2026 Genomics Showcase hosted by the QUT Centre for Genomics & Personalised Health

Lineup

• More details about Keynote Speaker: Professor Flavia Huygens - Microbio Chief Scientific Officer, Founder and Executive Director

  Keynote Speaker: Professor Flavia Huygens - Microbio Chief Scientific Officer, Founder and Executive Director

  Flavia’s 30-year teaching, research and commercialisation career has been focused on molecular microbiology, with a particular focus on human pathogens. Flavia brought together emerging technology in molecular microbiology, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics to invent InfectID, a diagnostic platform technology that identifies bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens directly from clinical samples. Flavia is inventor and co-inventor of a growing number of patents, four of which are related to InfectID, which is currently being commercialised by Microbio. Microbio’s flagship product, InfectID-BSI, is an In Vitro Diagnostic test designed to identify 26 sepsis-causing pathogens in less than three hours directly from whole blood. Flavia has had substantial industry funding from: the Australian Departments of Industry and Innovations, and Industry – Business; Australian Federal Government Entrepreneur’s Progam Accelerating Commercialisation; Australian Federal Government – Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre; Australian Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG) – Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC). She’s published 100 peer-reviewed papers to date.

• More details about Keynote Speaker: Dr Macsue Jacques, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), Monash University

  Keynote Speaker: Dr Macsue Jacques, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), Monash University

  Dr Macsue Jacques is an emerging research leader at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), Monash University, specialising in human epigenetics, multi-omics, and the molecular mechanisms of ageing. Her research seeks to understand why individuals, tissues, and organs age differently, with the ultimate goal of translating molecular discoveries into strategies for predicting and preventing age-related diseases. With over 40 scientific publications, including landmark studies in Nature Aging and Cell Reports, Dr Jacques has contributed to major international initiatives mapping the molecular landscape of human ageing and exercise adaptation. Her research spans large-scale human epigenetic atlases, emerging long-read sequencing technologies, and pioneering clinical studies integrating molecular profiles from the human heart, skeletal muscle, and blood to uncover the biological drivers of ageing. Her scientific contributions have been recognised through the 2024 Monash Dean's Award for Researcher of the Year (Early Career), selection as a 2026 AAMRI Rising Star finalist, the Monash Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Fellowship, and the QUT BRIDGE Program Fellowship. She is a Chief Investigator B on an NHMRC Ideas Grant and a recipient of the ARMI Accelerator Grant, supporting her transition towards independent research leadership and the establishment of her own research group. Beyond her scientific achievements, Dr Jacques plays an active role in shaping the longevity research ecosystem. She serves as Co-Director of Longevity Global Australia, is a member of the organising committee of the Biomarkers of Aging Conference, and co-hosts the Decoding Longevity podcast with Dr Raghav Sehgal, engaging international scientific leaders in conversations about ageing, biotechnology, and the future of human health. Through her research, leadership, and international collaborations, Dr Jacques aims to advance a new generation of precision approaches to ageing, bridging molecular discovery, clinical translation, and emerging technologies to extend human healthspan.