies cancer predisposition and precision oncology using targeted panels, whole-exome/RNA sequencing, liquid biopsies and zebrafish models. Focuses on pancreatic and ovarian cancer, BRCA2/ATM variants. 45 papers since 2024 › Prime editing outperforms homology-directed repair as a tool for CRISPR-mediated variant knock-in in zebrafish Lab Animal, 2025 EMQN best practice guidelines for genetic testing in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer European Journal of Human Genetics, 2024 Sex Differences in Revascularization, Treatment Goals, and Outcomes of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: Insights From the ISCHEMIA Trial Journal of the American Heart Association, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5028526077 Funded by CRIG › CRIG, Partnership grant · active “Prof. [name] and Prof. [name] have been awarded this grant for their project “BIOPANC: Unlocking Molecular Clues for Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection”.” Source: lab pages 15 platforms and techniques › Works with Custom-designed targeted panel of cancer susceptibility genes, Whole-exome sequencing, Targeted RNA sequencing, Shallow whole-genome sequencing of cfDNA, cfDNA liquid-biopsy analysis, Parsortix system, Zebrafish xenograft platform Techniques Zebrafish model organism, CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis, Prime editing, Sperm photoporation, Zebrafish PDX models, Liquid biopsies, Genomic profiling, Histopathological subtyping Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm In vivo functional assessment of BRCA2 variants using prime-edited zebrafish Cancer Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital Variant interpretationGenome editing/CRISPRCancer syndromesModel organisms Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Exploring circulating tumor DNA profiles to monitor tumor dynamics in pancreatic adenocarcinoma Cancer Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital CancerCell-free DNADiagnostics
Functional Genomics Lab (FunGen Lab)fungenlab-ugent.be Wet lab~9 people Uses CRISPR-Cas9, neural organoids, RNA-seq, UMI-4C, Hi-C, Capture-C, ATAC-seq and CUT&RUN in hPSC, Drosophila and zebrafish models. Studies neurodevelopmental disorder genes and noncoding regulatory variants. 15 papers since 2024 › Haploinsufficiency of ZFHX3, encoding a key player in neuronal development, causes syndromic intellectual disability The American Journal of Human Genetics, 2024 A distant global control region is essential for normal expression of anterior HOXA genes during mouse and human craniofacial development Nature Communications, 2024 Comparative 3D genome analysis between neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium reveals differential cis-regulatory interactions at retinal disease loci Genome biology, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5047910069 16 platforms and techniques › Runs RNA-seq, UMI-4C, Hi-C, Capture-C, ATAC-seq, CUT&RUN, nanoCUT&Tag, FLIM Techniques CRISPR-Cas9, Neural organoids, 2D and 3D hPSC in-vitro models, Drosophila melanogaster, Danio rerio, Immunohistochemistry, Live-cell monitoring, Enhancer assays Source: lab pages No funding stated · No openings posted	Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Non-coding structural variants disrupt FOXG1 transcriptional regulation in early neurodevelopment Epigenomics Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory +3 more Gene regulationIntellectual and developmental disabilityVariant interpretationMulti-omics

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