iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

The past 12 months have been the most exciting of my scientific career, largely fuelled by advances in AI. Genomic technologies have long been held back by software development. This is no longer a bottleneck thanks to LLMs and agentic workflows. But the kicker is how RNA ties into this...

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Bioplatforms Australia @bioplatformsaus.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Launching the Australian Sentinel Species Genomics Initiative 🌿 A new collaboration between Bioplatforms and Minderoo Foundation will harness genomics to better understand ecosystem resilience, environmental change and early biological signals of stress. Learn more: bioplatforms.com/project/sent...

bioplatforms.com

Sentinel Species Genomics Initiative - Bioplatforms Australia

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Sequencing is not just a test. It is the front door to the next cancer system. My OpEd in The Australian is online today, ahead of tomorrow’s UNSW Showcase at Parliament House. 🧵⬇️ www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medic...

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

1/ Impactful #genomics doesn’t always require expensive infrastructure. In our new preprint, we developed a long-read HLA profiling workflow costing ~US$20/sample using an Opentrons OT-2 robot, enabling high-resolution profiling across 500+ participants. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

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Lorne Genome Conference, Australia @lornegenome.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Lorne Genome 2027 will be held 14 to 17th February in Lorne Australia. Our invited speakers will include Karen Arndt, Neil Brockdorff, Laura Banaszynski and Fides Zenk.

Lorne Genome 2027 Poster: 14 to 17th February, at Lorne Australia. Background shows the coast off Lorne. Invited speakers include Karen Arndt, Neil Brockdorff, Laura Banaszynski and Fides Zenk.

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Timothy Bredy @twbredy.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Our latest work is online. An interesting observation about the contents of vaults in the absence of the key ncRNA vaultRC5. Seems important for memory.Well done Mason! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

Dynamic regulation of neuronal vault trafficking and RNA cargo by the noncoding RNA, Vaultrc5

Vaults are large ribonucleoprotein complexes of unknown function. Here, we report that the vault-associated noncoding RNA, Vaultrc5, is highly enriche…

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Selene FeRNAndez @selfdz.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

📢 Sydney #RNA scientists: our next #SydneyRNASalon event is coming up! 🧬 ECR, student, or just RNA-curious? This one's for you! 📅 Thu 30 April · 2:10–4:30pm 📍 Room G07, Biosciences Building D26 UNSW 🥐 Refreshments sponsored by @rnasociety.bsky.social, Lexogen & @ramacgenomics.bsky.social

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Palli Thordarson @palliunsw.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

@ashjogalekar.bsky.social Summarised beautifully on X the most profound lesson re Rosie and her personalised canine cancer vaccine, namely that Paul Conyngham's work here using AI to design the mRNA we made, demonstrates that Dyson's prophecy about "domesticating" Biotech is within reach! #ozchem

Paul Conyngham AI entrepreneur and Rosie's owner, with Prof. Pall Thordarson (myself), Director of the UNSW RNA Institute plus Rosie the staffy getting ready for our interview on Channel 9 Today Weekend show last Saturday.

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

A good news story for you this morning in The Australian, featuring #genomics, #AI, and #mRNA #vaccines 🧬🐕 www.theaustralian.com.au/business/tec...

theaustralian.com.au

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RNA Society @rnasociety.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

The deadline has been extended to March 15th for the RNA Society's Infographics contest! Get your talent team together and submit! Prizes!! Go to www.rnasociety.org/rna-society-... or scan the QR for details!

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Zheng Su presents kiloBrains.com, an AI-powered biodata analysis platform. A virtual bioinformatics assistant #AGTA2025

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Cornetto from @hasindu2008.bsky.social presented by Ira Deveson: T2T assembly of human genomes with @nanoporetech.com adaptive sampling by rejecting the "boring bits". 27/46 chromosomes fully assembled from one flowcell. Can also be used on saliva! #AGTA2025 github.com/hasindu2008/...

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

"Isoforms are important; how come we're not studying them?" #AGTA2025 keynote @azizalkhafaji.bsky.social mentions that we are now at am I flection point, where 100s of millions of reads are produced per run.

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

The great Prof Vanessa Hayes, who sequenced the first African Genome, states "the closer we get to ancestral populations, the more diversity we see in genomes". Presents genomic data from WGS of Khoe-San populations, interesting phylogenetic split between Khoe (hunters) and San (gatherers) #agta2025

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Prof Sean Grimmong from PeterMac Genomic Cancer Medicine on the entire workflow for #cancer #diagnosis, and how to deal with dilemmas, like the 5% of Australians without a clear diagnosis #agta2025

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

The 🧬🧬🧬 party has started!! First sponsored session by #Roche on #Axelios #SBX #AGTA2025

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Albert Vilella, PhD. @albertvilella.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

@estamatakis.bsky.social , not recently active on #Bluesky, on the health value of each minute of different physical activity intensities against 6 health outcomes.

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Adaptive sampling #WGS is moving from bench to bedside. Our work delivers SNV, structural & methylation insights on @nanoporetech.com with molecular signals emerging in minutes, not days. Watch this space 👀 #cancer #genomicAI #MultiOmics #bioinformatics @cra-chusj.bsky.social tinyurl.com/4d337djb

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Given how stingy public research funding is overall, it's shocking that the #MRFF only spends 50% of what is allocated in the budget. This funds highly impactful, translational research focused fund that can DIRECTLY address the economic burdens of the healthcare system + improved patient outcomes

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Genomics is the future of cancer treatment. The PAGES project is making sure Aboriginal Australians are part of that future. 🎬 Watch now 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRfX... #precisionMedicine #healthEquity #genomics #firstNations

youtube.com

The PAGES Study

YouTube video by Co-Design Health Research & Innovation

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Existential #RNAsky question for the weekend: If two RNA products share the same promoter/TSS, but have different 5' ends (one is processed out of longer transcript) and are differentially expressed, are they different isoforms or distinct genes?

media.tenor.com

a man with a white wig and beard is standing in front of trees

ALT: a man with a white wig and beard is standing in front of trees

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

LLM chat bot generated requests for HDR supervision are so generic and obvious, it makes sifting through applications that much easier. I'm concerned for new tenure track academics -- I hope they can sniff out these copy paste requests, maybe by using honeypots on university research profiles?

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Some exciting #SingleCell events with #ParseBio coming up this month at @ramacgenomics.bsky.social 🧬 9 Sept: SPLiT-Seq Tech Showcase Seminar 🔗 tinyurl.com/bddc5zc3 15 Sept: Application deadline for discounted Parse Evercode WT Mini v3 Kit promotion 🔗 tinyurl.com/yc84zmfm 📩 ramaciotti@unsw.edu.au

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Congratulations to @hasindu2008.bsky.social form #UNSW Computer Science and Engineering for wearing a tuxedo last night 👏🏻 Also for being awarded the #EurekaPrize for outstanding early career researcher, showcase his pioneering and impacftful research in #bioinformatics software

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Prof Cecile King finishing her #ARNASydney2025 talk on biomolecular condensates by promoting the upcoming (free) symposium on the topic in November

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Early bird deadline extended for #AGTA #AGTA2025 This year will be quite different, with a big focus on tech, low cost Rego, digital engagement, and in a central location. Don't miss the ECR events, exhibitor lounges (à la AGBT) and two lightning talk sessions, open to industry members: agta2025.com

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Selene FeRNAndez @selfdz.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Yesterday we had a brilliant start to #ARNASydney2025. We kicked off with the #RNA in neuroscience & RNA tech, AI & Bioinformatics sessions. Speakers included @sergiuppasca.bsky.social, Mike Clark, @sabaaltaf.bsky.social, Nicole Green and several others #RNASky @unswrna.bsky.social

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Prof Nils Walter from U.Michigan back in Sydney, mentions it's his favourite place! Opening up the #ARNASydney2025 structure, chemistry and dynamics session.

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Timothy Bredy @twbredy.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

#A-RNA2025 off to a great start. @martinalexsmith.bsky.social sharing his views on why lncRNAs should no longer be consider wallflowers.

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

The annual meeting of the Australasian RNA association is on for the next 3 days at UTS. Possibly one of the longest hashtags ever #ARNASydney2025

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Selene FeRNAndez @selfdz.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Only 3 sleeps until #ARNASydney2025!!! Excited to host two special panels: 💼 Career Development Panel - organised by our outstanding A-RNA EMCR team 💊 RNA Commercialisation Workshop - generously sponsored by BioNTech Australia Register at www.a-rnameeting.org.au #RNASky @unswrna.bsky.social

Career Development Panel for A-RNA - Dr Natalia Sampaio, A/Prof Glen Reid, A/Prof Martin Smith

RNA Commercialisation Workshop, sponsored by BioNTech. Panel: Prof Sue Fletcher, Prof Nils Walter, Dr Noelia Nebot

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Mike Schatz @mikeschatz.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Scholarships available for Genome Informatics - just include a brief summary on your open science work plus your conference abstract. If you have already paid to register, we will work with CSHL to refund you the $$$. Apply today! jxtxfoundation.org/news/2025-6-... @jxtxfoundation.bsky.social

jxtxfoundation.org

JXTX + CSHL 2025 Genome Informatics Scholarship

JXTX + CSHL 2025 Genome Informatics Scholarships

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

RNA is far more than a messenger. Its structures regulate, evolve, and catalyze — carrying out functions DNA alone cannot. But predicting #RNA structure from sequence is still extremely difficult. In our recently published paper in @narjournal.bsky.social we present a way forward. 🧵 ⤵️

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

🥱 Bored during #ScienceWeek2025? 🥼 Want to go on an adventure from the comfort of your pyjamas? 🧪🧬Why not go on an immersive & interactive virtual tour of a #Genomics #Lab? Wander around the @ramacgenomics.bsky.social Centre with impunity here ➡️ tinyurl.com/mr2cj4rj #UNSWscience

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

The P6 buzzing alone peacefully, discretely filling up hard drives 🧬

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Matt Baker @phatmattbaker.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Nice @unswbabs.bsky.social UNSW write up of our paper. ✈️ Melbourne now w/ team to present this and other work at #HFSP @hfspo.bsky.social 24th awardee meeting. Looking forward to getting inspired with new biology from interdisciplinary teams across the world. www.unsw.edu.au/news/2025/06...

unsw.edu.au

Bacteria were swimming from the start

New analysis shows that the last common ancestor of bacteria had a flagellar motor which enabled it to swim, indicating how important learning to swim was for life.

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Martin Smith @martinalexsmith.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

🌅🐦‍⬛Early bird Registration for #AGTA2025 is live! Submit your abstract 📝 and check-out the awesome 🗓️ program here ➡️ agta2025.org

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Danny IncaRNAto @incarnatolab.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

The IncaRNAto lab is seeking a motivated #PhD candidate, interested in studying #RNA structural ensemble dynamics in living cells. Here's the link to the vacancy: www.rug.nl/about-ug/wor.... Please share!

rug.nl

Vacatures bij de RUG

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Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics @ramacgenomics.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

#MeetTheTeamMonday ~ Get to know Steven, our fabulous Research Assistant who works in the amplicon, Sanger, and ONT sequencing teams! @unswbabs.bsky.social #unsw #ramaciotticentreforgenomics

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