MENA Microbiome
From Biomarkers Discovery
to Microbiota-based Therapeutics


Pre-Event Workshop
Date: September 26th
Venue: Sidra Medicine

Overview /Pre-Event Workshop

This on-site hands-on workshop offers a unique opportunity to practice how to process biological samples for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and learn the essential bioinformatics tools for microbiome downstream analysis.

This is a non-CME accredited workshop. Only 25 seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register Now

Location: Sidra Medicine-Out Patient Clinics, 6th floor, room C6-301 and 5th floor, laboratory

Time Sessions and Facilitators Topics
8:00 – 8:30 am Registration and Welcome (Room C6-301)

MENA Microbiome Conference Chairs:

  • Dr. Souhaila Al Khodor, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Annalisa Terranegra, Sidra Medicine
  • Check-in and participant registration
  • Welcome remarks and overview of the workshop
  • Introduction to facilitators and agenda
8:30 – 9:00 am Introduction (Room C6-301)

  • Dr. Selvasankar Murugesan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Arun Lakshmanan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Overview of key concepts and objectives
  • Presentation by the lead facilitator
9:00 – 10:30 am Hands-On – Part I (Room C5-73100)

  • Dr. Akbar Pathan, Senior FAS Manager, MGI
  • Mr. Sunil Bose, Field Application Support, MGI
  • Dr. Selvasankar Murugesan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Arun Lakshmanan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Manoj Kumar, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Sample QC
  • Library Preparation
10:30 – 10:45 am Coffee Break – Sponsored by MGI
10:45 – 1:00 pm Hands-On – Part II (Room C5-73100)

  • Dr. Akbar Pathan, Senior FAS Manager, MGI
  • Mr. Sunil Bose, Field Application Support, MGI
  • Dr. Selvasankar Murugesan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Arun Lakshmanan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Manoj Kumar, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Loading Library
  • Sequencing Demo
1:00 -2:00 pm Lunch Break – Sponsored by MGI (Room C6-301)
2:00 – 3:30 pm Bioinformatics Analysis – Part I (Room C6-301)

  • Dr. Mohamed Nadhir Djekidel, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Miss Hissa Al Fakhri, Research Specialist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Selvasankar Murugesan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Arun Lakshmanan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Introduction to 16S sequencing bioinformatics
  • Hands-on QIIME2 analysis using Google Colab
3:30 – 3:45 pm Coffee Break – Sponsored by MGI
3:45 – 5:00 pm Bioinformatics Analysis – Part II (Room C6-301)

  • Dr. Mohamed Nadhir Djekidel, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Miss Hissa Al Fakhri, Research Specialist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Selvasankar Murugesan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Arun Lakshmanan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Hands-on downstream analysis in R using Google Colab
5:00 – 5:30 pm Closing Remarks and Certification
(Room C6-301)

  • Dr. Mohamed Nadhir Djekidel, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Miss Hissa Al Fakhri, Research Specialist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Selvasankar Murugesan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Dr. Arun Lakshmanan, Staff Scientist, Sidra Medicine
  • Final Quiz
  • Distribution of certificates of participation
  • Networking opportunity

Pre-Event Workshop Sponsor

MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (or its subsidiaries, together referred to MGI), is committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science. Our focus lies in research & development, manufacturing, and sales of instruments, reagents, and related products in the field of life science and biotechnology. We provide real-time, multi-omics, and full spectrum of digital equipment and systems for precision medicine, agriculture, healthcare and various other industries.

Website: https://en.mgi-tech.com/