For more than two decades, scientists struggled to decode about 8% of the human genome—regions too long and repetitive for earlier sequencing tools to interpret. That challenge was finally overcome by an international collaboration co-led by Karen Miga, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz. Her team helped deliver the first complete, gapless human genome, revealing more than 200 million previously unread DNA letters and unlocking a new era of discovery in human health, diversity, and evolution.

Miga’s leadership in this historic achievement earned her a place on TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2022. Working with co-leads Adam Phillippy, Evan Eichler, and Michael Schatz, Miga helped form the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium—a global team that accomplished what the original Human Genome Project could not. Their work filled in the missing pieces of our genetic code, providing a complete reference for researchers studying genetic diseases and human evolution.

Beyond completing the genome, Miga’s lab continues to explore how these newly mapped regions function and vary between individuals, to improve medical diagnoses and make genomic research more inclusive of global populations. Her lab’s 2020 success in assembling the first full human chromosome paved the way for completing the genome soon after, and her team now leads efforts to interpret these new sequences and map genomes representing worldwide diversity.

To hear more on Karen Miga and her team’s effort to harness sequencing for patients and families who have long sought answers, Santa Cruz Works invites you to the UCSC Genomics Rooftop Mixer, a dynamic evening dedicated to innovation in genomics.

Date and Time: Tuesday, October 28 · 4 – 7 PM PDT
Location: Anton Pacific, 800 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Join researchers from UC Santa Cruz alongside city leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and investors for an evening of networking, discussion, and discovery. The event will feature lightning talks from leading genomics experts, followed by interactive table demonstrations where attendees can meet scientists, including those shaping breakthroughs like Miga’s, and learn how genomics is driving the future of health and biotechnology.

Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and spark the next wave of innovation in Santa Cruz’s thriving genomics community.

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