Martin Smith
@martinalexsmith.bsky.social
🧬 Genomics | RNA Biology | AI & Nanopore Sequencing | Biotech & Innovation
🔬 Director @ramacgenomics.bsky.social | A/Prof @ UNSW BABS | RNA Institute
🌍 Exploring genomes, RNA, & the future of precision medicine
🏕️🥾🎣🚴 Science, adventure & good coffee
🔬 Director @ramacgenomics.bsky.social | A/Prof @ UNSW BABS | RNA Institute
🌍 Exploring genomes, RNA, & the future of precision medicine
🏕️🥾🎣🚴 Science, adventure & good coffee
Pinned
Martin Smith
@martinalexsmith.bsky.social
· Dec 10
🌿 Advancing Genomics Together!
In 2022-23, the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics @UNSW:
📊 Processed 220K+ samples
🔬 Supported 1,000+ research projects
🧬 Featured in 282 publications
Explore how we drive discovery and innovation: www.ramaciotti.unsw.edu.au/about/annual...
In 2022-23, the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics @UNSW:
📊 Processed 220K+ samples
🔬 Supported 1,000+ research projects
🧬 Featured in 282 publications
Explore how we drive discovery and innovation: www.ramaciotti.unsw.edu.au/about/annual...
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...
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...
August 21, 2026 at 11:39 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by Martin Smith
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...
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...
Sentinel Species Genomics Initiative - Bioplatforms Australia
bioplatforms.com
August 18, 2026 at 11:52 PM
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...
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...
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...
My OpEd in The Australian is online today, ahead of tomorrow’s UNSW Showcase at Parliament House.
🧵⬇️
www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medic...
June 28, 2026 at 1:42 AM
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...
My OpEd in The Australian is online today, ahead of tomorrow’s UNSW Showcase at Parliament House.
🧵⬇️
www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medic...
Reposted by Martin Smith
Applications are closing soon! ⏳ Secure your spot for our workshop before the deadline on 18 June 2026: www.biocommons.org.au/events/gen-a...
WORKSHOP: Generative AI Essentials for Life Sciences — Australian BioCommons
An interactive workshop to help life science researchers use generative AI responsibly and effectively by aligning models to specific research tasks. More information Apply
www.biocommons.org.au
June 3, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Applications are closing soon! ⏳ Secure your spot for our workshop before the deadline on 18 June 2026: www.biocommons.org.au/events/gen-a...
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...
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...
May 29, 2026 at 5:12 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by Martin Smith
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.
April 30, 2026 at 2:30 AM
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.
Reposted by Martin Smith
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...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 22, 2026 at 10:08 PM
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...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Martin Smith
📢 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
📅 Thu 30 April · 2:10–4:30pm
📍 Room G07, Biosciences Building D26 UNSW
🥐 Refreshments sponsored by @rnasociety.bsky.social, Lexogen & @ramacgenomics.bsky.social
April 9, 2026 at 3:42 AM
📢 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
📅 Thu 30 April · 2:10–4:30pm
📍 Room G07, Biosciences Building D26 UNSW
🥐 Refreshments sponsored by @rnasociety.bsky.social, Lexogen & @ramacgenomics.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin Smith
@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
March 16, 2026 at 10:17 AM
@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
A good news story for you this morning in The Australian, featuring #genomics, #AI, and #mRNA #vaccines 🧬🐕
www.theaustralian.com.au/business/tec...
www.theaustralian.com.au/business/tec...
www.theaustralian.com.au
March 13, 2026 at 11:07 PM
A good news story for you this morning in The Australian, featuring #genomics, #AI, and #mRNA #vaccines 🧬🐕
www.theaustralian.com.au/business/tec...
www.theaustralian.com.au/business/tec...
Reposted by Martin Smith
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!
February 25, 2026 at 7:30 PM
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!
Could @lornegenome.bsky.social be the MOST Aussie genomics conference?
February 18, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Could @lornegenome.bsky.social be the MOST Aussie genomics conference?
Zheng Su presents kiloBrains.com, an AI-powered biodata analysis platform.
A virtual bioinformatics assistant
#AGTA2025
A virtual bioinformatics assistant
#AGTA2025
October 14, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Zheng Su presents kiloBrains.com, an AI-powered biodata analysis platform.
A virtual bioinformatics assistant
#AGTA2025
A virtual bioinformatics assistant
#AGTA2025
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/...
#AGTA2025
github.com/hasindu2008/...
October 13, 2025 at 11:53 PM
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/...
#AGTA2025
github.com/hasindu2008/...
"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.
#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.
October 13, 2025 at 4:14 AM
"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.
#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.
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
Presents genomic data from WGS of Khoe-San populations, interesting phylogenetic split between Khoe (hunters) and San (gatherers) #agta2025
October 13, 2025 at 2:45 AM
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
Presents genomic data from WGS of Khoe-San populations, interesting phylogenetic split between Khoe (hunters) and San (gatherers) #agta2025
October 13, 2025 at 2:31 AM
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
October 12, 2025 at 11:49 PM
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
October 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by Martin Smith
@estamatakis.bsky.social , not recently active on #Bluesky, on the health value of each minute of different physical activity intensities against 6 health outcomes.
October 9, 2025 at 8:45 AM
@estamatakis.bsky.social , not recently active on #Bluesky, on the health value of each minute of different physical activity intensities against 6 health outcomes.
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
tinyurl.com/4d337djb
October 7, 2025 at 1:59 AM
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
tinyurl.com/4d337djb
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
This funds highly impactful, translational research focused fund that can DIRECTLY address the economic burdens of the healthcare system + improved patient outcomes
The National Association of Research Fellows join the call for full disbursement of the #MRFF #DiscoveriesNeedDollars
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
Billions going unspent from Australia’s $24b medical research fund
Costings commissioned by independent MP Monique Ryan reveal the government could double how much funding it gives to innovative health research each year.
www.theage.com.au
September 28, 2025 at 2:21 AM
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
This funds highly impactful, translational research focused fund that can DIRECTLY address the economic burdens of the healthcare system + improved patient outcomes
28km, 7 bridges, 2 family members raising funds for #CancerCouncil
In honour of their grandparents.
If you can spare a gold coin, please help support my wife and son for a second year in a row 🎗️
www.7bridgeswalk.com.au/fundraisers/...
#fuckCancer #cancer #research
In honour of their grandparents.
If you can spare a gold coin, please help support my wife and son for a second year in a row 🎗️
www.7bridgeswalk.com.au/fundraisers/...
#fuckCancer #cancer #research
nicole: walking for a cancer free future
I’m taking on 7 Bridges Walk to help those affected by cancer. Please donate to my page. Every step counts because all funds raised will help Cancer Council work towards the vision of a cancer free fu...
www.7bridgeswalk.com.au
September 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
28km, 7 bridges, 2 family members raising funds for #CancerCouncil
In honour of their grandparents.
If you can spare a gold coin, please help support my wife and son for a second year in a row 🎗️
www.7bridgeswalk.com.au/fundraisers/...
#fuckCancer #cancer #research
In honour of their grandparents.
If you can spare a gold coin, please help support my wife and son for a second year in a row 🎗️
www.7bridgeswalk.com.au/fundraisers/...
#fuckCancer #cancer #research
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
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
The PAGES Study
YouTube video by Co-Design Health Research & Innovation
www.youtube.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:29 PM
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
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