Quest for Orthologs 9

Lausanne, 29th-30th August 2026

Welcome to the

Quest for Orthologs 9

29th-30th August 2026

About

The 9th edition of the Quest for Orthologs (QfO) meeting is a staple event in molecular evolutionary biology and genomics, bringing together researchers to advance methodological developments and the application of orthology. QfO is dedicated to developing large-scale methods for inferring orthology among fully sequenced genomes. The theme of the 2026 meeting is “Connecting Communities in the Quest for Orthologs.” By fostering collaboration between researchers, tool developers, and end-users, QfO aims to enhance the functional, evolutionary, and comparative understanding of genomes.

Hosted by the Department of Computational Biology of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, this meeting will welcome you in a friendly and relaxed environment on the shores of Lake Léman, with plenty of opportunities for discussing your work and exchange ideas with new friends and colleagues. Join us in Lausanne!

Speakers

Lucy J. Colwell
University of Cambridge

Erich Bornberg-Bauer
University of Münster

Katharina Hoff
University of Greifswald

Ekaterina Osipova
Harvard University

Register or submit an abstract here (not yet available)

Submit

Programme (may be subject to change)

8:30 - 9:30
Registration - Coffee
9:30 - 9:40
Welcome - Information

9:40 - 10:25

Name Surname - Keynote 1

N/A
TBD
10:25 - 10:45

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
10:45 - 11:10
Coffee Break

11:10 - 11:30

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
11:30 - 11:50

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
11:50 - 12:00

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
12:00 - 12:10

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
12:10 - 12:20

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
12:20 - 14:00
Lunch

14:00 - 14:45

Name Surname - Keynote 2

N/A
TBD
14:45 - 15:05

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
15:05 - 15:10
Short Break

15:10 - 15:30

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
15:30 - 15:40

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
15:40 - 16:00

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
16:00 - 16:30

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
16:30 - 17:00
Coffee Break
17:00 - 18:00

    Parallel working groups:
  • QfO9 report
  • QfO benchmark
  • Future scientific challenges
  • QfO10 organisation
18:00 - 19:00
Poster Session and Apero
19:00 - ∞)
Social Dinner

8:30 - 9:00
Morning coffee
9:00 - 9:05
Welcome - Information

9:05 - 9:50

Name Surname - Keynote 3

N/A
TBD
9:50 - 10:10

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
10:10 - 10:30

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee Break

11:00 - 11:20

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
11:20 - 11:40

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
11:40 - 12:00

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
12:00 - 12:20

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
12:20 - 14:00
Lunch

14:00 - 14:45

Name Surname - Keynote 4

N/A
TBD
14:45 - 15:05

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
15:05 - 15:10
Short Break

15:10 - 15:25

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
15:25 - 15:40

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
15:40 - 15:55

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
16:00 - 16:30

Name Surname - Selected Talk

N/A
TBD
16:30 - 16:50
Coffee Break
16:20 - 17:00

16:20 - 16:50
Working group reports: QFO9 conclusions
16:50 - 17:00
Closing remarks
17:00
Goodbye!

Practical information

Dates

Abstract submission deadline
15th May 2026 [Friday]
Conference dates
29th-30th August 2026
Social dinner
29th August 2026

Registration fees

Fee
Student/post-doc
100 CHF
PI
100 CHF
Industry
100 CHF

Venue

Address

Genopode, UNIL
Genopode, CH-1015 Ecublens

How to reach

The nearest international airport is Geneva Airport, located 60 km from Lausanne. Geneva Airport is serviced by numerous airline companies providing connections with European cities like Paris, London, and Frankfurt, as well as a few non-European destinations. To get from Geneva Airport to Lausanne, attendees can use the train from Geneva Airport to Lausanne train station (~45 minutes) Alternatively, Lausanne can be reached by car from Geneva Airport in approximately 45 minutes

Lausanne is well connected by train to all major cities in Switzerland. The main train station is located in the city center and offers frequent connections to cities like Zurich, Bern, and Geneva. Please see Swiss Railways website to access train schedules.

How to get to Genopode from downtown Lausanne
  • Metro M2 + M1 From Lausanne-Flon or Gare (main train station), take Metro M2 to "Lausanne-Flon"
    Transfer to Metro M1 (direction: "Renens") Get off at UNIL-Sorge station (~12 minutes)
    Walk ~5 minutes across the campus to the Genopode (towards the lake)
  • Direct Bus (TL Bus Line 1)
    Take Bus from downtown. Get off near Ecublens VD, Champagne
    (journey ~16–18 minutes) Walk ~2 minutes to the Genopode
  • Taxi or Uber
    Distance: ~6 km from downtown. Duration: ~10 minutes by car
    Estimated cost: CHF 30–35

Other accommodation options

A large number of hotels located right in the city centre, not far from the venue, close to Lake Léman:

Hôtel Alpha-Palmiers ★★★★

Address: Rue du Petit-Chêne 34, 1003 Lausanne.

Hôtel Agora ★★★

Address: Avenue du Rond-Point 9, 1006 Lausanne.

Hôtel des Voyageurs ★★★

Address: Rue Grand-Saint-Jean 19, 1003 Lausanne.

Hôtel Elite ★★★

Address: Av. Sainte-Luce 1, 1003 Lausanne.

Auberge de Jeunesse de Lausanne

Address: Chem. du Bois-de-Vaux 36, 1007 Lausanne.

Hôtel du Marché

Address: Rue Pré-du-Marché 42, 1004 Lausanne.

About the Area

The University of Lausanne (UNIL) is nestled along the picturesque shores of Lake Léman in Switzerland. The campus is a vibrant hub of academic and social activity, surrounded by lush greenery and stunning views of the lake and mountains. With modern facilities, including libraries, sports centers, and cafes, students have everything they need within walking distance. The nearby city of Lausanne offers a rich cultural experience with museums, theaters, and a lively nightlife. Whether you're attending a lecture or enjoying a leisurely stroll by the lake, the UNIL campus provides an inspiring and welcoming environment for all.

Organizers

  • Natasha Glover
    Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
  • Sina Majidian
    Chalmers University of Technology
  • Stefano Pascarelli
    University of Lausanne
  • Dannie Durand
    Carnegie Mellon University
  • Irene Julca
    Aarhus University
  • Evgenia Kriventseva
    University of Geneva
  • Felix Langschied
    Goethe University
  • Odile Lecompte
    University of Strasbourg
  • Yannis Nevers
    University of Strasbourg
  • Aida Ouangraoua
    University of Sherbrooke
  • Silvia Prieto Banos
    University of Lausanne
  • Damian Szklarczyk
    University of Zurich
  • Travis Wheeler
    University of Arizona

Contacts

qfoteam@gmail.com

Sponsors