Ghent University at ASHG 2026

Oct 20–24, 2026 Montréal, Canada ~7.5k attendees Website

Ghent University brings 6 presentations from 3 research groups to ASHG 2026 in Montréal. Its program centres on rare disease, cancer and clinical genetics, with therapeutic and reproductive genetics work also represented. The De Baere Lab examines FOXL2-region disruption and RPE65 variants, the Lab for Cancer Predisposition and Precision Oncology tests BRCA2 variants in zebrafish, and the Functional Genomics Lab studies non-coding variants affecting FOXG1 regulation.

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 Part of Clinical Genetics Across the Lifespan: From Gene Discovery to Prenatal, Developmental, and Pharmacogenomic Insights 3D genome rewiring and lncRNA-associated cis-regulatory disruption of the FOXL2 region underlie blepharophimosis syndrome, a rare enhanceropathy Room 710A/Level 7 Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital Copy number/structural variationGene regulationMulti-omicsNon-coding RNA Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Part of Mendelian Phenotypes Poster Wednesday Session 3D genome rewiring and lncRNA-associated cis-regulatory disruption of the FOXL2 region underlie blepharophimosis syndrome, a rare enhanceropathy Exhibit & Poster Hall · Board 1072W Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital Copy number/structural variationGene regulationMulti-omicsNon-coding RNA Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Part of Molecular Effects of Genetic Variation Poster Thursday Session Integrated functional framework improves clinical interpretation of RPE65 variants and expands therapeutic eligibility in inherited retinal disease Exhibit & Poster Hall · Board 6049T Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel Genetic variationVariant interpretationGene therapyGenetic testing Session Fri Oct 23 4:30 pm Awards Recognition & Plenary Abstract Session III Room 517/Level 5 …We have 'found our purpose' at #ASHG25 in Boston, and already look forward to designing an inspiring #ASHG26 meeting!…View post on LinkedInPosted Oct 18, 2025 Also Presenting at the meeting, beyond the sessions above Attendee …We have 'found our purpose' at #ASHG25 in Boston, and already look forward to designing an inspiring #ASHG26 meeting!…View post on LinkedInPosted Oct 18, 2025
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 Part of Cancer Poster Wednesday Session In vivo functional assessment of BRCA2 variants using prime-edited zebrafish Exhibit & Poster Hall · Board 1035W Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital Variant interpretationGenome editing/CRISPRCancer syndromesModel organisms Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Part of Cancer Poster Wednesday Session Exploring circulating tumor DNA profiles to monitor tumor dynamics in pancreatic adenocarcinoma Exhibit & Poster Hall · Board 1026W 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 Part of Epigenomics Poster Thursday Session Non-coding structural variants disrupt FOXG1 transcriptional regulation in early neurodevelopment Exhibit & Poster Hall · Board 7062T Collaborators: Ghent University Hospital, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory +3 more Gene regulationIntellectual and developmental disabilityVariant interpretationMulti-omics

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