Elinor Karlsson, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Michael Schatz, Johns Hopkins University
Catalina Vallejos, University of Edinburgh & The Alan Turing Institute, UK
We are pleased to announce the seventh meeting on Biological Data Science, which will begin on Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. and conclude with lunch on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The scope of the Biological Data Science meeting will be the infrastructure, software, and algorithms needed to analyze large data sets in biological research. We welcome abstracts from researchers in both academia and industry who work on technical aspects of the discussion topics in all areas of biology, from genomics to imaging. We also welcome abstracts from translational and clinical researchers who regularly mine large data sets as part of their projects. The goal is to assemble a multidisciplinary audience that will discuss best practices, identify challenges, and highlight successes in the analysis of large biological data sets.
The James P. Taylor Foundation for Open Science will award six scholarships to outstanding graduate students in genomics and data sciences: 3 will cover conference registration and transportation, and 3 will cover conference registration only. Online application will open on TBA. The deadline for applications is TBA. For details and application instructions, visit
here.
Discussion Themes:
- Single Cell
- Personalized Medicine and Biomarkers
- Imaging
- Machine Learning
- Algorithmics
- Tools, Infrastructure, and Visualization
Keynote Speakers:
TBA
Confirmed Discussion Leaders:
TBA
Abstracts should contain only new and unpublished material and must be submitted electronically by the abstract deadline. Selection of material for oral and poster presentations will be made by the organizers and individual session chairs. The status of abstracts (i.e., talk or poster) will be posted as soon as decisions have been made by the organizers. Please bring this announcement to the attention of any of your colleagues who may be interested in participating in the meeting.
All questions pertaining to registration, fees, housing, meals, transportation, visas, abstract submission or any other matters should be directed to Kelley McGrath.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is eager to have as many young people as possible attend this meeting. As such, we have some funds set aside to partially support students and postdocs. Please register and apply in writing to Kelley McGrath stating your eligibility and need for financial support. Preference will be given to those submitting abstracts.
We look forward to seeing you at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in November 2024.
Social Media: The designated hashtag for this meeting is #cshldata26. Note that you must obtain permission from an individual presenter before live-tweeting or discussing his/her talk, poster, or research results on social media. Click the Policies tab above to see our full Confidentiality & Reporting Policy.
This meeting is sponsored by:
Pricing:
In-Person Fees
Academic/Media Private Room/Private Bath Package: $1550 (Subject to availability.)
Academic/Media Private Room/Shared Bath Package: $1460
Academic Shared Room Package: $1340
Academic/Media No-Housing Package: $1020
Student Package*: $1230
Student No-Housing Package: $910
Corporate Private Room/Private Bath Package: $1990
Corporate No-Housing Package: $1460
*Student Housing is default double occupancy. Please enquire about availability and fees to upgrade to private room.
NOTE: We cannot guarantee housing will be on campus
Room package reservations close 2 weeks before the meeting start date
Rules for Virtual Participation: Virtual participation will include access to the oral sessions via Zoom, access to the digital poster sessions and access to the Slack discussion channel, and the Leading Strand video archive.
Presenters: Individuals submitting abstracts and facing financial barriers should firstly request financial aid (see above). Permission to present your talk or poster virtually will be given only in exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis. If you think you are eligible for an exemption from the requirement to present in person, please provide a justification in writing via email to Kelley McGrath.
Non-presenting participants: We plan to broaden access to the conference by allowing certain categories of non-presenting participants to attend virtually at reduced fees. Categories include:
1. Individuals from low & middle income countries;
2. Individuals from non-LMIC countries in Asia, Australasia, Africa or South America;
3. Individuals from US & Canadian minority serving institutions;
4. Individuals with a demonstrable financial barrier;
5. Individuals with family obligations or other special circumstances.
For categories 4 & 5 above, please provide a justification via email to
Kelley McGrath
Virtual Fees:
Academic Virtual Package: $325
Grad Student Virtual Package: $190
Corporate Virtual Package: $475
Late Fee (Registrations submitted after 5:00 p.m. ET on October 29, 2026)
Late Academic Virtual Package: $425
Late Student Virtual Package: $290
Late Corporate Virtual Package: $575