Parchment Sampling

Parchment Sampling Workshop (CODICUM + Partners)

Meeting Objectives

Knowledge Sharing: Present recent analytical results across institutions to inform protocol decisions
Standardization: Develop harmonized workflows for DNA, protein, lipid, and isotope analysis
Accountability: Document existing data, materials, and extracts; establish tracking systems
Team Building: Facilitate cross-institutional collaboration and expertise sharing

Location & Travel

Homerton College

Homerton College is situated on Hills Road just outside the city centre between the main railway station and Addenbrookes Hospital. All visitors arriving at the College should report to the Porters' Lodge, located in the Mary Allan Building.

Directions

By road

from London: Follow directions to Cambridge along the M11. At Junction 11 take the A1309 into Cambridge. At the second set of major traffic lights, ignoring all pedestrian lights, keep in the right-hand lane and turn right into Long Road (signposted to Addenbrooke's Hospital). Continue to next main crossroads. Turn left into Hills Road and Homerton College is approximately half a mile on the left-hand side.
from the North: Follow directions to the A1 south and follow the A1 and A1(M) until it joins the A14. Take the A14 as far as the M11, and then take the M11 to Junction 11 and follow the A1309 into Cambridge. At the second set of major traffic lights, ignoring all pedestrian lights, keep in the right hand lane and turn right into Long Road (signposted to Addenbrooke's Hospital). Continue to next main crossroads. Turn left into Hills Road and Homerton College is approximately half a mile on the left-hand side.

Parking

For short-term parking

Park in the main entrance car park and report to the Porters' Lodge for a temporary parking permit.

For conference visitors and long-term parking

Please enter the College via Harrison Drive, 100 yards from the main entrance, and continue to the end of this road where you will find the visitors' car park on the left-hand side.

By train

Homerton College is conveniently located for travel by train - it is only a 15 minute walk from Cambridge's main station. There are regular trains to London King's Cross (approximate journey time 50 minutes) and London Liverpool Street (approximate journey time 1 hour 15 minutes). There are also good connections from Peterborough, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

National Rail Enquiries website.

By air

The airport closest to Cambridge is Stansted, from which there are good train and taxi connections to the city.

Maps

Getting to Cambridge

Getting to Homerton

Map of Homerton College Grounds

Agenda

DAY 1: Data Sharing & Technical Assessment

Focus: "Show and tell" before decision-making

09:00–09:45 | Introductions & Project Overview

Team Directory (30 min): 1-minute intro per team member
- Photo slide with name, institution, role, expertise
PI Project Snapshots (15 min): 2 slides per PI (condensed from original 4)
- Research questions, target materials, timeline

09:45–11:00 | Session 1: Sampling Methods & Outcomes

Interspersing data with discussion as per Dan's suggestion

5 min: Different parchment sampling methods and differing outcomes (TCD)
25 min: Discussion — Fibers vs. eraser rubs; blank analysis for contamination
15 min: The physics of sampling: practical demonstrations and implications
15 min: Open discussion on sampling constraints across projects

10:45–11:00 | Coffee Break

11:00–12:30 | Session 2: Animal DNA Results

Data-driven assessment of what's possible now

15 min: DNA analysis of cattle and sheep parchments (TCD)
8 min: DNA (sheep) epigenomics (TCD)
37 min: Discussion — Species identification, population genetics, breed evolution, epigenetic insights
20 min: Sampling decisions across projects (internal labs vs. external restrictions)
10 min: Barcoding systems and tracking implications

12:30–13:30 | Lunch (Informal networking)

13:30–15:15 | Session 3: Pathogen, Human DNA & Metagenomics

Expanding beyond animal identification

12 min: DNA analysis of pathogens (TCD)
10 min: DNA analysis of human users (TCD)
10 min: Metagenomic analysis of parchment microbial communities (UCD)
40 min: Discussion — Contamination control, authentication, ethical considerations, microbial signatures
15 min: Single-stranded vs. double-stranded libraries; new sequencing technologies
8 min: Synthesis and questions

15:15–15:30 | Coffee Break

15:30–17:00 | Session 4: Proteomics & Beasts2craft Data Inventory (UCPH)

Addressing Dan's questions about existing resources

15 min: Proteomics state of the art and future directions
- Collagen fingerprinting, milk protein detection, contamination signals
20 min: Beasts2craft/B2C inventory — What exists now?
- Physical parchment materials that are available
- Existing extracts and DNA libraries
- Data repositories and accessibility
- Special projects: ~800–1,000 provenance-limited pieces for destructive analysis
35 min: Discussion — Visualising proteomics data, database integration, cross-platform data synthesis
10 min: Day 1 synthesis and homework for Day 2
10 min: Open questions and clarifications

17:00 | Day 1 Concludes

DAY 2: Protocol Harmonization & Action Planning

Focus: Building consensus on shared workflows (ENDS AT LUNCH)

09:00–10:00 | Session 5: Protocol Review & Key Conflicts

Informed by Day 1 data presentations

10 min: Review of current institutional protocols (pre-submitted materials comparison)
15 min: The Combined Protocol — identifying critical overlaps and conflicts
- DNA, protein, and isotope sampling requirements
- Contamination control and blank analysis
- Collection windows and documentation needs
35 min: Facilitated discussion — what must be standardized vs. what stays flexible

10:00–10:15 | Coffee Break

10:15–11:45 | Session 6: Technical Integration Workshop

Working session: hands-on protocol development

10 min: Framework overview — database, barcoding, visualization needs
60 min: Parallel working groups (rotate through stations)
- Station A: Sampling & collection protocols (20 min per group)
- Station B: Library prep & sequencing decisions (20 min per group)
- Station C: Data logging & tracking systems (20 min per group)
20 min: Report back — each group presents 1-2 key decisions or unresolved questions

11:45–12:30 | Session 7: Action Planning & Next Steps

Wrapping up with clear deliverables

15 min: Assign responsibilities
- Protocol documentation leads for each analytical stream
- Data audit coordinators (locating "lost" Beasts2craft data)
- Database/visualization development point person
- Contamination control testing coordinator (blank analysis batches)
15 min: Communication plan
- Next meeting timeline
- Shared Google Drive structure and access
- Asynchronous collaboration channels (email lists, shared docs)
10 min: Outstanding questions & parking lot items
- Digestion methods (follow-up discussion online)
- New technologies roadmap (circulate readings)
- Student project planning (separate meeting)
5 min: Closing remarks and group photo

12:30 | Meeting Concludes (Lunch available for those staying)

Page updated

Report abuse