At the 2026 International Consortium on Newborn Sequencing (ICoNS) conference, experts debated the use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for newborns. When asked if they would decline free sequencing, 50 hands went up, highlighting lingering hesitations. This tension was evident throughout the conference, held at Harvard Medical School (HMS), where world-class experts gathered to discuss research, standardize methods, and develop public health guidelines.
