CBHC 2026: Canadian Bioinformatics Hub Conference 2026 MaRS Centre Toronto, Canada, May 27-29, 2026

Conference website	https://www.iscb.org/cbhc2026/home
Submission link	https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=cbhc2026
Submission deadline	February 12, 2026

The Canadian Bioinformatics Hub Conference 2026 (CBHC 2026) marks the inaugural gathering of Canada’s bioinformatics, computational biology, and data science community. CBHC 2026 is organized by the Canadian Bioinformatics Hub (CBH), a CIHR and Genome Canada funded platform dedicated to training and community building.

Join us in downtown Toronto from May 27–29, 2026 for an exciting two-day scientific program, preceded by pre-conference workshops on May 27.

A key goal of this national event is to improve the visibility of Canada’s research strength in bioinformatics, computational biology, and data science. The conference will bring together Canada’s leading researchers, professionals, and trainees to: 

• Showcase cutting-edge interdisciplinary computational research
• Enable collaboration and networking across sectors
• Celebrate Canadian achievements in bioinformatics & computational biology

What to Expect

• World-class keynotes from national and international experts
• Engaging talks and posters from early career researchers and trainees
• Dynamic panel discussions exploring emerging opportunities and challenges in the field
• Pre-conference workshops dedicated to supporting the next generation
• Vibrant networking sessions designed to foster new collaborations and partnerships
• Award Ceremony celebrating Canadian excellence in bioinformatics, computational biology, and data science

We invite abstracts of original research for a talk or poster presentation. This is your chance to showcase your research, engage in meaningful discussions with peers, and contribute to shaping the future of bioinformatics, computational biology, and data science in Canada.

Submission Guidelines

Showcase your research! Submit an abstract!

Talks and posters are excellent ways to communicate your research, connect with peers, and shape the future of Canadian bioinformatics. Submit your abstract to be part of CBHC 2026, where data, methods, and discoveries come together.

The Canadian Bioinformatics Hub Conference (CBHC) 2026 invites abstract submissions only (this conference is not accepting full papers), showcasing original and innovative research at the forefront of bioinformatics, computational biology, and data science. We welcome contributions from across the life and health sciences that advance knowledge through new data resources, computational methods, and biological discoveries.

Submissions are encouraged from trainees, early-career researchers, and established professionals. Accepted abstracts will be featured as short oral or poster presentations, with sessions organized by scientific themes encompassing Data, Methods, and Discoveries to ensure a cohesive and engaging program. All accepted abstracts will be published in the official CBHC 2026 Abstract Booklet.

We invite work across three interconnected themes that reflect the full spectrum of bioinformatics, computational biology and data science activities:

• Data: Building Resources and InfrastructureResearch that establishes the foundations for data-driven science. Topics include the development of databases, data management workflows, ontologies, metadata standards, and governance frameworks guided by FAIR principles and Indigenous data sovereignty as well as data sharing and analysis platforms, workflows, and curation strategies that support data sharing, quality, and reproducibility.
• Methods: Advancing Computational ApproachesInnovations and advances in algorithms, models, and tools that enable the analysis and interpretation of complex biological data. Submissions may cover areas such as sequence analysis and genome assembly tools, machine learning and AI, statistical modeling, containerized pipelines for reproducible workflows, and data visualization. 
• Discoveries: Generating Biological and Biomedical InsightsResearch that applies computational methods and data resources to uncover new biological and biomedical knowledge. Examples include advances in genomics, single-cell and spatial omics, microbiome analysis, precision and translational medicine, drug discovery, as well as biodiversity and evolutionary studies.

General Submission Information

Abstract Preparation Guidance:

• Prepare a 200-word abstract that summarizes the work, including information on background or motivation, methods, results, and conclusions or significance. Formal headings are not required.
• We will use a blinded review process. Please do not include author names, positions, or affiliations with your abstract text. 
• You will be asked separately for the presenter’s name, organization affiliation and contact information.
• Submit your abstract through the official CBHC 2026 submission portal by the deadline.
• All abstracts will be published in the conference abstract booklet (PDF).
• The submission process is the same for a talk or poster.

Submission Guidelines:

• The presenter must be identified during the submission process. Presenters of accepted abstracts are required to make the presentation themselves and must register and pay to attend the conference. 
• Submitters must select one of the three conference themes (Data, Methods, Discoveries).
• Submitters must select consideration for one of the following presentation formats:
  1. Talk only
     • Short talks will be 7-minute presentations with 3 minutes allowed for questions and discussion
  2. Poster
     • High-ranking posters may be selected for a Flash talk, a 3-minute one-slide presentation 
     • Posters will be in landscape mode 120cm x 90cm (48” x 36”), and should use a 72-point font for the title and no font smaller than 18 points. A sans-serif font is suggested. 

Committees

Steering Committee

	Guillaume BourqueProfessor, Dept. Human Genetics, McGill University	Michelle BrazasScientific Director, Bioinformatics.ca
	Arnaud DroitProfessor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Laval	Jennifer Geddes-McAlisterAssociate Professor, Dept. Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph
	Bel HansonSenior Director, Operations and Program, ISCB	William HsiaoAssociate Professor, Simon Fraser University
	Geoffrey HunterRecursion	Diane E. KovatsChief Executive Officer, International Society for Computational Biology
	Elisabeth RichardsonAssistant Professor, Dept. Biology, Mount Royal University	Pratima ShrivastavaCommunity Manager, Canadian Bioinformatics Hub
	Larisa M. SotoPlatform Manager, Canadian Bioinformatics Hub	Aline TalhoukAssistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
	Athanasios ZovoilisAssociate Professor, Dept. Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba

 

Venue

CBHC 2026 will take place in Toronto, Ontario at the MaRS Centre, a leading innovation hub located in the heart of the city.

MaRS Centre101 College StreetToronto, OntarioM5G 1L7Canada

Link to Map

Contact

For general inquiries, please contact admin@iscb.orgTo report technical difficulties, please contact programmer@iscb.orgFor conference specific information, please contact events@iscb.org

If you are contacting us about scientific work that will be presented at an upcoming conference, please provide the name of the conference, your submission number, and the title of your presentation in the email.