22/02/2026
We are thrilled to share the outcomes of a recent three-day capacity-building program on Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing, held at Kathmandu University. This initiative was a key component of our collaborative research project, "Genomic bioprospecting of antimicrobial, probiotic, and extremophilic bacteria from Nepal", supported by Center for Pathogen Genomics (CPG) at the The University of Melbourne (UoM).
This collaboration between the CPG-UoM, Shubham Biotech Nepal Pvt. Ltd. (SBN), and Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University (KU) brought together international experts to train Nepalese researchers in cutting-edge genomic technologies.
The objective was to equip our team with practical skills for ONT sequencing and data analysis over three intensive days:
Day 1 (Feb 9, 2026): Bioinformatics Training. Dr. Himal Shrestha, Bioinformatician at CPG-UoM, led a hands-on session on ONT data handling, covering QC, genome assembly, and gene prediction.
Day 2 (Feb 17, 2026): Wet-Lab Masterclass. Dr. Louise Judd, Lead Laboratory Scientist and Genomics Trainer at CPG-UoM, and Dr. Himal, provided in-depth training on DNA inputs, library prep, and initiating a successful sequencing run for 18 bacterial strains from SBN's collections. Dr. Louise's meticulous guidance through every minute detail was invaluable to the team.
Day 3 (Feb 18, 2026): Advanced Troubleshooting & Analysis. We were joined by Dr. Sarah Baines, Fleming Fund Mentor (Human Health) at the WHO collaborating Center for Antimicrobial Resistance, Doherty Institute, UoM along with Dr. Louise and Dr. Himal. Together, we monitored the ongoing sequencing run, analyzed real-time data output, and engaged in critical discussion on troubleshooting and data interpretation.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the expert from the University of Melbourne, Dr. Himal Shrestha, Dr. Louise Judd, and Dr. Sarah Baines, for their dedication and for providing this golden opportunity to develop our expertise. This training marks a significant milestone as our team from KU and SBN formally enters microbial genomics research.
We are also deeply thankful to Dr. Jake A Lacey, Academic Specialist and MDU Bioinformatics Section Leader at the UoM, for his leadership as Principal Investigator of this project. His vision and commitment to fostering international collaboration were instrumental in making this capacity-building program a reality.
We are also deeply thankful to Dr. Parash Mani Timilsina, Co-PI of the project and Associate Professor at KU, and Mrs. Durga Karki, Bioinformatics faculty at KU for their exceptional efforts in facilitating and coordinating this training program. Finally, we appreciate the Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University, for hosting this collaboration and contributing to its grand success.