diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 5b0c2c80..60553df9 100644
--- a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ If you'd like to write some code for nf-core/raredisease, the standard workflow
 1. Check that there isn't already an issue about your idea in the [nf-core/raredisease issues](https://github.com/nf-core/raredisease/issues) to avoid duplicating work. If there isn't one already, please create one so that others know you're working on this
 2. [Fork](https://help.github.com/en/github/getting-started-with-github/fork-a-repo) the [nf-core/raredisease repository](https://github.com/nf-core/raredisease) to your GitHub account
 3. Make the necessary changes / additions within your forked repository following [Pipeline conventions](#pipeline-contribution-conventions)
-4. Use `nf-core schema build` and add any new parameters to the pipeline JSON schema (requires [nf-core tools](https://github.com/nf-core/tools) >= 1.10).
+4. Use `nf-core pipelines schema build` and add any new parameters to the pipeline JSON schema (requires [nf-core tools](https://github.com/nf-core/tools) >= 1.10).
 5. Submit a Pull Request against the `dev` branch and wait for the code to be reviewed and merged
 
 If you're not used to this workflow with git, you can start with some [docs from GitHub](https://help.github.com/en/github/collaborating-with-issues-and-pull-requests) or even their [excellent `git` resources](https://try.github.io/).
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ There are typically two types of tests that run:
 ### Lint tests
 
 `nf-core` has a [set of guidelines](https://nf-co.re/developers/guidelines) which all pipelines must adhere to.
-To enforce these and ensure that all pipelines stay in sync, we have developed a helper tool which runs checks on the pipeline code. This is in the [nf-core/tools repository](https://github.com/nf-core/tools) and once installed can be run locally with the `nf-core lint <pipeline-directory>` command.
+To enforce these and ensure that all pipelines stay in sync, we have developed a helper tool which runs checks on the pipeline code. This is in the [nf-core/tools repository](https://github.com/nf-core/tools) and once installed can be run locally with the `nf-core pipelines lint <pipeline-directory>` command.
 
 If any failures or warnings are encountered, please follow the listed URL for more documentation.
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ If you wish to contribute a new step, please use the following coding standards:
 2. Write the process block (see below).
 3. Define the output channel if needed (see below).
 4. Add any new parameters to `nextflow.config` with a default (see below).
-5. Add any new parameters to `nextflow_schema.json` with help text (via the `nf-core schema build` tool).
+5. Add any new parameters to `nextflow_schema.json` with help text (via the `nf-core pipelines schema build` tool).
 6. Add sanity checks and validation for all relevant parameters.
 7. Perform local tests to validate that the new code works as expected.
 8. If applicable, add a new test command in `.github/workflow/ci.yml`.
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@ If you wish to contribute a new step, please use the following coding standards:
 
 Parameters should be initialised / defined with default values in `nextflow.config` under the `params` scope.
 
-Once there, use `nf-core schema build` to add to `nextflow_schema.json`.
+Once there, use `nf-core pipelines schema build` to add to `nextflow_schema.json`.
 
 ### Default processes resource requirements
 
-Sensible defaults for process resource requirements (CPUs / memory / time) for a process should be defined in `conf/base.config`. These should generally be specified generic with `withLabel:` selectors so they can be shared across multiple processes/steps of the pipeline. A nf-core standard set of labels that should be followed where possible can be seen in the [nf-core pipeline template](https://github.com/nf-core/tools/blob/master/nf_core/pipeline-template/conf/base.config), which has the default process as a single core-process, and then different levels of multi-core configurations for increasingly large memory requirements defined with standardised labels.
+Sensible defaults for process resource requirements (CPUs / memory / time) for a process should be defined in `conf/base.config`. These should generally be specified generic with `withLabel:` selectors so they can be shared across multiple processes/steps of the pipeline. A nf-core standard set of labels that should be followed where possible can be seen in the [nf-core pipeline template](https://github.com/nf-core/tools/blob/main/nf_core/pipeline-template/conf/base.config), which has the default process as a single core-process, and then different levels of multi-core configurations for increasingly large memory requirements defined with standardised labels.
 
 The process resources can be passed on to the tool dynamically within the process with the `${task.cpus}` and `${task.memory}` variables in the `script:` block.
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ Please use the following naming schemes, to make it easy to understand what is g
 
 ### Nextflow version bumping
 
-If you are using a new feature from core Nextflow, you may bump the minimum required version of nextflow in the pipeline with: `nf-core bump-version --nextflow . [min-nf-version]`
+If you are using a new feature from core Nextflow, you may bump the minimum required version of nextflow in the pipeline with: `nf-core pipelines bump-version --nextflow . [min-nf-version]`
 
 ### Images and figures
 
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 95d6fc28..bc89d691 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Learn more about contributing: [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/nf-core/rare
 - [ ] If you've fixed a bug or added code that should be tested, add tests!
 - [ ] If you've added a new tool - have you followed the pipeline conventions in the [contribution docs](https://github.com/nf-core/raredisease/tree/master/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md)
 - [ ] If necessary, also make a PR on the nf-core/raredisease _branch_ on the [nf-core/test-datasets](https://github.com/nf-core/test-datasets) repository.
-- [ ] Make sure your code lints (`nf-core lint`).
+- [ ] Make sure your code lints (`nf-core pipelines lint`).
 - [ ] Ensure the test suite passes (`nextflow run . -profile test,docker --outdir <OUTDIR>`).
 - [ ] Ensure the test suite passes (`nextflow run . -profile test_one_sample,docker --outdir <OUTDIR>`).
 - [ ] Check for unexpected warnings in debug mode (`nextflow run . -profile debug,test,docker --outdir <OUTDIR>`).
diff --git a/.github/workflows/awsfulltest.yml b/.github/workflows/awsfulltest.yml
index 6026e464..5cd6cad9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/awsfulltest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/awsfulltest.yml
@@ -1,18 +1,35 @@
 name: nf-core AWS full size tests
-# This workflow is triggered on published releases.
+# This workflow is triggered on PRs opened against the master branch.
 # It can be additionally triggered manually with GitHub actions workflow dispatch button.
 # It runs the -profile 'test_full' on AWS batch
 
 on:
-  release:
-    types: [published]
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - master
   workflow_dispatch:
+  pull_request_review:
+    types: [submitted]
+
 jobs:
   run-platform:
     name: Run AWS full tests
-    if: github.repository == 'nf-core/raredisease'
+    # run only if the PR is approved by at least 2 reviewers and against the master branch or manually triggered
+    if: github.repository == 'nf-core/raredisease' && github.event.review.state == 'approved' && github.event.pull_request.base.ref == 'master' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - uses: octokit/request-action@v2.x
+        id: check_approvals
+        with:
+          route: GET /repos/${{ github.repository }}/pulls/${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}/reviews
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      - id: test_variables
+        if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
+        run: |
+          JSON_RESPONSE='${{ steps.check_approvals.outputs.data }}'
+          CURRENT_APPROVALS_COUNT=$(echo $JSON_RESPONSE | jq -c '[.[] | select(.state | contains("APPROVED")) ] | length')
+          test $CURRENT_APPROVALS_COUNT -ge 2 || exit 1 # At least 2 approvals are required
       - name: Launch workflow via Seqera Platform
         uses: seqeralabs/action-tower-launch@v2
         # TODO nf-core: You can customise AWS full pipeline tests as required
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 6133668e..d8c1ee80 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ on:
   pull_request:
   release:
     types: [published]
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 env:
   NXF_ANSI_LOG: false
@@ -24,11 +25,11 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         NXF_VER:
-          - "23.04.0"
+          - "24.04.2"
           - "latest-everything"
         parameters:
-          - "-profile test,docker"
-          - "-profile test_one_sample,docker"
+          - "-profile test"
+          - "-profile test_one_sample"
     steps:
       - name: Check out pipeline code
         uses: actions/checkout@0ad4b8fadaa221de15dcec353f45205ec38ea70b # v4
@@ -41,6 +42,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Disk space cleanup
         uses: jlumbroso/free-disk-space@54081f138730dfa15788a46383842cd2f914a1be # v1.3.1
 
-      - name: Run pipeline with test data
+      - name: Run pipeline with test data (docker)
         run: |
-          nextflow run ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} ${{ matrix.parameters }} -stub --outdir ./results
+          nextflow run ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} ${{ matrix.parameters }},docker -stub --outdir ./results
+
+      - name: Run pipeline with test data (singularity)
+        run: |
+          nextflow run ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} ${{ matrix.parameters }},singularity -stub --outdir ./results
+        if: "${{ github.base_ref == 'master' }}"
+
+      - name: Run pipeline with test data (conda)
+        run: |
+          nextflow run ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} -profile test,conda --outdir ./results
+        if: "${{ github.base_ref == 'master' }}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/download_pipeline.yml b/.github/workflows/download_pipeline.yml
index 42badad9..713dc3e7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/download_pipeline.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/download_pipeline.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Test successful pipeline download with 'nf-core download'
+name: Test successful pipeline download with 'nf-core pipelines download'
 
 # Run the workflow when:
 #  - dispatched manually
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       testbranch:
-        description: "The specific branch you wish to utilize for the test execution of nf-core download."
+        description: "The specific branch you wish to utilize for the test execution of nf-core pipelines download."
         required: true
         default: "dev"
   pull_request:
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: "3.12"
           architecture: "x64"
-      - uses: eWaterCycle/setup-singularity@931d4e31109e875b13309ae1d07c70ca8fbc8537 # v7
+
+      - name: Setup Apptainer
+        uses: eWaterCycle/setup-apptainer@4bb22c52d4f63406c49e94c804632975787312b3 # v2.0.0
         with:
-          singularity-version: 3.8.3
+          apptainer-version: 1.3.4
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
@@ -54,18 +56,64 @@ jobs:
           echo "REPOTITLE_LOWERCASE=$(basename ${GITHUB_REPOSITORY,,})" >> ${GITHUB_ENV}
           echo "REPO_BRANCH=${{ github.event.inputs.testbranch || 'dev' }}" >> ${GITHUB_ENV}
 
+      - name: Make a cache directory for the container images
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p ./singularity_container_images
+
       - name: Download the pipeline
         env:
-          NXF_SINGULARITY_CACHEDIR: ./
+          NXF_SINGULARITY_CACHEDIR: ./singularity_container_images
         run: |
-          nf-core download ${{ env.REPO_LOWERCASE }} \
+          nf-core pipelines download ${{ env.REPO_LOWERCASE }} \
           --revision ${{ env.REPO_BRANCH }} \
           --outdir ./${{ env.REPOTITLE_LOWERCASE }} \
           --compress "none" \
           --container-system 'singularity' \
-          --container-library "quay.io" -l "docker.io" -l "ghcr.io" \
+          --container-library "quay.io" -l "docker.io" -l "community.wave.seqera.io" \
           --container-cache-utilisation 'amend' \
-          --download-configuration
+          --download-configuration 'yes'
 
       - name: Inspect download
         run: tree ./${{ env.REPOTITLE_LOWERCASE }}
+
+      - name: Count the downloaded number of container images
+        id: count_initial
+        run: |
+          image_count=$(ls -1 ./singularity_container_images | wc -l | xargs)
+          echo "Initial container image count: $image_count"
+          echo "IMAGE_COUNT_INITIAL=$image_count" >> ${GITHUB_ENV}
+
+      - name: Run the downloaded pipeline (stub)
+        id: stub_run_pipeline
+        continue-on-error: true
+        env:
+          NXF_SINGULARITY_CACHEDIR: ./singularity_container_images
+          NXF_SINGULARITY_HOME_MOUNT: true
+        run: nextflow run ./${{ env.REPOTITLE_LOWERCASE }}/$( sed 's/\W/_/g' <<< ${{ env.REPO_BRANCH }}) -stub -profile test,singularity --outdir ./results
+      - name: Run the downloaded pipeline (stub run not supported)
+        id: run_pipeline
+        if: ${{ job.steps.stub_run_pipeline.status == failure() }}
+        env:
+          NXF_SINGULARITY_CACHEDIR: ./singularity_container_images
+          NXF_SINGULARITY_HOME_MOUNT: true
+        run: nextflow run ./${{ env.REPOTITLE_LOWERCASE }}/$( sed 's/\W/_/g' <<< ${{ env.REPO_BRANCH }}) -profile test,singularity --outdir ./results
+
+      - name: Count the downloaded number of container images
+        id: count_afterwards
+        run: |
+          image_count=$(ls -1 ./singularity_container_images | wc -l | xargs)
+          echo "Post-pipeline run container image count: $image_count"
+          echo "IMAGE_COUNT_AFTER=$image_count" >> ${GITHUB_ENV}
+
+      - name: Compare container image counts
+        run: |
+          if [ "${{ env.IMAGE_COUNT_INITIAL }}" -ne "${{ env.IMAGE_COUNT_AFTER }}" ]; then
+            initial_count=${{ env.IMAGE_COUNT_INITIAL }}
+            final_count=${{ env.IMAGE_COUNT_AFTER }}
+            difference=$((final_count - initial_count))
+            echo "$difference additional container images were \n downloaded at runtime . The pipeline has no support for offline runs!"
+            tree ./singularity_container_images
+            exit 1
+          else
+            echo "The pipeline can be downloaded successfully!"
+          fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linting.yml b/.github/workflows/linting.yml
index 1fcafe88..a502573c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linting.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linting.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: nf-core linting
 # This workflow is triggered on pushes and PRs to the repository.
-# It runs the `nf-core lint` and markdown lint tests to ensure
+# It runs the `nf-core pipelines lint` and markdown lint tests to ensure
 # that the code meets the nf-core guidelines.
 on:
   push:
@@ -41,17 +41,32 @@ jobs:
           python-version: "3.12"
           architecture: "x64"
 
+      - name: read .nf-core.yml
+        uses: pietrobolcato/action-read-yaml@1.1.0
+        id: read_yml
+        with:
+          config: ${{ github.workspace }}/.nf-core.yml
+
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install nf-core
+          pip install nf-core==${{ steps.read_yml.outputs['nf_core_version'] }}
+
+      - name: Run nf-core pipelines lint
+        if: ${{ github.base_ref != 'master' }}
+        env:
+          GITHUB_COMMENTS_URL: ${{ github.event.pull_request.comments_url }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_PR_COMMIT: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
+        run: nf-core -l lint_log.txt pipelines lint --dir ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} --markdown lint_results.md
 
-      - name: Run nf-core lint
+      - name: Run nf-core pipelines lint --release
+        if: ${{ github.base_ref == 'master' }}
         env:
           GITHUB_COMMENTS_URL: ${{ github.event.pull_request.comments_url }}
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           GITHUB_PR_COMMIT: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
-        run: nf-core -l lint_log.txt lint --dir ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} --markdown lint_results.md
+        run: nf-core -l lint_log.txt pipelines lint --release --dir ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} --markdown lint_results.md
 
       - name: Save PR number
         if: ${{ always() }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linting_comment.yml b/.github/workflows/linting_comment.yml
index 40acc23f..42e519bf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linting_comment.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linting_comment.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Download lint results
-        uses: dawidd6/action-download-artifact@09f2f74827fd3a8607589e5ad7f9398816f540fe # v3
+        uses: dawidd6/action-download-artifact@bf251b5aa9c2f7eeb574a96ee720e24f801b7c11 # v6
         with:
           workflow: linting.yml
           workflow_conclusion: completed
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-announcements.yml b/.github/workflows/release-announcements.yml
index 03ecfcf7..c6ba35df 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-announcements.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-announcements.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: get topics and convert to hashtags
         id: get_topics
         run: |
-          echo "topics=$(curl -s https://nf-co.re/pipelines.json | jq -r '.remote_workflows[] | select(.full_name == "${{ github.repository }}") | .topics[]' | awk '{print "#"$0}' | tr '\n' ' ')"  >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "topics=$(curl -s https://nf-co.re/pipelines.json | jq -r '.remote_workflows[] | select(.full_name == "${{ github.repository }}") | .topics[]' | awk '{print "#"$0}' | tr '\n' ' ')" | sed 's/-//g' >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - uses: rzr/fediverse-action@master
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/template_version_comment.yml b/.github/workflows/template_version_comment.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9dea41f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/template_version_comment.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+name: nf-core template version comment
+# This workflow is triggered on PRs to check if the pipeline template version matches the latest nf-core version.
+# It posts a comment to the PR, even if it comes from a fork.
+
+on: pull_request_target
+
+jobs:
+  template_version:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out pipeline code
+        uses: actions/checkout@0ad4b8fadaa221de15dcec353f45205ec38ea70b # v4
+
+      - name: Read template version from .nf-core.yml
+        uses: pietrobolcato/action-read-yaml@1.0.0
+        id: read_yml
+        with:
+          config: ${{ github.workspace }}/.nf-core.yml
+
+      - name: Install nf-core
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install nf-core==${{ steps.read_yml.outputs['nf_core_version'] }}
+
+      - name: Check nf-core outdated
+        id: nf_core_outdated
+        run: pip list --outdated | grep nf-core
+
+      - name: Post nf-core template version comment
+        uses: mshick/add-pr-comment@b8f338c590a895d50bcbfa6c5859251edc8952fc # v2
+        if: |
+          ${{ steps.nf_core_outdated.outputs.stdout }} =~ 'nf-core'
+        with:
+          repo-token: ${{ secrets.NF_CORE_BOT_AUTH_TOKEN }}
+          allow-repeats: false
+          message: |
+            ## :warning: Newer version of the nf-core template is available.
+
+            Your pipeline is using an old version of the nf-core template: ${{ steps.read_yml.outputs['nf_core_version'] }}.
+            Please update your pipeline to the latest version.
+
+            For more documentation on how to update your pipeline, please see the [nf-core documentation](https://github.com/nf-core/tools?tab=readme-ov-file#sync-a-pipeline-with-the-template) and [Synchronisation documentation](https://nf-co.re/docs/contributing/sync).
+          #
diff --git a/.gitpod.yml b/.gitpod.yml
index 105a1821..46118637 100644
--- a/.gitpod.yml
+++ b/.gitpod.yml
@@ -4,17 +4,14 @@ tasks:
     command: |
       pre-commit install --install-hooks
       nextflow self-update
-  - name: unset JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS
-    command: |
-      unset JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS
 
 vscode:
   extensions: # based on nf-core.nf-core-extensionpack
-    - esbenp.prettier-vscode # Markdown/CommonMark linting and style checking for Visual Studio Code
+    #- esbenp.prettier-vscode # Markdown/CommonMark linting and style checking for Visual Studio Code
     - EditorConfig.EditorConfig # override user/workspace settings with settings found in .editorconfig files
     - Gruntfuggly.todo-tree # Display TODO and FIXME in a tree view in the activity bar
     - mechatroner.rainbow-csv # Highlight columns in csv files in different colors
-    # - nextflow.nextflow                    # Nextflow syntax highlighting
+    - nextflow.nextflow # Nextflow syntax highlighting
     - oderwat.indent-rainbow # Highlight indentation level
     - streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker # Spelling checker for source code
     - charliermarsh.ruff # Code linter Ruff
diff --git a/.nf-core.yml b/.nf-core.yml
index 8d084d3b..363faf1d 100644
--- a/.nf-core.yml
+++ b/.nf-core.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+bump_version: null
 lint:
   files_exist:
     - conf/modules.config
@@ -7,6 +8,18 @@ lint:
     - docs/images/nf-core-raredisease_logo_dark.png
     - docs/images/nf-core-raredisease_logo_light.png
     - assets/nf-core-raredisease_logo_light.png
-  modules_config: False
+  modules_config: false
+nf_core_version: 3.0.1
+org_path: null
 repository_type: pipeline
-nf_core_version: "2.14.1"
+template:
+  author: Clinical Genomics Stockholm
+  description: call and score variants from WGS/WES of rare disease patients
+  force: false
+  is_nfcore: true
+  name: raredisease
+  org: nf-core
+  outdir: .
+  skip_features: null
+  version: 2.3.0dev
+update: null
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 4dc0f1dc..9e9f0e1c 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ repos:
           - prettier@3.2.5
 
   - repo: https://github.com/editorconfig-checker/editorconfig-checker.python
-    rev: "2.7.3"
+    rev: "3.0.3"
     hooks:
       - id: editorconfig-checker
         alias: ec
diff --git a/CITATIONS.md b/CITATIONS.md
index 1db771ac..c28f2ec2 100644
--- a/CITATIONS.md
+++ b/CITATIONS.md
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 # nf-core/raredisease: Citations
 
-## [nf-core](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32055031/)
+## Nextflow & nf-core
 
-> Ewels PA, Peltzer A, Fillinger S, Patel H, Alneberg J, Wilm A, Garcia MU, Di Tommaso P, Nahnsen S. The nf-core framework for community-curated bioinformatics pipelines. Nat Biotechnol. 2020 Mar;38(3):276-278. doi: 10.1038/s41587-020-0439-x. PubMed PMID: 32055031.
+- [nf-core](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32055031/)
 
-## [Nextflow](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28398311/)
+  > Ewels PA, Peltzer A, Fillinger S, Patel H, Alneberg J, Wilm A, Garcia MU, Di Tommaso P, Nahnsen S. The nf-core framework for community-curated bioinformatics pipelines. Nat Biotechnol. 2020 Mar;38(3):276-278. doi: 10.1038/s41587-020-0439-x. PubMed PMID: 32055031.
 
-> Di Tommaso P, Chatzou M, Floden EW, Barja PP, Palumbo E, Notredame C. Nextflow enables reproducible computational workflows. Nat Biotechnol. 2017 Apr 11;35(4):316-319. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3820. PubMed PMID: 28398311.
+- [Nextflow](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28398311/)
+
+  > Di Tommaso P, Chatzou M, Floden EW, Barja PP, Palumbo E, Notredame C. Nextflow enables reproducible computational workflows. Nat Biotechnol. 2017 Apr 11;35(4):316-319. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3820. PubMed PMID: 28398311.
 
 ## Pipeline tools
 
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@
 
 - [FastQC](https://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/)
 
-  > Andrews, S. (2010). FastQC: A Quality Control Tool for High Throughput Sequence Data [Online].
+> Andrews, S. (2010). FastQC: A Quality Control Tool for High Throughput Sequence Data [Online].
 
 - [Fastp](https://github.com/OpenGene/fastp)
 
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@
 
 - [MultiQC](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27312411/)
 
-  > Ewels P, Magnusson M, Lundin S, Käller M. MultiQC: summarize analysis results for multiple tools and samples in a single report. Bioinformatics. 2016 Oct 1;32(19):3047-8. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btw354. Epub 2016 Jun 16. PubMed PMID: 27312411; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5039924.
+> Ewels P, Magnusson M, Lundin S, Käller M. MultiQC: summarize analysis results for multiple tools and samples in a single report. Bioinformatics. 2016 Oct 1;32(19):3047-8. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btw354. Epub 2016 Jun 16. PubMed PMID: 27312411; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5039924.
 
 - [Peddy](<https://www.cell.com/action/showFullTextImages?pii=S0002-9297(17)30017-4>)
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 557251b7..4e057361 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 [![nf-test](https://img.shields.io/badge/unit_tests-nf--test-337ab7.svg)](https://www.nf-test.com)
 [![GitHub Actions Linting Status](https://github.com/nf-core/raredisease/actions/workflows/linting.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/nf-core/raredisease/actions/workflows/linting.yml)[![AWS CI](https://img.shields.io/badge/CI%20tests-full%20size-FF9900?labelColor=000000&logo=Amazon%20AWS)](https://nf-co.re/raredisease/results)[![Cite with Zenodo](http://img.shields.io/badge/DOI-10.5281/zenodo.7995798-1073c8?labelColor=000000)](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7995798)
 
-[![Nextflow](https://img.shields.io/badge/nextflow%20DSL2-%E2%89%A523.04.0-23aa62.svg)](https://www.nextflow.io/)
+[![Nextflow](https://img.shields.io/badge/nextflow%20DSL2-%E2%89%A524.04.2-23aa62.svg)](https://www.nextflow.io/)
 [![run with conda](http://img.shields.io/badge/run%20with-conda-3EB049?labelColor=000000&logo=anaconda)](https://docs.conda.io/en/latest/)
 [![run with docker](https://img.shields.io/badge/run%20with-docker-0db7ed?labelColor=000000&logo=docker)](https://www.docker.com/)
 [![run with singularity](https://img.shields.io/badge/run%20with-singularity-1d355c.svg?labelColor=000000)](https://sylabs.io/docs/)
@@ -145,8 +145,7 @@ nextflow run nf-core/raredisease \
 ```
 
 > [!WARNING]
-> Please provide pipeline parameters via the CLI or Nextflow `-params-file` option. Custom config files including those provided by the `-c` Nextflow option can be used to provide any configuration _**except for parameters**_;
-> see [docs](https://nf-co.re/usage/configuration#custom-configuration-files).
+> Please provide pipeline parameters via the CLI or Nextflow `-params-file` option. Custom config files including those provided by the `-c` Nextflow option can be used to provide any configuration _**except for parameters**_; see [docs](https://nf-co.re/docs/usage/getting_started/configuration#custom-configuration-files).
 
 For more details and further functionality, please refer to the [usage documentation](https://nf-co.re/raredisease/usage) and the [parameter documentation](https://nf-co.re/raredisease/parameters).
 
diff --git a/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json b/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json
index a128dd42..31f99382 100644
--- a/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json
+++ b/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json",
     "title": "Schema for mobile_element_references",
     "description": "Schema for the file provided with params.mobile_element_references",
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
         "properties": {
             "type": {
                 "type": "string",
-                "exists": true,
                 "pattern": "^\\S+$",
                 "errorMessage": "Mobile element type must be provided and cannot contain spaces"
             },
diff --git a/assets/rtg_truthvcfs_schema.json b/assets/rtg_truthvcfs_schema.json
index b6ae4d06..e0630455 100644
--- a/assets/rtg_truthvcfs_schema.json
+++ b/assets/rtg_truthvcfs_schema.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json",
     "title": "Schema for RTGTOOLS/VCFEVAL VCFs",
     "description": "Schema for the vcfeval's vcf input",
diff --git a/assets/sample_id_map.json b/assets/sample_id_map.json
index aaba0319..c69fa645 100644
--- a/assets/sample_id_map.json
+++ b/assets/sample_id_map.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json",
     "title": "Schema for customerid_internalid_map",
     "description": "Schema for the file provided with params.customerid_internalid_map",
diff --git a/assets/schema_input.json b/assets/schema_input.json
index 3b4703e4..04649908 100644
--- a/assets/schema_input.json
+++ b/assets/schema_input.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/assets/schema_input.json",
     "title": "nf-core/raredisease pipeline - params.input schema",
     "description": "Schema for the file provided with params.input",
@@ -9,15 +9,21 @@
         "properties": {
             "sample": {
                 "type": "string",
-                "exists": true,
                 "meta": ["id", "sample"],
                 "pattern": "^\\S+$",
                 "errorMessage": "Sample name must be provided and cannot contain spaces"
             },
             "lane": {
-                "type": "string",
-                "meta": ["lane"],
-                "pattern": "^\\S+$"
+                "oneOf": [
+                    {
+                        "type": "integer"
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "type": "string",
+                        "pattern": "^\\S+$"
+                    }
+                ],
+                "meta": ["lane"]
             },
             "fastq_1": {
                 "type": "string",
@@ -41,9 +47,17 @@
                 ]
             },
             "sex": {
-                "type": "string",
+                "oneOf": [
+                    {
+                        "type": "integer",
+                        "enum": [0, 1, 2]
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "type": "string",
+                        "enum": ["other"]
+                    }
+                ],
                 "meta": ["sex"],
-                "enum": ["1", "2", "0", "other"],
                 "errorMessage": "Sex must be provided and cannot contain spaces"
             },
             "phenotype": {
@@ -53,12 +67,12 @@
                 "errorMessage": "Phenotype must be provided and cannot contain spaces"
             },
             "paternal_id": {
-                "type": "string",
                 "errorMessage": "Paternal ID cannot contain spaces",
                 "meta": ["paternal"],
                 "default": "0",
                 "anyOf": [
                     {
+                        "type": "string",
                         "pattern": "^\\S+$"
                     },
                     {
@@ -67,12 +81,12 @@
                 ]
             },
             "maternal_id": {
-                "type": "string",
                 "errorMessage": "Maternal ID cannot contain spaces",
                 "meta": ["maternal"],
                 "default": "0",
                 "anyOf": [
                     {
+                        "type": "string",
                         "pattern": "^\\S+$"
                     },
                     {
diff --git a/assets/svdb_query_bedpe_schema.json b/assets/svdb_query_bedpe_schema.json
index 2d4331a1..b220bce5 100644
--- a/assets/svdb_query_bedpe_schema.json
+++ b/assets/svdb_query_bedpe_schema.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json",
     "title": "Schema for SVDB query - BEDPE",
     "description": "Schema for the SVDB query database input, bedpe version",
diff --git a/assets/svdb_query_vcf_schema.json b/assets/svdb_query_vcf_schema.json
index 0bb8540a..a927a1f3 100644
--- a/assets/svdb_query_vcf_schema.json
+++ b/assets/svdb_query_vcf_schema.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json",
     "title": "Schema for SVDB query - VCF",
     "description": "Schema for the SVDB query database input, VCF version",
diff --git a/assets/vep_plugin_files_schema.json b/assets/vep_plugin_files_schema.json
index 5dca6d16..34fe4198 100644
--- a/assets/vep_plugin_files_schema.json
+++ b/assets/vep_plugin_files_schema.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json",
     "title": "Schema for VEP plugin files and their indices",
     "description": "Schema for VEP plugin files and their indices",
diff --git a/conf/base.config b/conf/base.config
index c65c634b..d453c83a 100644
--- a/conf/base.config
+++ b/conf/base.config
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@
 
 process {
 
-    cpus   = { check_max( 1    * task.attempt, 'cpus'   ) }
-    memory = { check_max( 6.GB * task.attempt, 'memory' ) }
-    time   = { check_max( 4.h  * task.attempt, 'time'   ) }
+    cpus   = { 1      * task.attempt }
+    memory = { 6.GB   * task.attempt }
+    time   = { 4.h    * task.attempt }
 
     errorStrategy = { task.exitStatus in ((130..145) + 104) ? 'retry' : 'finish' }
     maxRetries    = 1
@@ -25,30 +25,30 @@ process {
     //        adding in your local modules too.
     // See https://www.nextflow.io/docs/latest/config.html#config-process-selectors
     withLabel:process_single {
-        cpus   = { check_max( 1                  , 'cpus'    ) }
-        memory = { check_max( 6.GB * task.attempt, 'memory'  ) }
-        time   = { check_max( 4.h  * task.attempt, 'time'    ) }
+        cpus   = { 1                   }
+        memory = { 6.GB * task.attempt }
+        time   = { 4.h  * task.attempt }
     }
     withLabel:process_low {
-        cpus   = { check_max( 2     * task.attempt, 'cpus'    ) }
-        memory = { check_max( 12.GB * task.attempt, 'memory'  ) }
-        time   = { check_max( 4.h   * task.attempt, 'time'    ) }
+        cpus   = { 2     * task.attempt }
+        memory = { 12.GB * task.attempt }
+        time   = { 4.h   * task.attempt }
     }
     withLabel:process_medium {
-        cpus   = { check_max( 6     * task.attempt, 'cpus'    ) }
-        memory = { check_max( 36.GB * task.attempt, 'memory'  ) }
-        time   = { check_max( 8.h   * task.attempt, 'time'    ) }
+        cpus   = { 6     * task.attempt }
+        memory = { 36.GB * task.attempt }
+        time   = { 8.h   * task.attempt }
     }
     withLabel:process_high {
-        cpus   = { check_max( 12    * task.attempt, 'cpus'    ) }
-        memory = { check_max( 72.GB * task.attempt, 'memory'  ) }
-        time   = { check_max( 16.h  * task.attempt, 'time'    ) }
+        cpus   = { 12    * task.attempt }
+        memory = { 72.GB * task.attempt }
+        time   = { 16.h  * task.attempt }
     }
     withLabel:process_long {
-        time   = { check_max( 20.h  * task.attempt, 'time'    ) }
+        time   = { 20.h  * task.attempt }
     }
     withLabel:process_high_memory {
-        memory = { check_max( 200.GB * task.attempt, 'memory' ) }
+        memory = { 200.GB * task.attempt }
     }
     withLabel:error_ignore {
         errorStrategy = 'ignore'
diff --git a/conf/igenomes_ignored.config b/conf/igenomes_ignored.config
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b4034d82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf/igenomes_ignored.config
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+/*
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+    Nextflow config file for iGenomes paths
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+    Empty genomes dictionary to use when igenomes is ignored.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+*/
+
+params.genomes = [:]
diff --git a/conf/test.config b/conf/test.config
index f0c503c9..a32ab144 100644
--- a/conf/test.config
+++ b/conf/test.config
@@ -10,15 +10,18 @@
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
 
+process {
+    resourceLimits = [
+        cpus: 4,
+        memory: '15.GB',
+        time: '1.h'
+    ]
+}
+
 params {
     config_profile_name        = 'Test profile'
     config_profile_description = 'Minimal test dataset to check pipeline function'
 
-    // Limit resources so that this can run on GitHub Actions
-    max_cpus       = 2
-    max_memory     = '6.GB'
-    max_time       = '2.h'
-
     // reference params
     igenomes_ignore = true
     mito_name       = 'MT'
diff --git a/conf/test_one_sample.config b/conf/test_one_sample.config
index 1aad988b..cf65e3d1 100644
--- a/conf/test_one_sample.config
+++ b/conf/test_one_sample.config
@@ -10,15 +10,18 @@
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
 
+process {
+    resourceLimits = [
+        cpus: 4,
+        memory: '15.GB',
+        time: '1.h'
+    ]
+}
+
 params {
     config_profile_name        = 'Test profile'
     config_profile_description = 'Minimal test dataset to check pipeline function using a single sample'
 
-    // Limit resources so that this can run on GitHub Actions
-    max_cpus   = 2
-    max_memory = '6.GB'
-    max_time   = '2.h'
-
     // reference params
     igenomes_ignore = true
     mito_name       = 'MT'
diff --git a/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_adapter.png b/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_adapter.png
deleted file mode 100755
index 361d0e47..00000000
Binary files a/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_adapter.png and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_counts.png b/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_counts.png
deleted file mode 100755
index cb39ebb8..00000000
Binary files a/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_counts.png and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_quality.png b/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_quality.png
deleted file mode 100755
index a4b89bf5..00000000
Binary files a/docs/images/mqc_fastqc_quality.png and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/docs/output.md b/docs/output.md
index 8dd98773..4640f514 100644
--- a/docs/output.md
+++ b/docs/output.md
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ The pipeline is built using [Nextflow](https://www.nextflow.io/) and processes d
 
 </details>
 
+:::note
+The FastQC plots displayed in the MultiQC report shows _untrimmed_ reads. They may contain adapter sequence and potentially regions with low quality.
+:::
+
 ##### Mosdepth
 
 [Mosdepth](https://github.com/brentp/mosdepth) is used to report quality control metrics such as coverage, and GC content from alignment files. The global distribution file, generated by this program is passed to MultiQC for generating the following plots,
@@ -240,10 +244,6 @@ The pipeline is built using [Nextflow](https://www.nextflow.io/) and processes d
 
 #### Reporting
 
-:::note
-The FastQC plots displayed in the MultiQC report shows _untrimmed_ reads. They may contain adapter sequence and potentially regions with low quality.
-:::
-
 ##### MultiQC
 
 [MultiQC](http://multiqc.info) is a visualization tool that generates a single HTML report summarising all samples in your project. Most of the pipeline QC results are visualised in the report and further statistics are available in the report data directory.
diff --git a/docs/usage.md b/docs/usage.md
index c67e488b..bb2d3b99 100644
--- a/docs/usage.md
+++ b/docs/usage.md
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ Table of contents:
     - [Custom Tool Arguments](#custom-tool-arguments)
       - [nf-core/configs](#nf-coreconfigs)
     - [Run Sentieon](#run-sentieon)
-    - [Azure Resource Requests](#azure-resource-requests)
     - [Running in the background](#running-in-the-background)
     - [Nextflow memory requirements](#nextflow-memory-requirements)
     - [Running the pipeline without Internet access](#running-the-pipeline-without-internet-access)
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ nf-core/raredisease is a bioinformatics best-practice analysis pipeline to call,
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-1. Install Nextflow (>=22.10.1) using the instructions [here.](https://nextflow.io/docs/latest/getstarted.html#installation)
+1. Install Nextflow (>=24.04.2) using the instructions [here.](https://nextflow.io/docs/latest/getstarted.html#installation)
 2. Install one of the following technologies for full pipeline reproducibility: Docker, Singularity, Podman, Shifter or Charliecloud.
    > Almost all nf-core pipelines give you the option to use conda as well. However, some tools used in the raredisease pipeline do not have a conda package so we do not support conda at the moment.
 
@@ -135,6 +134,18 @@ Do not use `-c <file>` to specify parameters as this will result in errors. Cust
 
 The above pipeline run specified with a params file in yaml format:
 
+```bash
+nextflow run nf-core/raredisease -profile docker -params-file params.yaml
+```
+
+with:
+
+```yaml title="params.yaml"
+input: "./samplesheet.csv"
+outdir: "./results/"
+genome: "GRCh37"
+```
+
 Note that the pipeline is modular in architecture. It offers you the flexibility to choose between different tools. For example, you can align with bwamem2 or bwa or Sentieon BWA mem and call SNVs with either DeepVariant or Sentieon DNAscope. You also have the option to turn off sections of the pipeline if you do not want to run the. For example, snv annotation can be turned off by adding `--skip_snv_annotation` flag in the command line, or by setting it to true in a parameter file. This flexibility means that in any given analysis run, a combination of tools included in the pipeline will not be executed. So the pipeline is written in a way that can account for these differences while working with reference parameters. If a tool is not going to be executed during the course of a run, parameters used only by that tool need not be provided. For example, for SNV calling if you use DeepVariant as your variant caller, you need not provide the parameter `--ml_model`, which is only used by Sentieon DNAscope.
 
 nf-core/raredisease consists of several tools used for various purposes. For convenience, we have grouped those tools under the following categories:
@@ -400,9 +411,9 @@ Pipeline settings can be provided in a `yaml` or `json` file via `-params-file <
 nextflow run nf-core/raredisease -profile docker -params-file params.yaml
 ```
 
-with `params.yaml` containing:
+with:
 
-```yaml
+```yaml title="params.yaml"
 input: './samplesheet.csv'
 outdir: './results/'
 genome: 'GRCh37'
@@ -508,14 +519,6 @@ nextflow secrets set SENTIEON_LICENSE_BASE64 <LICENSE>
 
 If you are using Nextflow secrets, you have to set the environment variable `NXF_ENABLE_SECRETS` to true. This will see to it that the pipeline can retrieve the secret from Nextflow's secrets store during the pipeline execution. Keep in mind that versions of Nextflow Version 22.09.2-edge and onwards have NXF_ENABLE_SECRETS to true by default. If you are not using secrets set `NXF_ENABLE_SECRETS` to false, but make sure that the environment variable [`SENTIEON_LICENSE`](`NXF_ENABLE_SECRETS`) is set to reflect the value of your license server on your machine.
 
-### Azure Resource Requests
-
-To be used with the `azurebatch` profile by specifying the `-profile azurebatch`.
-We recommend providing a compute `params.vm_type` of `Standard_D16_v3` VMs by default but these options can be changed if required.
-
-Note that the choice of VM size depends on your quota and the overall workload during the analysis.
-For a thorough list, please refer the [Azure Sizes for virtual machines in Azure](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/sizes).
-
 ### Running in the background
 
 Nextflow handles job submissions and supervises the running jobs. The Nextflow process must run until the pipeline is finished.
@@ -538,18 +541,18 @@ NXF_OPTS='-Xms1g -Xmx4g'
 
 The pipeline and container images can be downloaded using [nf-core tools](https://nf-co.re/docs/usage/offline). For running offline, you of course have to make all the reference data available locally, and specify `--fasta`, etc., see [above](#reference-files-and-parameters).
 
-Contrary to the paragraph about [Nextflow](https://nf-co.re/docs/usage/offline#nextflow) on the page linked above, it is not possible to use the "-all" packaged version of Nextflow for this pipeline. The online version of Nextflow is necessary to support the necessary nextflow plugins. Download instead the file called just `nextflow`. Nextflow will download its dependencies when it is run. Additionally, you need to download the nf-validation plugin explicitly:
+Contrary to the paragraph about [Nextflow](https://nf-co.re/docs/usage/offline#nextflow) on the page linked above, it is not possible to use the "-all" packaged version of Nextflow for this pipeline. The online version of Nextflow is necessary to support the necessary nextflow plugins. Download instead the file called just `nextflow`. Nextflow will download its dependencies when it is run. Additionally, you need to download the nf-schema plugin explicitly:
 
 ```
-./nextflow plugin install nf-validation
+./nextflow plugin install nf-schema
 ```
 
-Now you can transfer the `nextflow` binary as well as its directory `$HOME/.nextflow` to the system without Internet access, and use it there. It is necessary to use an explicit version of `nf-validation` offline, or Nextflow will check for the most recent version online. Find the version of nf-validation you downloaded in `$HOME/.nextflow/plugins`, then specify this version for `nf-validation` in your configuration file:
+Now you can transfer the `nextflow` binary as well as its directory `$HOME/.nextflow` to the system without Internet access, and use it there. It is necessary to use an explicit version of `nf-schema` offline, or Nextflow will check for the most recent version online. Find the version of nf-schema you downloaded in `$HOME/.nextflow/plugins`, then specify this version for `nf-schema` in your configuration file:
 
 ```
 plugins {
         // Set the plugin version explicitly, otherwise nextflow will look for the newest version online.
-        id 'nf-validation@0.3.1'
+        id 'nf-schema@2.1.1'
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/main.nf b/main.nf
index 1e80e917..f8066532 100644
--- a/main.nf
+++ b/main.nf
@@ -9,63 +9,6 @@
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
 
-nextflow.enable.dsl = 2
-
-/*
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-    GENOME PARAMETER VALUES
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-*/
-
-params.fasta                           = getGenomeAttribute('fasta')
-params.fai                             = getGenomeAttribute('fai')
-params.bwa                             = getGenomeAttribute('bwa')
-params.bwamem2                         = getGenomeAttribute('bwamem2')
-params.bwameme                         = getGenomeAttribute('bwameme')
-params.call_interval                   = getGenomeAttribute('call_interval')
-params.cadd_resources                  = getGenomeAttribute('cadd_resources')
-params.gcnvcaller_model                = getGenomeAttribute('gcnvcaller_model')
-params.gens_interval_list              = getGenomeAttribute('gens_interval_list')
-params.gens_pon_female                 = getGenomeAttribute('gens_pon_female')
-params.gens_pon_male                   = getGenomeAttribute('gens_pon_male')
-params.gens_gnomad_pos                 = getGenomeAttribute('gens_gnomad_pos')
-params.gnomad_af                       = getGenomeAttribute('gnomad_af')
-params.gnomad_af_idx                   = getGenomeAttribute('gnomad_af_idx')
-params.intervals_wgs                   = getGenomeAttribute('intervals_wgs')
-params.intervals_y                     = getGenomeAttribute('intervals_y')
-params.known_dbsnp                     = getGenomeAttribute('known_dbsnp')
-params.known_dbsnp_tbi                 = getGenomeAttribute('known_dbsnp_tbi')
-params.mobile_element_references       = getGenomeAttribute('mobile_element_references')
-params.mobile_element_svdb_annotations = getGenomeAttribute('mobile_element_svdb_annotations')
-params.ml_model                        = getGenomeAttribute('ml_model')
-params.mt_fasta                        = getGenomeAttribute('mt_fasta')
-params.par_bed                         = getGenomeAttribute('par_bed')
-params.ploidy_model                    = getGenomeAttribute('ploidy_model')
-params.reduced_penetrance              = getGenomeAttribute('reduced_penetrance')
-params.readcount_intervals             = getGenomeAttribute('readcount_intervals')
-params.rtg_truthvcfs                   = getGenomeAttribute('rtg_truthvcfs')
-params.sample_id_map                   = getGenomeAttribute('sample_id_map')
-params.sequence_dictionary             = getGenomeAttribute('sequence_dictionary')
-params.score_config_mt                 = getGenomeAttribute('score_config_mt')
-params.score_config_snv                = getGenomeAttribute('score_config_snv')
-params.score_config_sv                 = getGenomeAttribute('score_config_sv')
-params.sdf                             = getGenomeAttribute('sdf')
-params.svdb_query_bedpedbs             = getGenomeAttribute('svdb_query_bedpedbs')
-params.svdb_query_dbs                  = getGenomeAttribute('svdb_query_dbs')
-params.target_bed                      = getGenomeAttribute('target_bed')
-params.variant_catalog                 = getGenomeAttribute('variant_catalog')
-params.variant_consequences_snv        = getGenomeAttribute('variant_consequences_snv')
-params.variant_consequences_sv         = getGenomeAttribute('variant_consequences_sv')
-params.vep_filters                     = getGenomeAttribute('vep_filters')
-params.vep_filters_scout_fmt           = getGenomeAttribute('vep_filters_scout_fmt')
-params.vcf2cytosure_blacklist          = getGenomeAttribute('vcf2cytosure_blacklist')
-params.vcfanno_extra_resources         = getGenomeAttribute('vcfanno_extra_resources')
-params.vcfanno_resources               = getGenomeAttribute('vcfanno_resources')
-params.vcfanno_toml                    = getGenomeAttribute('vcfanno_toml')
-params.vcfanno_lua                     = getGenomeAttribute('vcfanno_lua')
-params.vep_cache                       = getGenomeAttribute('vep_cache')
-params.vep_plugin_files                = getGenomeAttribute('vep_plugin_files')
-
 /*
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     IMPORT FUNCTIONS / MODULES / SUBWORKFLOWS / WORKFLOWS
@@ -76,6 +19,8 @@ include { RAREDISEASE             } from './workflows/raredisease'
 include { PIPELINE_INITIALISATION } from './subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline'
 include { PIPELINE_COMPLETION     } from './subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline'
 
+
+
 /*
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     NAMED WORKFLOWS FOR PIPELINE
@@ -98,10 +43,8 @@ workflow NFCORE_RAREDISEASE {
     RAREDISEASE (
         samplesheet
     )
-
     emit:
     multiqc_report = RAREDISEASE.out.multiqc_report // channel: /path/to/multiqc_report.html
-
 }
 /*
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@@ -112,13 +55,11 @@ workflow NFCORE_RAREDISEASE {
 workflow {
 
     main:
-
     //
     // SUBWORKFLOW: Run initialisation tasks
     //
     PIPELINE_INITIALISATION (
         params.version,
-        params.help,
         params.validate_params,
         params.monochrome_logs,
         args,
@@ -132,7 +73,6 @@ workflow {
     NFCORE_RAREDISEASE (
         PIPELINE_INITIALISATION.out.samplesheet
     )
-
     //
     // SUBWORKFLOW: Run completion tasks
     //
@@ -152,16 +92,3 @@ workflow {
     THE END
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
-
-//
-// Get attribute from genome config file e.g. fasta
-//
-
-def getGenomeAttribute(attribute) {
-    if (params.genomes && params.genome && params.genomes.containsKey(params.genome)) {
-        if (params.genomes[ params.genome ].containsKey(attribute)) {
-            return params.genomes[ params.genome ][ attribute ]
-        }
-    }
-    return null
-}
diff --git a/modules.json b/modules.json
index a1cb2151..9c5b3414 100644
--- a/modules.json
+++ b/modules.json
@@ -518,17 +518,17 @@
                 "nf-core": {
                     "utils_nextflow_pipeline": {
                         "branch": "master",
-                        "git_sha": "5caf7640a9ef1d18d765d55339be751bb0969dfa",
+                        "git_sha": "9d05360da397692321d377b6102d2fb22507c6ef",
                         "installed_by": ["subworkflows"]
                     },
                     "utils_nfcore_pipeline": {
                         "branch": "master",
-                        "git_sha": "92de218a329bfc9a9033116eb5f65fd270e72ba3",
+                        "git_sha": "772684d9d66f37b650c8ba5146ac1ee3ecba2acb",
                         "installed_by": ["subworkflows"]
                     },
-                    "utils_nfvalidation_plugin": {
+                    "utils_nfschema_plugin": {
                         "branch": "master",
-                        "git_sha": "5caf7640a9ef1d18d765d55339be751bb0969dfa",
+                        "git_sha": "bbd5a41f4535a8defafe6080e00ea74c45f4f96c",
                         "installed_by": ["subworkflows"]
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/nextflow.config b/nextflow.config
index 3d0893b5..cb12cf84 100644
--- a/nextflow.config
+++ b/nextflow.config
@@ -48,6 +48,56 @@ params {
     cadd_resources             = null
     platform                   = 'illumina'
 
+    // reference file options
+    fasta                           = null
+    fai                             = null
+    bwa                             = null
+    bwamem2                         = null
+    bwameme                         = null
+    call_interval                   = null
+    cadd_resources                  = null
+    gcnvcaller_model                = null
+    gens_interval_list              = null
+    gens_pon_female                 = null
+    gens_pon_male                   = null
+    gens_gnomad_pos                 = null
+    gnomad_af                       = null
+    gnomad_af_idx                   = null
+    intervals_wgs                   = null
+    intervals_y                     = null
+    known_dbsnp                     = null
+    known_dbsnp_tbi                 = null
+    mobile_element_references       = null
+    mobile_element_svdb_annotations = null
+    ml_model                        = null
+    mt_fasta                        = null
+    par_bed                         = null
+    ploidy_model                    = null
+    reduced_penetrance              = null
+    readcount_intervals             = null
+    rtg_truthvcfs                   = null
+    sample_id_map                   = null
+    sequence_dictionary             = null
+    score_config_mt                 = null
+    score_config_snv                = null
+    score_config_sv                 = null
+    sdf                             = null
+    svdb_query_bedpedbs             = null
+    svdb_query_dbs                  = null
+    target_bed                      = null
+    variant_catalog                 = null
+    variant_consequences_snv        = null
+    variant_consequences_sv         = null
+    vep_filters                     = null
+    vep_filters_scout_fmt           = null
+    vcf2cytosure_blacklist          = null
+    vcfanno_extra_resources         = null
+    vcfanno_resources               = null
+    vcfanno_toml                    = null
+    vcfanno_lua                     = null
+    vep_cache                       = null
+    vep_plugin_files                = null
+
     // Bam_qc
     ngsbits_samplegender_method = 'xy'
 
@@ -91,48 +141,27 @@ params {
     monochrome_logs              = false
     hook_url                     = null
     help                         = false
+    help_full                    = false
+    show_hidden                  = false
     version                      = false
     pipelines_testdata_base_path = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/test-datasets/'
 
     // Config options
     config_profile_name        = null
     config_profile_description = null
+
     custom_config_version      = 'master'
     custom_config_base         = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/configs/${params.custom_config_version}"
     config_profile_contact     = null
     config_profile_url         = null
 
-    // Max resource options
-    // Defaults only, expecting to be overwritten
-    max_memory                 = '128.GB'
-    max_cpus                   = 16
-    max_time                   = '240.h'
-
     // Schema validation default options
-    validationFailUnrecognisedParams = false
-    validationLenientMode            = false
-    validationSchemaIgnoreParams     = 'genomes,igenomes_base'
-    validationShowHiddenParams       = false
-    validate_params                  = true
-
+    validate_params            = true
 }
 
 // Load base.config by default for all pipelines
 includeConfig 'conf/base.config'
 
-// Load nf-core custom profiles from different Institutions
-try {
-    includeConfig "${params.custom_config_base}/nfcore_custom.config"
-} catch (Exception e) {
-    System.err.println("WARNING: Could not load nf-core/config profiles: ${params.custom_config_base}/nfcore_custom.config")
-}
-
-// Load nf-core/raredisease custom profiles from different institutions.
-try {
-    includeConfig "${params.custom_config_base}/pipeline/raredisease.config"
-} catch (Exception e) {
-    System.err.println("WARNING: Could not load nf-core/config/raredisease profiles: ${params.custom_config_base}/pipeline/raredisease.config")
-}
 profiles {
     debug {
         dumpHashes              = true
@@ -147,7 +176,7 @@ profiles {
         podman.enabled          = false
         shifter.enabled         = false
         charliecloud.enabled    = false
-        conda.channels          = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda', 'defaults']
+        conda.channels          = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda']
         apptainer.enabled       = false
     }
     mamba {
@@ -238,32 +267,29 @@ profiles {
     test_sentieon   { includeConfig 'conf/test_sentieon.config'   }
 }
 
-// Set default registry for Apptainer, Docker, Podman and Singularity independent of -profile
-// Will not be used unless Apptainer / Docker / Podman / Singularity are enabled
-// Set to your registry if you have a mirror of containers
-apptainer.registry   = 'quay.io'
-docker.registry      = 'quay.io'
-podman.registry      = 'quay.io'
-singularity.registry = 'quay.io'
-
-// Nextflow plugins
-plugins {
-    id 'nf-validation@1.1.3' // Validation of pipeline parameters and creation of an input channel from a sample sheet
-}
+// Load nf-core custom profiles from different Institutions
+includeConfig !System.getenv('NXF_OFFLINE') && params.custom_config_base ? "${params.custom_config_base}/nfcore_custom.config" : "/dev/null"
 
-// Load igenomes.config if required
-if (!params.igenomes_ignore) {
-    includeConfig 'conf/igenomes.config'
-} else {
-    params.genomes = [:]
-}
+// Load nf-core/raredisease custom profiles from different institutions.
+// TODO nf-core: Optionally, you can add a pipeline-specific nf-core config at https://github.com/nf-core/configs
+// includeConfig !System.getenv('NXF_OFFLINE') && params.custom_config_base ? "${params.custom_config_base}/pipeline/raredisease.config" : "/dev/null"
 
+// Set default registry for Apptainer, Docker, Podman, Charliecloud and Singularity independent of -profile
+// Will not be used unless Apptainer / Docker / Podman / Charliecloud / Singularity are enabled
+// Set to your registry if you have a mirror of containers
+apptainer.registry    = 'quay.io'
+docker.registry       = 'quay.io'
+podman.registry       = 'quay.io'
+singularity.registry  = 'quay.io'
+charliecloud.registry = 'quay.io'
 
 // Load wes.config if --analysis_type='wes'
 if (params.analysis_type == 'wes') {
     includeConfig 'conf/wes.config'
 }
 
+// Load igenomes.config if required
+includeConfig !params.igenomes_ignore ? 'conf/igenomes.config' : 'conf/igenomes_ignored.config'
 
 // Export these variables to prevent local Python/R libraries from conflicting with those in the container
 // The JULIA depot path has been adjusted to a fixed path `/usr/local/share/julia` that needs to be used for packages in the container.
@@ -276,8 +302,15 @@ env {
     JULIA_DEPOT_PATH = "/usr/local/share/julia"
 }
 
-// Capture exit codes from upstream processes when piping
-process.shell = ['/bin/bash', '-euo', 'pipefail']
+// Set bash options
+process.shell = """\
+bash
+
+set -e # Exit if a tool returns a non-zero status/exit code
+set -u # Treat unset variables and parameters as an error
+set -o pipefail # Returns the status of the last command to exit with a non-zero status or zero if all successfully execute
+set -C # No clobber - prevent output redirection from overwriting files.
+"""
 
 // Disable process selector warnings by default. Use debug profile to enable warnings.
 nextflow.enable.configProcessNamesValidation = false
@@ -306,7 +339,7 @@ manifest {
     homePage        = 'https://github.com/nf-core/raredisease'
     description     = """call and score variants from WGS/WES of rare disease patients"""
     mainScript      = 'main.nf'
-    nextflowVersion = '!>=23.04.0'
+    nextflowVersion = '!>=24.04.2'
     version         = '2.3.0dev'
     doi             = ''
 }
@@ -350,35 +383,38 @@ includeConfig 'conf/modules/variant_evaluation.config'
 includeConfig 'conf/modules/subsample_mt.config'
 includeConfig 'conf/modules/annotate_rhocallviz.config'
 
-// Function to ensure that resource requirements don't go beyond
-// a maximum limit
-def check_max(obj, type) {
-    if (type == 'memory') {
-        try {
-            if (obj.compareTo(params.max_memory as nextflow.util.MemoryUnit) == 1)
-                return params.max_memory as nextflow.util.MemoryUnit
-            else
-                return obj
-        } catch (all) {
-            println "   ### ERROR ###   Max memory '${params.max_memory}' is not valid! Using default value: $obj"
-            return obj
-        }
-    } else if (type == 'time') {
-        try {
-            if (obj.compareTo(params.max_time as nextflow.util.Duration) == 1)
-                return params.max_time as nextflow.util.Duration
-            else
-                return obj
-        } catch (all) {
-            println "   ### ERROR ###   Max time '${params.max_time}' is not valid! Using default value: $obj"
-            return obj
-        }
-    } else if (type == 'cpus') {
-        try {
-            return Math.min( obj, params.max_cpus as int )
-        } catch (all) {
-            println "   ### ERROR ###   Max cpus '${params.max_cpus}' is not valid! Using default value: $obj"
-            return obj
-        }
+// Nextflow plugins
+plugins {
+    id 'nf-schema@2.1.1' // Validation of pipeline parameters and creation of an input channel from a sample sheet
+}
+
+validation {
+    defaultIgnoreParams = ["genomes"]
+    help {
+        enabled = true
+        command = "nextflow run $manifest.name -profile <docker/singularity/.../institute> --input samplesheet.csv --outdir <OUTDIR>"
+        fullParameter = "help_full"
+        showHiddenParameter = "show_hidden"
+        beforeText = """
+-\033[2m----------------------------------------------------\033[0m-
+                                        \033[0;32m,--.\033[0;30m/\033[0;32m,-.\033[0m
+\033[0;34m        ___     __   __   __   ___     \033[0;32m/,-._.--~\'\033[0m
+\033[0;34m  |\\ | |__  __ /  ` /  \\ |__) |__         \033[0;33m}  {\033[0m
+\033[0;34m  | \\| |       \\__, \\__/ |  \\ |___     \033[0;32m\\`-._,-`-,\033[0m
+                                        \033[0;32m`._,._,\'\033[0m
+\033[0;35m  ${manifest.name} ${manifest.version}\033[0m
+-\033[2m----------------------------------------------------\033[0m-
+"""
+        afterText = """${manifest.doi ? "* The pipeline\n" : ""}${manifest.doi.tokenize(",").collect { "  https://doi.org/${it.trim().replace('https://doi.org/','')}"}.join("\n")}${manifest.doi ? "\n" : ""}
+* The nf-core framework
+    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0439-x
+
+* Software dependencies
+    https://github.com/${manifest.name}/blob/master/CITATIONS.md
+"""
+    }
+    summary {
+        beforeText = validation.help.beforeText
+        afterText = validation.help.afterText
     }
 }
diff --git a/nextflow_schema.json b/nextflow_schema.json
index 4424272b..bd456728 100644
--- a/nextflow_schema.json
+++ b/nextflow_schema.json
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/raredisease/master/nextflow_schema.json",
     "title": "nf-core/raredisease pipeline parameters",
     "description": "call and score variants from WGS/WES of rare disease patients",
     "type": "object",
-    "definitions": {
+    "$defs": {
         "input_output_options": {
             "title": "Input/output options",
             "type": "object",
@@ -179,6 +179,14 @@
                     "description": "Path to the index file for the gnomad tab file with allele frequencies.",
                     "help_text": "Path to the index of gnomad tab file with CHR/START/REF,ALT/AF"
                 },
+                "igenomes_base": {
+                    "type": "string",
+                    "format": "directory-path",
+                    "description": "The base path to the igenomes reference files",
+                    "fa_icon": "fas fa-ban",
+                    "hidden": true,
+                    "default": "s3://ngi-igenomes/igenomes/"
+                },
                 "igenomes_ignore": {
                     "type": "boolean",
                     "description": "Do not load the iGenomes reference config.",
@@ -796,41 +804,6 @@
                 }
             }
         },
-        "max_job_request_options": {
-            "title": "Max job request options",
-            "type": "object",
-            "fa_icon": "fab fa-acquisitions-incorporated",
-            "description": "Set the top limit for requested resources for any single job.",
-            "help_text": "If you are running on a smaller system, a pipeline step requesting more resources than are available may cause the Nextflow to stop the run with an error. These options allow you to cap the maximum resources requested by any single job so that the pipeline will run on your system.\n\nNote that you can not _increase_ the resources requested by any job using these options. For that you will need your own configuration file. See [the nf-core website](https://nf-co.re/usage/configuration) for details.",
-            "properties": {
-                "max_cpus": {
-                    "type": "integer",
-                    "description": "Maximum number of CPUs that can be requested for any single job.",
-                    "default": 16,
-                    "fa_icon": "fas fa-microchip",
-                    "hidden": true,
-                    "help_text": "Use to set an upper-limit for the CPU requirement for each process. Should be an integer e.g. `--max_cpus 1`"
-                },
-                "max_memory": {
-                    "type": "string",
-                    "description": "Maximum amount of memory that can be requested for any single job.",
-                    "default": "128.GB",
-                    "fa_icon": "fas fa-memory",
-                    "pattern": "^\\d+(\\.\\d+)?\\.?\\s*(K|M|G|T)?B$",
-                    "hidden": true,
-                    "help_text": "Use to set an upper-limit for the memory requirement for each process. Should be a string in the format integer-unit e.g. `--max_memory '8.GB'`"
-                },
-                "max_time": {
-                    "type": "string",
-                    "description": "Maximum amount of time that can be requested for any single job.",
-                    "default": "240.h",
-                    "fa_icon": "far fa-clock",
-                    "pattern": "^(\\d+\\.?\\s*(s|m|h|d|day)\\s*)+$",
-                    "hidden": true,
-                    "help_text": "Use to set an upper-limit for the time requirement for each process. Should be a string in the format integer-unit e.g. `--max_time '2.h'`"
-                }
-            }
-        },
         "generic_options": {
             "title": "Generic options",
             "type": "object",
@@ -838,12 +811,6 @@
             "description": "Less common options for the pipeline, typically set in a config file.",
             "help_text": "These options are common to all nf-core pipelines and allow you to customise some of the core preferences for how the pipeline runs.\n\nTypically these options would be set in a Nextflow config file loaded for all pipeline runs, such as `~/.nextflow/config`.",
             "properties": {
-                "help": {
-                    "type": "boolean",
-                    "description": "Display help text.",
-                    "fa_icon": "fas fa-question-circle",
-                    "hidden": true
-                },
                 "version": {
                     "type": "boolean",
                     "description": "Display version and exit.",
@@ -925,27 +892,6 @@
                     "fa_icon": "fas fa-check-square",
                     "hidden": true
                 },
-                "validationShowHiddenParams": {
-                    "type": "boolean",
-                    "fa_icon": "far fa-eye-slash",
-                    "description": "Show all params when using `--help`",
-                    "hidden": true,
-                    "help_text": "By default, parameters set as _hidden_ in the schema are not shown on the command line when a user runs with `--help`. Specifying this option will tell the pipeline to show all parameters."
-                },
-                "validationFailUnrecognisedParams": {
-                    "type": "boolean",
-                    "fa_icon": "far fa-check-circle",
-                    "description": "Validation of parameters fails when an unrecognised parameter is found.",
-                    "hidden": true,
-                    "help_text": "By default, when an unrecognised parameter is found, it returns a warinig."
-                },
-                "validationLenientMode": {
-                    "type": "boolean",
-                    "fa_icon": "far fa-check-circle",
-                    "description": "Validation of parameters in lenient more.",
-                    "hidden": true,
-                    "help_text": "Allows string values that are parseable as numbers or booleans. For further information see [JSONSchema docs](https://github.com/everit-org/json-schema#lenient-mode)."
-                },
                 "pipelines_testdata_base_path": {
                     "type": "string",
                     "fa_icon": "far fa-check-circle",
@@ -958,31 +904,28 @@
     },
     "allOf": [
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/input_output_options"
-        },
-        {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/reference_file_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/input_output_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/analysis_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/reference_file_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/alignment_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/analysis_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/variant_calling_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/alignment_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/annotation_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/variant_calling_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/institutional_config_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/annotation_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/max_job_request_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/institutional_config_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/generic_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/generic_options"
         }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline/main.nf b/subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline/main.nf
index 8048d491..894e4763 100644
--- a/subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline/main.nf
+++ b/subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline/main.nf
@@ -8,29 +8,25 @@
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 
-include { UTILS_NFVALIDATION_PLUGIN } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin'
-include { paramsSummaryMap          } from 'plugin/nf-validation'
-include { fromSamplesheet           } from 'plugin/nf-validation'
-include { UTILS_NEXTFLOW_PIPELINE   } from '../../nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline'
+include { UTILS_NFSCHEMA_PLUGIN     } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin'
+include { paramsSummaryMap          } from 'plugin/nf-schema'
+include { samplesheetToList         } from 'plugin/nf-schema'
 include { completionEmail           } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
 include { completionSummary         } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
-include { dashedLine                } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
-include { nfCoreLogo                } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
 include { imNotification            } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
 include { UTILS_NFCORE_PIPELINE     } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
-include { workflowCitation          } from '../../nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
+include { UTILS_NEXTFLOW_PIPELINE   } from '../../nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline'
 
 /*
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     SUBWORKFLOW TO INITIALISE PIPELINE
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 
 workflow PIPELINE_INITIALISATION {
 
     take:
     version           // boolean: Display version and exit
-    help              // boolean: Display help text
     validate_params   // boolean: Boolean whether to validate parameters against the schema at runtime
     monochrome_logs   // boolean: Do not use coloured log outputs
     nextflow_cli_args //   array: List of positional nextflow CLI args
@@ -51,21 +47,17 @@ workflow PIPELINE_INITIALISATION {
         workflow.profile.tokenize(',').intersect(['conda', 'mamba']).size() >= 1
     )
 
+
     //
     // Validate parameters and generate parameter summary to stdout
     //
-    pre_help_text = nfCoreLogo(monochrome_logs)
-    post_help_text = '\n' + workflowCitation() + '\n' + dashedLine(monochrome_logs)
-    def String workflow_command = "nextflow run ${workflow.manifest.name} -profile <docker/singularity/.../institute> --input samplesheet.csv --outdir <OUTDIR>"
-    UTILS_NFVALIDATION_PLUGIN (
-        help,
-        workflow_command,
-        pre_help_text,
-        post_help_text,
+    UTILS_NFSCHEMA_PLUGIN (
+        workflow,
         validate_params,
-        "nextflow_schema.json"
+        null
     )
 
+
     //
     // Check config provided to the pipeline
     //
@@ -80,7 +72,8 @@ workflow PIPELINE_INITIALISATION {
     //
     // Create channel from input file provided through params.input
     //
-    Channel.fromSamplesheet("input")
+    Channel
+        .fromList(samplesheetToList(params.input, "${projectDir}/assets/schema_input.json"))
         .tap { ch_original_input }
         .map { meta, fastq1, fastq2 -> meta.id }
         .reduce([:]) { counts, sample -> //get counts of each sample in the samplesheet - for groupTuple
@@ -116,9 +109,9 @@ workflow PIPELINE_INITIALISATION {
 }
 
 /*
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     SUBWORKFLOW FOR PIPELINE COMPLETION
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 
 workflow PIPELINE_COMPLETION {
@@ -127,13 +120,13 @@ workflow PIPELINE_COMPLETION {
     email           //  string: email address
     email_on_fail   //  string: email address sent on pipeline failure
     plaintext_email // boolean: Send plain-text email instead of HTML
+
     outdir          //    path: Path to output directory where results will be published
     monochrome_logs // boolean: Disable ANSI colour codes in log output
     hook_url        //  string: hook URL for notifications
     multiqc_report  //  string: Path to MultiQC report
 
     main:
-
     summary_params = paramsSummaryMap(workflow, parameters_schema: "nextflow_schema.json")
 
     //
@@ -141,11 +134,18 @@ workflow PIPELINE_COMPLETION {
     //
     workflow.onComplete {
         if (email || email_on_fail) {
-            completionEmail(summary_params, email, email_on_fail, plaintext_email, outdir, monochrome_logs, multiqc_report.toList())
+            completionEmail(
+                summary_params,
+                email,
+                email_on_fail,
+                plaintext_email,
+                outdir,
+                monochrome_logs,
+                multiqc_report.toList()
+            )
         }
 
         completionSummary(monochrome_logs)
-
         if (hook_url) {
             imNotification(summary_params, hook_url)
         }
@@ -157,9 +157,9 @@ workflow PIPELINE_COMPLETION {
 }
 
 /*
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     FUNCTIONS
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 //
 // Check and validate pipeline parameters
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def validateInputSamplesheet(input) {
     def (metas, fastqs) = input[1..2]
 
     // Check that multiple runs of the same sample are of the same datatype i.e. single-end / paired-end
-    def endedness_ok = metas.collect{ it.single_end }.unique().size == 1
+    def endedness_ok = metas.collect{ meta -> meta.single_end }.unique().size == 1
     if (!endedness_ok) {
         error("Please check input samplesheet -> Multiple runs of a sample must be of the same datatype i.e. single-end or paired-end: ${metas[0].id}")
     }
@@ -183,6 +183,18 @@ def validateInputSamplesheet(input) {
     return [ metas[0], fastqs ]
 }
 
+//
+// Get attribute from genome config file e.g. fasta
+//
+def getGenomeAttribute(attribute) {
+    if (params.genomes && params.genome && params.genomes.containsKey(params.genome)) {
+        if (params.genomes[ params.genome ].containsKey(attribute)) {
+            return params.genomes[ params.genome ][ attribute ]
+        }
+    }
+    return null
+}
+
 //
 // Exit pipeline if incorrect --genome key provided
 //
@@ -196,7 +208,6 @@ def genomeExistsError() {
         error(error_string)
     }
 }
-
 //
 // Generate methods description for MultiQC
 //
@@ -454,8 +465,10 @@ def methodsDescriptionText(mqc_methods_yaml) {
         // Removing `https://doi.org/` to handle pipelines using DOIs vs DOI resolvers
         // Removing ` ` since the manifest.doi is a string and not a proper list
         def temp_doi_ref = ""
-        String[] manifest_doi = meta.manifest_map.doi.tokenize(",")
-        for (String doi_ref: manifest_doi) temp_doi_ref += "(doi: <a href=\'https://doi.org/${doi_ref.replace("https://doi.org/", "").replace(" ", "")}\'>${doi_ref.replace("https://doi.org/", "").replace(" ", "")}</a>), "
+        def manifest_doi = meta.manifest_map.doi.tokenize(",")
+        manifest_doi.each { doi_ref ->
+            temp_doi_ref += "(doi: <a href=\'https://doi.org/${doi_ref.replace("https://doi.org/", "").replace(" ", "")}\'>${doi_ref.replace("https://doi.org/", "").replace(" ", "")}</a>), "
+        }
         meta["doi_text"] = temp_doi_ref.substring(0, temp_doi_ref.length() - 2)
     } else meta["doi_text"] = ""
     meta["nodoi_text"] = meta.manifest_map.doi ? "" : "<li>If available, make sure to update the text to include the Zenodo DOI of version of the pipeline used. </li>"
@@ -472,3 +485,4 @@ def methodsDescriptionText(mqc_methods_yaml) {
 
     return description_html.toString()
 }
+
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf
index ac31f28f..2b0dc67a 100644
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf
@@ -2,18 +2,13 @@
 // Subworkflow with functionality that may be useful for any Nextflow pipeline
 //
 
-import org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml
-import groovy.json.JsonOutput
-import nextflow.extension.FilesEx
-
 /*
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     SUBWORKFLOW DEFINITION
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 
 workflow UTILS_NEXTFLOW_PIPELINE {
-
     take:
     print_version        // boolean: print version
     dump_parameters      // boolean: dump parameters
@@ -26,7 +21,7 @@ workflow UTILS_NEXTFLOW_PIPELINE {
     // Print workflow version and exit on --version
     //
     if (print_version) {
-        log.info "${workflow.manifest.name} ${getWorkflowVersion()}"
+        log.info("${workflow.manifest.name} ${getWorkflowVersion()}")
         System.exit(0)
     }
 
@@ -49,16 +44,16 @@ workflow UTILS_NEXTFLOW_PIPELINE {
 }
 
 /*
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     FUNCTIONS
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 
 //
 // Generate version string
 //
 def getWorkflowVersion() {
-    String version_string = ""
+    def version_string = "" as String
     if (workflow.manifest.version) {
         def prefix_v = workflow.manifest.version[0] != 'v' ? 'v' : ''
         version_string += "${prefix_v}${workflow.manifest.version}"
@@ -76,13 +71,13 @@ def getWorkflowVersion() {
 // Dump pipeline parameters to a JSON file
 //
 def dumpParametersToJSON(outdir) {
-    def timestamp  = new java.util.Date().format( 'yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss')
-    def filename   = "params_${timestamp}.json"
-    def temp_pf    = new File(workflow.launchDir.toString(), ".${filename}")
-    def jsonStr    = JsonOutput.toJson(params)
-    temp_pf.text   = JsonOutput.prettyPrint(jsonStr)
+    def timestamp = new java.util.Date().format('yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss')
+    def filename  = "params_${timestamp}.json"
+    def temp_pf   = new File(workflow.launchDir.toString(), ".${filename}")
+    def jsonStr   = groovy.json.JsonOutput.toJson(params)
+    temp_pf.text  = groovy.json.JsonOutput.prettyPrint(jsonStr)
 
-    FilesEx.copyTo(temp_pf.toPath(), "${outdir}/pipeline_info/params_${timestamp}.json")
+    nextflow.extension.FilesEx.copyTo(temp_pf.toPath(), "${outdir}/pipeline_info/params_${timestamp}.json")
     temp_pf.delete()
 }
 
@@ -90,37 +85,38 @@ def dumpParametersToJSON(outdir) {
 // When running with -profile conda, warn if channels have not been set-up appropriately
 //
 def checkCondaChannels() {
-    Yaml parser = new Yaml()
+    def parser = new org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml()
     def channels = []
     try {
         def config = parser.load("conda config --show channels".execute().text)
         channels = config.channels
-    } catch(NullPointerException | IOException e) {
-        log.warn "Could not verify conda channel configuration."
-        return
+    }
+    catch (NullPointerException e) {
+        log.warn("Could not verify conda channel configuration.")
+        return null
+    }
+    catch (IOException e) {
+        log.warn("Could not verify conda channel configuration.")
+        return null
     }
 
     // Check that all channels are present
     // This channel list is ordered by required channel priority.
-    def required_channels_in_order = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda', 'defaults']
+    def required_channels_in_order = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda']
     def channels_missing = ((required_channels_in_order as Set) - (channels as Set)) as Boolean
 
     // Check that they are in the right order
     def channel_priority_violation = false
-    def n = required_channels_in_order.size()
-    for (int i = 0; i < n - 1; i++) {
-        channel_priority_violation |= !(channels.indexOf(required_channels_in_order[i]) < channels.indexOf(required_channels_in_order[i+1]))
+
+    required_channels_in_order.eachWithIndex { channel, index ->
+        if (index < required_channels_in_order.size() - 1) {
+            channel_priority_violation |= !(channels.indexOf(channel) < channels.indexOf(required_channels_in_order[index + 1]))
+        }
     }
 
     if (channels_missing | channel_priority_violation) {
-        log.warn "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n" +
-            "  There is a problem with your Conda configuration!\n\n" +
-            "  You will need to set-up the conda-forge and bioconda channels correctly.\n" +
-            "  Please refer to https://bioconda.github.io/\n" +
-            "  The observed channel order is \n" +
-            "  ${channels}\n" +
-            "  but the following channel order is required:\n" +
-            "  ${required_channels_in_order}\n" +
-            "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
+        log.warn(
+            "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n" + "  There is a problem with your Conda configuration!\n\n" + "  You will need to set-up the conda-forge and bioconda channels correctly.\n" + "  Please refer to https://bioconda.github.io/\n" + "  The observed channel order is \n" + "  ${channels}\n" + "  but the following channel order is required:\n" + "  ${required_channels_in_order}\n" + "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
+        )
     }
 }
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/tests/nextflow.config b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/tests/nextflow.config
index d0a926bf..a09572e5 100644
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/tests/nextflow.config
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/tests/nextflow.config
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ manifest {
     author          = """nf-core"""
     homePage        = 'https://127.0.0.1'
     description     = """Dummy pipeline"""
-    nextflowVersion  = '!>=23.04.0'
+    nextflowVersion = '!>=23.04.0'
     version         = '9.9.9'
     doi             = 'https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5070524'
 }
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline/main.nf b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline/main.nf
index 14558c39..b78273ca 100644
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline/main.nf
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline/main.nf
@@ -2,17 +2,13 @@
 // Subworkflow with utility functions specific to the nf-core pipeline template
 //
 
-import org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml
-import nextflow.extension.FilesEx
-
 /*
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     SUBWORKFLOW DEFINITION
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 
 workflow UTILS_NFCORE_PIPELINE {
-
     take:
     nextflow_cli_args
 
@@ -25,23 +21,20 @@ workflow UTILS_NFCORE_PIPELINE {
 }
 
 /*
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     FUNCTIONS
-========================================================================================
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
 
 //
 //  Warn if a -profile or Nextflow config has not been provided to run the pipeline
 //
 def checkConfigProvided() {
-    valid_config = true
+    def valid_config = true as Boolean
     if (workflow.profile == 'standard' && workflow.configFiles.size() <= 1) {
-        log.warn "[$workflow.manifest.name] You are attempting to run the pipeline without any custom configuration!\n\n" +
-            "This will be dependent on your local compute environment but can be achieved via one or more of the following:\n" +
-            "   (1) Using an existing pipeline profile e.g. `-profile docker` or `-profile singularity`\n" +
-            "   (2) Using an existing nf-core/configs for your Institution e.g. `-profile crick` or `-profile uppmax`\n" +
-            "   (3) Using your own local custom config e.g. `-c /path/to/your/custom.config`\n\n" +
-            "Please refer to the quick start section and usage docs for the pipeline.\n "
+        log.warn(
+            "[${workflow.manifest.name}] You are attempting to run the pipeline without any custom configuration!\n\n" + "This will be dependent on your local compute environment but can be achieved via one or more of the following:\n" + "   (1) Using an existing pipeline profile e.g. `-profile docker` or `-profile singularity`\n" + "   (2) Using an existing nf-core/configs for your Institution e.g. `-profile crick` or `-profile uppmax`\n" + "   (3) Using your own local custom config e.g. `-c /path/to/your/custom.config`\n\n" + "Please refer to the quick start section and usage docs for the pipeline.\n "
+        )
         valid_config = false
     }
     return valid_config
@@ -52,12 +45,14 @@ def checkConfigProvided() {
 //
 def checkProfileProvided(nextflow_cli_args) {
     if (workflow.profile.endsWith(',')) {
-        error "The `-profile` option cannot end with a trailing comma, please remove it and re-run the pipeline!\n" +
-            "HINT: A common mistake is to provide multiple values separated by spaces e.g. `-profile test, docker`.\n"
+        error(
+            "The `-profile` option cannot end with a trailing comma, please remove it and re-run the pipeline!\n" + "HINT: A common mistake is to provide multiple values separated by spaces e.g. `-profile test, docker`.\n"
+        )
     }
     if (nextflow_cli_args[0]) {
-        log.warn "nf-core pipelines do not accept positional arguments. The positional argument `${nextflow_cli_args[0]}` has been detected.\n" +
-            "HINT: A common mistake is to provide multiple values separated by spaces e.g. `-profile test, docker`.\n"
+        log.warn(
+            "nf-core pipelines do not accept positional arguments. The positional argument `${nextflow_cli_args[0]}` has been detected.\n" + "HINT: A common mistake is to provide multiple values separated by spaces e.g. `-profile test, docker`.\n"
+        )
     }
 }
 
@@ -66,25 +61,21 @@ def checkProfileProvided(nextflow_cli_args) {
 //
 def workflowCitation() {
     def temp_doi_ref = ""
-    String[] manifest_doi = workflow.manifest.doi.tokenize(",")
+    def manifest_doi = workflow.manifest.doi.tokenize(",")
     // Using a loop to handle multiple DOIs
     // Removing `https://doi.org/` to handle pipelines using DOIs vs DOI resolvers
     // Removing ` ` since the manifest.doi is a string and not a proper list
-    for (String doi_ref: manifest_doi) temp_doi_ref += "  https://doi.org/${doi_ref.replace('https://doi.org/', '').replace(' ', '')}\n"
-    return "If you use ${workflow.manifest.name} for your analysis please cite:\n\n" +
-        "* The pipeline\n" +
-        temp_doi_ref + "\n" +
-        "* The nf-core framework\n" +
-        "  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0439-x\n\n" +
-        "* Software dependencies\n" +
-        "  https://github.com/${workflow.manifest.name}/blob/master/CITATIONS.md"
+    manifest_doi.each { doi_ref ->
+        temp_doi_ref += "  https://doi.org/${doi_ref.replace('https://doi.org/', '').replace(' ', '')}\n"
+    }
+    return "If you use ${workflow.manifest.name} for your analysis please cite:\n\n" + "* The pipeline\n" + temp_doi_ref + "\n" + "* The nf-core framework\n" + "  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0439-x\n\n" + "* Software dependencies\n" + "  https://github.com/${workflow.manifest.name}/blob/master/CITATIONS.md"
 }
 
 //
 // Generate workflow version string
 //
 def getWorkflowVersion() {
-    String version_string = ""
+    def version_string = "" as String
     if (workflow.manifest.version) {
         def prefix_v = workflow.manifest.version[0] != 'v' ? 'v' : ''
         version_string += "${prefix_v}${workflow.manifest.version}"
@@ -102,8 +93,8 @@ def getWorkflowVersion() {
 // Get software versions for pipeline
 //
 def processVersionsFromYAML(yaml_file) {
-    Yaml yaml = new Yaml()
-    versions = yaml.load(yaml_file).collectEntries { k, v -> [ k.tokenize(':')[-1], v ] }
+    def yaml = new org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml()
+    def versions = yaml.load(yaml_file).collectEntries { k, v -> [k.tokenize(':')[-1], v] }
     return yaml.dumpAsMap(versions).trim()
 }
 
@@ -113,8 +104,8 @@ def processVersionsFromYAML(yaml_file) {
 def workflowVersionToYAML() {
     return """
     Workflow:
-        $workflow.manifest.name: ${getWorkflowVersion()}
-        Nextflow: $workflow.nextflow.version
+        ${workflow.manifest.name}: ${getWorkflowVersion()}
+        Nextflow: ${workflow.nextflow.version}
     """.stripIndent().trim()
 }
 
@@ -122,11 +113,7 @@ def workflowVersionToYAML() {
 // Get channel of software versions used in pipeline in YAML format
 //
 def softwareVersionsToYAML(ch_versions) {
-    return ch_versions
-                .unique()
-                .map { processVersionsFromYAML(it) }
-                .unique()
-                .mix(Channel.of(workflowVersionToYAML()))
+    return ch_versions.unique().map { version -> processVersionsFromYAML(version) }.unique().mix(Channel.of(workflowVersionToYAML()))
 }
 
 //
@@ -134,25 +121,31 @@ def softwareVersionsToYAML(ch_versions) {
 //
 def paramsSummaryMultiqc(summary_params) {
     def summary_section = ''
-    for (group in summary_params.keySet()) {
-        def group_params = summary_params.get(group)  // This gets the parameters of that particular group
-        if (group_params) {
-            summary_section += "    <p style=\"font-size:110%\"><b>$group</b></p>\n"
-            summary_section += "    <dl class=\"dl-horizontal\">\n"
-            for (param in group_params.keySet()) {
-                summary_section += "        <dt>$param</dt><dd><samp>${group_params.get(param) ?: '<span style=\"color:#999999;\">N/A</a>'}</samp></dd>\n"
+    summary_params
+        .keySet()
+        .each { group ->
+            def group_params = summary_params.get(group)
+            // This gets the parameters of that particular group
+            if (group_params) {
+                summary_section += "    <p style=\"font-size:110%\"><b>${group}</b></p>\n"
+                summary_section += "    <dl class=\"dl-horizontal\">\n"
+                group_params
+                    .keySet()
+                    .sort()
+                    .each { param ->
+                        summary_section += "        <dt>${param}</dt><dd><samp>${group_params.get(param) ?: '<span style=\"color:#999999;\">N/A</a>'}</samp></dd>\n"
+                    }
+                summary_section += "    </dl>\n"
             }
-            summary_section += "    </dl>\n"
         }
-    }
 
-    String yaml_file_text  = "id: '${workflow.manifest.name.replace('/','-')}-summary'\n"
-    yaml_file_text        += "description: ' - this information is collected when the pipeline is started.'\n"
-    yaml_file_text        += "section_name: '${workflow.manifest.name} Workflow Summary'\n"
-    yaml_file_text        += "section_href: 'https://github.com/${workflow.manifest.name}'\n"
-    yaml_file_text        += "plot_type: 'html'\n"
-    yaml_file_text        += "data: |\n"
-    yaml_file_text        += "${summary_section}"
+    def yaml_file_text = "id: '${workflow.manifest.name.replace('/', '-')}-summary'\n" as String
+    yaml_file_text     += "description: ' - this information is collected when the pipeline is started.'\n"
+    yaml_file_text     += "section_name: '${workflow.manifest.name} Workflow Summary'\n"
+    yaml_file_text     += "section_href: 'https://github.com/${workflow.manifest.name}'\n"
+    yaml_file_text     += "plot_type: 'html'\n"
+    yaml_file_text     += "data: |\n"
+    yaml_file_text     += "${summary_section}"
 
     return yaml_file_text
 }
@@ -161,7 +154,7 @@ def paramsSummaryMultiqc(summary_params) {
 // nf-core logo
 //
 def nfCoreLogo(monochrome_logs=true) {
-    Map colors = logColours(monochrome_logs)
+    def colors = logColours(monochrome_logs) as Map
     String.format(
         """\n
         ${dashedLine(monochrome_logs)}
@@ -180,7 +173,7 @@ def nfCoreLogo(monochrome_logs=true) {
 // Return dashed line
 //
 def dashedLine(monochrome_logs=true) {
-    Map colors = logColours(monochrome_logs)
+    def colors = logColours(monochrome_logs) as Map
     return "-${colors.dim}----------------------------------------------------${colors.reset}-"
 }
 
@@ -188,7 +181,7 @@ def dashedLine(monochrome_logs=true) {
 // ANSII colours used for terminal logging
 //
 def logColours(monochrome_logs=true) {
-    Map colorcodes = [:]
+    def colorcodes = [:] as Map
 
     // Reset / Meta
     colorcodes['reset']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0m"
@@ -200,54 +193,54 @@ def logColours(monochrome_logs=true) {
     colorcodes['hidden']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[8m"
 
     // Regular Colors
-    colorcodes['black']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;30m"
-    colorcodes['red']        = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;31m"
-    colorcodes['green']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;32m"
-    colorcodes['yellow']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;33m"
-    colorcodes['blue']       = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;34m"
-    colorcodes['purple']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;35m"
-    colorcodes['cyan']       = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;36m"
-    colorcodes['white']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;37m"
+    colorcodes['black']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;30m"
+    colorcodes['red']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;31m"
+    colorcodes['green']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;32m"
+    colorcodes['yellow'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;33m"
+    colorcodes['blue']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;34m"
+    colorcodes['purple'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;35m"
+    colorcodes['cyan']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;36m"
+    colorcodes['white']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;37m"
 
     // Bold
-    colorcodes['bblack']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;30m"
-    colorcodes['bred']       = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;31m"
-    colorcodes['bgreen']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;32m"
-    colorcodes['byellow']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;33m"
-    colorcodes['bblue']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;34m"
-    colorcodes['bpurple']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;35m"
-    colorcodes['bcyan']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;36m"
-    colorcodes['bwhite']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;37m"
+    colorcodes['bblack']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;30m"
+    colorcodes['bred']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;31m"
+    colorcodes['bgreen']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;32m"
+    colorcodes['byellow'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;33m"
+    colorcodes['bblue']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;34m"
+    colorcodes['bpurple'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;35m"
+    colorcodes['bcyan']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;36m"
+    colorcodes['bwhite']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;37m"
 
     // Underline
-    colorcodes['ublack']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;30m"
-    colorcodes['ured']       = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;31m"
-    colorcodes['ugreen']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;32m"
-    colorcodes['uyellow']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;33m"
-    colorcodes['ublue']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;34m"
-    colorcodes['upurple']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;35m"
-    colorcodes['ucyan']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;36m"
-    colorcodes['uwhite']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;37m"
+    colorcodes['ublack']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;30m"
+    colorcodes['ured']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;31m"
+    colorcodes['ugreen']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;32m"
+    colorcodes['uyellow'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;33m"
+    colorcodes['ublue']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;34m"
+    colorcodes['upurple'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;35m"
+    colorcodes['ucyan']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;36m"
+    colorcodes['uwhite']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[4;37m"
 
     // High Intensity
-    colorcodes['iblack']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;90m"
-    colorcodes['ired']       = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;91m"
-    colorcodes['igreen']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;92m"
-    colorcodes['iyellow']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;93m"
-    colorcodes['iblue']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;94m"
-    colorcodes['ipurple']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;95m"
-    colorcodes['icyan']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;96m"
-    colorcodes['iwhite']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;97m"
+    colorcodes['iblack']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;90m"
+    colorcodes['ired']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;91m"
+    colorcodes['igreen']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;92m"
+    colorcodes['iyellow'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;93m"
+    colorcodes['iblue']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;94m"
+    colorcodes['ipurple'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;95m"
+    colorcodes['icyan']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;96m"
+    colorcodes['iwhite']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[0;97m"
 
     // Bold High Intensity
-    colorcodes['biblack']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;90m"
-    colorcodes['bired']      = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;91m"
-    colorcodes['bigreen']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;92m"
-    colorcodes['biyellow']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;93m"
-    colorcodes['biblue']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;94m"
-    colorcodes['bipurple']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;95m"
-    colorcodes['bicyan']     = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;96m"
-    colorcodes['biwhite']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;97m"
+    colorcodes['biblack']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;90m"
+    colorcodes['bired']    = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;91m"
+    colorcodes['bigreen']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;92m"
+    colorcodes['biyellow'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;93m"
+    colorcodes['biblue']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;94m"
+    colorcodes['bipurple'] = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;95m"
+    colorcodes['bicyan']   = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;96m"
+    colorcodes['biwhite']  = monochrome_logs ? '' : "\033[1;97m"
 
     return colorcodes
 }
@@ -262,14 +255,15 @@ def attachMultiqcReport(multiqc_report) {
             mqc_report = multiqc_report.getVal()
             if (mqc_report.getClass() == ArrayList && mqc_report.size() >= 1) {
                 if (mqc_report.size() > 1) {
-                    log.warn "[$workflow.manifest.name] Found multiple reports from process 'MULTIQC', will use only one"
+                    log.warn("[${workflow.manifest.name}] Found multiple reports from process 'MULTIQC', will use only one")
                 }
                 mqc_report = mqc_report[0]
             }
         }
-    } catch (all) {
+    }
+    catch (Exception all) {
         if (multiqc_report) {
-            log.warn "[$workflow.manifest.name] Could not attach MultiQC report to summary email"
+            log.warn("[${workflow.manifest.name}] Could not attach MultiQC report to summary email")
         }
     }
     return mqc_report
@@ -281,26 +275,35 @@ def attachMultiqcReport(multiqc_report) {
 def completionEmail(summary_params, email, email_on_fail, plaintext_email, outdir, monochrome_logs=true, multiqc_report=null) {
 
     // Set up the e-mail variables
-    def subject = "[$workflow.manifest.name] Successful: $workflow.runName"
+    def subject = "[${workflow.manifest.name}] Successful: ${workflow.runName}"
     if (!workflow.success) {
-        subject = "[$workflow.manifest.name] FAILED: $workflow.runName"
+        subject = "[${workflow.manifest.name}] FAILED: ${workflow.runName}"
     }
 
     def summary = [:]
-    for (group in summary_params.keySet()) {
-        summary << summary_params[group]
-    }
+    summary_params
+        .keySet()
+        .sort()
+        .each { group ->
+            summary << summary_params[group]
+        }
 
     def misc_fields = [:]
     misc_fields['Date Started']              = workflow.start
     misc_fields['Date Completed']            = workflow.complete
     misc_fields['Pipeline script file path'] = workflow.scriptFile
     misc_fields['Pipeline script hash ID']   = workflow.scriptId
-    if (workflow.repository) misc_fields['Pipeline repository Git URL']    = workflow.repository
-    if (workflow.commitId)   misc_fields['Pipeline repository Git Commit'] = workflow.commitId
-    if (workflow.revision)   misc_fields['Pipeline Git branch/tag']        = workflow.revision
-    misc_fields['Nextflow Version']           = workflow.nextflow.version
-    misc_fields['Nextflow Build']             = workflow.nextflow.build
+    if (workflow.repository) {
+        misc_fields['Pipeline repository Git URL']    = workflow.repository
+    }
+    if (workflow.commitId) {
+        misc_fields['Pipeline repository Git Commit'] = workflow.commitId
+    }
+    if (workflow.revision) {
+        misc_fields['Pipeline Git branch/tag']        = workflow.revision
+    }
+    misc_fields['Nextflow Version']          = workflow.nextflow.version
+    misc_fields['Nextflow Build']            = workflow.nextflow.build
     misc_fields['Nextflow Compile Timestamp'] = workflow.nextflow.timestamp
 
     def email_fields = [:]
@@ -338,39 +341,41 @@ def completionEmail(summary_params, email, email_on_fail, plaintext_email, outdi
 
     // Render the sendmail template
     def max_multiqc_email_size = (params.containsKey('max_multiqc_email_size') ? params.max_multiqc_email_size : 0) as nextflow.util.MemoryUnit
-    def smail_fields           = [ email: email_address, subject: subject, email_txt: email_txt, email_html: email_html, projectDir: "${workflow.projectDir}", mqcFile: mqc_report, mqcMaxSize: max_multiqc_email_size.toBytes() ]
+    def smail_fields           = [email: email_address, subject: subject, email_txt: email_txt, email_html: email_html, projectDir: "${workflow.projectDir}", mqcFile: mqc_report, mqcMaxSize: max_multiqc_email_size.toBytes()]
     def sf                     = new File("${workflow.projectDir}/assets/sendmail_template.txt")
     def sendmail_template      = engine.createTemplate(sf).make(smail_fields)
     def sendmail_html          = sendmail_template.toString()
 
     // Send the HTML e-mail
-    Map colors = logColours(monochrome_logs)
+    def colors = logColours(monochrome_logs) as Map
     if (email_address) {
         try {
-            if (plaintext_email) { throw GroovyException('Send plaintext e-mail, not HTML') }
+            if (plaintext_email) {
+new org.codehaus.groovy.GroovyException('Send plaintext e-mail, not HTML')            }
             // Try to send HTML e-mail using sendmail
             def sendmail_tf = new File(workflow.launchDir.toString(), ".sendmail_tmp.html")
             sendmail_tf.withWriter { w -> w << sendmail_html }
-            [ 'sendmail', '-t' ].execute() << sendmail_html
-            log.info "-${colors.purple}[$workflow.manifest.name]${colors.green} Sent summary e-mail to $email_address (sendmail)-"
-        } catch (all) {
+            ['sendmail', '-t'].execute() << sendmail_html
+            log.info("-${colors.purple}[${workflow.manifest.name}]${colors.green} Sent summary e-mail to ${email_address} (sendmail)-")
+        }
+        catch (Exception all) {
             // Catch failures and try with plaintext
-            def mail_cmd = [ 'mail', '-s', subject, '--content-type=text/html', email_address ]
+            def mail_cmd = ['mail', '-s', subject, '--content-type=text/html', email_address]
             mail_cmd.execute() << email_html
-            log.info "-${colors.purple}[$workflow.manifest.name]${colors.green} Sent summary e-mail to $email_address (mail)-"
+            log.info("-${colors.purple}[${workflow.manifest.name}]${colors.green} Sent summary e-mail to ${email_address} (mail)-")
         }
     }
 
     // Write summary e-mail HTML to a file
     def output_hf = new File(workflow.launchDir.toString(), ".pipeline_report.html")
     output_hf.withWriter { w -> w << email_html }
-    FilesEx.copyTo(output_hf.toPath(), "${outdir}/pipeline_info/pipeline_report.html");
+    nextflow.extension.FilesEx.copyTo(output_hf.toPath(), "${outdir}/pipeline_info/pipeline_report.html")
     output_hf.delete()
 
     // Write summary e-mail TXT to a file
     def output_tf = new File(workflow.launchDir.toString(), ".pipeline_report.txt")
     output_tf.withWriter { w -> w << email_txt }
-    FilesEx.copyTo(output_tf.toPath(), "${outdir}/pipeline_info/pipeline_report.txt");
+    nextflow.extension.FilesEx.copyTo(output_tf.toPath(), "${outdir}/pipeline_info/pipeline_report.txt")
     output_tf.delete()
 }
 
@@ -378,15 +383,17 @@ def completionEmail(summary_params, email, email_on_fail, plaintext_email, outdi
 // Print pipeline summary on completion
 //
 def completionSummary(monochrome_logs=true) {
-    Map colors = logColours(monochrome_logs)
+    def colors = logColours(monochrome_logs) as Map
     if (workflow.success) {
         if (workflow.stats.ignoredCount == 0) {
-            log.info "-${colors.purple}[$workflow.manifest.name]${colors.green} Pipeline completed successfully${colors.reset}-"
-        } else {
-            log.info "-${colors.purple}[$workflow.manifest.name]${colors.yellow} Pipeline completed successfully, but with errored process(es) ${colors.reset}-"
+            log.info("-${colors.purple}[${workflow.manifest.name}]${colors.green} Pipeline completed successfully${colors.reset}-")
+        }
+        else {
+            log.info("-${colors.purple}[${workflow.manifest.name}]${colors.yellow} Pipeline completed successfully, but with errored process(es) ${colors.reset}-")
         }
-    } else {
-        log.info "-${colors.purple}[$workflow.manifest.name]${colors.red} Pipeline completed with errors${colors.reset}-"
+    }
+    else {
+        log.info("-${colors.purple}[${workflow.manifest.name}]${colors.red} Pipeline completed with errors${colors.reset}-")
     }
 }
 
@@ -395,21 +402,30 @@ def completionSummary(monochrome_logs=true) {
 //
 def imNotification(summary_params, hook_url) {
     def summary = [:]
-    for (group in summary_params.keySet()) {
-        summary << summary_params[group]
-    }
+    summary_params
+        .keySet()
+        .sort()
+        .each { group ->
+            summary << summary_params[group]
+        }
 
     def misc_fields = [:]
-    misc_fields['start']                                = workflow.start
-    misc_fields['complete']                             = workflow.complete
-    misc_fields['scriptfile']                           = workflow.scriptFile
-    misc_fields['scriptid']                             = workflow.scriptId
-    if (workflow.repository) misc_fields['repository']  = workflow.repository
-    if (workflow.commitId)   misc_fields['commitid']    = workflow.commitId
-    if (workflow.revision)   misc_fields['revision']    = workflow.revision
-    misc_fields['nxf_version']                          = workflow.nextflow.version
-    misc_fields['nxf_build']                            = workflow.nextflow.build
-    misc_fields['nxf_timestamp']                        = workflow.nextflow.timestamp
+    misc_fields['start']          = workflow.start
+    misc_fields['complete']       = workflow.complete
+    misc_fields['scriptfile']     = workflow.scriptFile
+    misc_fields['scriptid']       = workflow.scriptId
+    if (workflow.repository) {
+        misc_fields['repository'] = workflow.repository
+    }
+    if (workflow.commitId) {
+        misc_fields['commitid']   = workflow.commitId
+    }
+    if (workflow.revision) {
+        misc_fields['revision']   = workflow.revision
+    }
+    misc_fields['nxf_version']    = workflow.nextflow.version
+    misc_fields['nxf_build']      = workflow.nextflow.build
+    misc_fields['nxf_timestamp']  = workflow.nextflow.timestamp
 
     def msg_fields = [:]
     msg_fields['version']      = getWorkflowVersion()
@@ -434,13 +450,13 @@ def imNotification(summary_params, hook_url) {
     def json_message  = json_template.toString()
 
     // POST
-    def post = new URL(hook_url).openConnection();
+    def post = new URL(hook_url).openConnection()
     post.setRequestMethod("POST")
     post.setDoOutput(true)
     post.setRequestProperty("Content-Type", "application/json")
-    post.getOutputStream().write(json_message.getBytes("UTF-8"));
-    def postRC = post.getResponseCode();
-    if (! postRC.equals(200)) {
-        log.warn(post.getErrorStream().getText());
+    post.getOutputStream().write(json_message.getBytes("UTF-8"))
+    def postRC = post.getResponseCode()
+    if (!postRC.equals(200)) {
+        log.warn(post.getErrorStream().getText())
     }
 }
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/main.nf b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/main.nf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4994303e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/main.nf
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+//
+// Subworkflow that uses the nf-schema plugin to validate parameters and render the parameter summary
+//
+
+include { paramsSummaryLog   } from 'plugin/nf-schema'
+include { validateParameters } from 'plugin/nf-schema'
+
+workflow UTILS_NFSCHEMA_PLUGIN {
+
+    take:
+    input_workflow      // workflow: the workflow object used by nf-schema to get metadata from the workflow
+    validate_params     // boolean:  validate the parameters
+    parameters_schema   // string:   path to the parameters JSON schema.
+                        //           this has to be the same as the schema given to `validation.parametersSchema`
+                        //           when this input is empty it will automatically use the configured schema or
+                        //           "${projectDir}/nextflow_schema.json" as default. This input should not be empty
+                        //           for meta pipelines
+
+    main:
+
+    //
+    // Print parameter summary to stdout. This will display the parameters
+    // that differ from the default given in the JSON schema
+    //
+    if(parameters_schema) {
+        log.info paramsSummaryLog(input_workflow, parameters_schema:parameters_schema)
+    } else {
+        log.info paramsSummaryLog(input_workflow)
+    }
+
+    //
+    // Validate the parameters using nextflow_schema.json or the schema
+    // given via the validation.parametersSchema configuration option
+    //
+    if(validate_params) {
+        if(parameters_schema) {
+            validateParameters(parameters_schema:parameters_schema)
+        } else {
+            validateParameters()
+        }
+    }
+
+    emit:
+    dummy_emit = true
+}
+
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/meta.yml b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/meta.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f7d9f028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/meta.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/modules/master/subworkflows/yaml-schema.json
+name: "utils_nfschema_plugin"
+description: Run nf-schema to validate parameters and create a summary of changed parameters
+keywords:
+  - validation
+  - JSON schema
+  - plugin
+  - parameters
+  - summary
+components: []
+input:
+  - input_workflow:
+      type: object
+      description: |
+        The workflow object of the used pipeline.
+        This object contains meta data used to create the params summary log
+  - validate_params:
+      type: boolean
+      description: Validate the parameters and error if invalid.
+  - parameters_schema:
+      type: string
+      description: |
+        Path to the parameters JSON schema.
+        This has to be the same as the schema given to the `validation.parametersSchema` config
+        option. When this input is empty it will automatically use the configured schema or
+        "${projectDir}/nextflow_schema.json" as default. The schema should not be given in this way
+        for meta pipelines.
+output:
+  - dummy_emit:
+      type: boolean
+      description: Dummy emit to make nf-core subworkflows lint happy
+authors:
+  - "@nvnieuwk"
+maintainers:
+  - "@nvnieuwk"
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/main.nf.test b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/main.nf.test
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..842dc432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/main.nf.test
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+nextflow_workflow {
+
+    name "Test Subworkflow UTILS_NFSCHEMA_PLUGIN"
+    script "../main.nf"
+    workflow "UTILS_NFSCHEMA_PLUGIN"
+
+    tag "subworkflows"
+    tag "subworkflows_nfcore"
+    tag "subworkflows/utils_nfschema_plugin"
+    tag "plugin/nf-schema"
+
+    config "./nextflow.config"
+
+    test("Should run nothing") {
+
+        when {
+
+            params {
+                test_data   = ''
+            }
+
+            workflow {
+                """
+                validate_params = false
+                input[0] = workflow
+                input[1] = validate_params
+                input[2] = ""
+                """
+            }
+        }
+
+        then {
+            assertAll(
+                { assert workflow.success }
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    test("Should validate params") {
+
+        when {
+
+            params {
+                test_data   = ''
+                outdir      = 1
+            }
+
+            workflow {
+                """
+                validate_params = true
+                input[0] = workflow
+                input[1] = validate_params
+                input[2] = ""
+                """
+            }
+        }
+
+        then {
+            assertAll(
+                { assert workflow.failed },
+                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('ERROR ~ Validation of pipeline parameters failed!') } }
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    test("Should run nothing - custom schema") {
+
+        when {
+
+            params {
+                test_data   = ''
+            }
+
+            workflow {
+                """
+                validate_params = false
+                input[0] = workflow
+                input[1] = validate_params
+                input[2] = "${projectDir}/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json"
+                """
+            }
+        }
+
+        then {
+            assertAll(
+                { assert workflow.success }
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    test("Should validate params - custom schema") {
+
+        when {
+
+            params {
+                test_data   = ''
+                outdir      = 1
+            }
+
+            workflow {
+                """
+                validate_params = true
+                input[0] = workflow
+                input[1] = validate_params
+                input[2] = "${projectDir}/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json"
+                """
+            }
+        }
+
+        then {
+            assertAll(
+                { assert workflow.failed },
+                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('ERROR ~ Validation of pipeline parameters failed!') } }
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow.config b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow.config
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0907ac58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow.config
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+plugins {
+    id "nf-schema@2.1.0"
+}
+
+validation {
+    parametersSchema = "${projectDir}/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json"
+    monochromeLogs = true
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json
similarity index 95%
rename from subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json
rename to subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json
index 7626c1c9..331e0d2f 100644
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json
+++ b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfschema_plugin/tests/nextflow_schema.json
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {
-    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
     "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/./master/nextflow_schema.json",
     "title": ". pipeline parameters",
     "description": "",
     "type": "object",
-    "definitions": {
+    "$defs": {
         "input_output_options": {
             "title": "Input/output options",
             "type": "object",
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@
     },
     "allOf": [
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/input_output_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/input_output_options"
         },
         {
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/generic_options"
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/generic_options"
         }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/main.nf b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/main.nf
deleted file mode 100644
index 2585b65d..00000000
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/main.nf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
-//
-// Subworkflow that uses the nf-validation plugin to render help text and parameter summary
-//
-
-/*
-========================================================================================
-    IMPORT NF-VALIDATION PLUGIN
-========================================================================================
-*/
-
-include { paramsHelp         } from 'plugin/nf-validation'
-include { paramsSummaryLog   } from 'plugin/nf-validation'
-include { validateParameters } from 'plugin/nf-validation'
-
-/*
-========================================================================================
-    SUBWORKFLOW DEFINITION
-========================================================================================
-*/
-
-workflow UTILS_NFVALIDATION_PLUGIN {
-
-    take:
-    print_help       // boolean: print help
-    workflow_command //  string: default commmand used to run pipeline
-    pre_help_text    //  string: string to be printed before help text and summary log
-    post_help_text   //  string: string to be printed after help text and summary log
-    validate_params  // boolean: validate parameters
-    schema_filename  //    path: JSON schema file, null to use default value
-
-    main:
-
-    log.debug "Using schema file: ${schema_filename}"
-
-    // Default values for strings
-    pre_help_text    = pre_help_text    ?: ''
-    post_help_text   = post_help_text   ?: ''
-    workflow_command = workflow_command ?: ''
-
-    //
-    // Print help message if needed
-    //
-    if (print_help) {
-        log.info pre_help_text + paramsHelp(workflow_command, parameters_schema: schema_filename) + post_help_text
-        System.exit(0)
-    }
-
-    //
-    // Print parameter summary to stdout
-    //
-    log.info pre_help_text + paramsSummaryLog(workflow, parameters_schema: schema_filename) + post_help_text
-
-    //
-    // Validate parameters relative to the parameter JSON schema
-    //
-    if (validate_params){
-        validateParameters(parameters_schema: schema_filename)
-    }
-
-    emit:
-    dummy_emit = true
-}
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/meta.yml b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/meta.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 3d4a6b04..00000000
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/meta.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-# yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nf-core/modules/master/subworkflows/yaml-schema.json
-name: "UTILS_NFVALIDATION_PLUGIN"
-description: Use nf-validation to initiate and validate a pipeline
-keywords:
-  - utility
-  - pipeline
-  - initialise
-  - validation
-components: []
-input:
-  - print_help:
-      type: boolean
-      description: |
-        Print help message and exit
-  - workflow_command:
-      type: string
-      description: |
-        The command to run the workflow e.g. "nextflow run main.nf"
-  - pre_help_text:
-      type: string
-      description: |
-        Text to print before the help message
-  - post_help_text:
-      type: string
-      description: |
-        Text to print after the help message
-  - validate_params:
-      type: boolean
-      description: |
-        Validate the parameters and error if invalid.
-  - schema_filename:
-      type: string
-      description: |
-        The filename of the schema to validate against.
-output:
-  - dummy_emit:
-      type: boolean
-      description: |
-        Dummy emit to make nf-core subworkflows lint happy
-authors:
-  - "@adamrtalbot"
-maintainers:
-  - "@adamrtalbot"
-  - "@maxulysse"
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/main.nf.test b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/main.nf.test
deleted file mode 100644
index 5784a33f..00000000
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/main.nf.test
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,200 +0,0 @@
-nextflow_workflow {
-
-    name "Test Workflow UTILS_NFVALIDATION_PLUGIN"
-    script "../main.nf"
-    workflow "UTILS_NFVALIDATION_PLUGIN"
-    tag "subworkflows"
-    tag "subworkflows_nfcore"
-    tag "plugin/nf-validation"
-    tag "'plugin/nf-validation'"
-    tag "utils_nfvalidation_plugin"
-    tag "subworkflows/utils_nfvalidation_plugin"
-
-    test("Should run nothing") {
-
-        when {
-
-            params {
-                monochrome_logs = true
-                test_data       = ''
-            }
-
-            workflow {
-                """
-                help             = false
-                workflow_command = null
-                pre_help_text    = null
-                post_help_text   = null
-                validate_params  = false
-                schema_filename  = "$moduleTestDir/nextflow_schema.json"
-
-                input[0] = help
-                input[1] = workflow_command
-                input[2] = pre_help_text
-                input[3] = post_help_text
-                input[4] = validate_params
-                input[5] = schema_filename
-                """
-            }
-        }
-
-        then {
-            assertAll(
-                { assert workflow.success }
-            )
-        }
-    }
-
-    test("Should run help") {
-
-
-        when {
-
-            params {
-                monochrome_logs = true
-                test_data       = ''
-            }
-            workflow {
-                """
-                help             = true
-                workflow_command = null
-                pre_help_text    = null
-                post_help_text   = null
-                validate_params  = false
-                schema_filename  = "$moduleTestDir/nextflow_schema.json"
-
-                input[0] = help
-                input[1] = workflow_command
-                input[2] = pre_help_text
-                input[3] = post_help_text
-                input[4] = validate_params
-                input[5] = schema_filename
-                """
-            }
-        }
-
-        then {
-            assertAll(
-                { assert workflow.success },
-                { assert workflow.exitStatus == 0 },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('Input/output options') } },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('--outdir') } }
-            )
-        }
-    }
-
-    test("Should run help with command") {
-
-        when {
-
-            params {
-                monochrome_logs = true
-                test_data       = ''
-            }
-            workflow {
-                """
-                help             = true
-                workflow_command = "nextflow run noorg/doesntexist"
-                pre_help_text    = null
-                post_help_text   = null
-                validate_params  = false
-                schema_filename  = "$moduleTestDir/nextflow_schema.json"
-
-                input[0] = help
-                input[1] = workflow_command
-                input[2] = pre_help_text
-                input[3] = post_help_text
-                input[4] = validate_params
-                input[5] = schema_filename
-                """
-            }
-        }
-
-        then {
-            assertAll(
-                { assert workflow.success },
-                { assert workflow.exitStatus == 0 },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('nextflow run noorg/doesntexist') } },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('Input/output options') } },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('--outdir') } }
-            )
-        }
-    }
-
-    test("Should run help with extra text") {
-
-
-        when {
-
-            params {
-                monochrome_logs = true
-                test_data       = ''
-            }
-            workflow {
-                """
-                help             = true
-                workflow_command = "nextflow run noorg/doesntexist"
-                pre_help_text    = "pre-help-text"
-                post_help_text   = "post-help-text"
-                validate_params  = false
-                schema_filename  = "$moduleTestDir/nextflow_schema.json"
-
-                input[0] = help
-                input[1] = workflow_command
-                input[2] = pre_help_text
-                input[3] = post_help_text
-                input[4] = validate_params
-                input[5] = schema_filename
-                """
-            }
-        }
-
-        then {
-            assertAll(
-                { assert workflow.success },
-                { assert workflow.exitStatus == 0 },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('pre-help-text') } },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('nextflow run noorg/doesntexist') } },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('Input/output options') } },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('--outdir') } },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('post-help-text') } }
-            )
-        }
-    }
-
-    test("Should validate params") {
-
-        when {
-
-            params {
-                monochrome_logs = true
-                test_data       = ''
-                outdir          = 1
-            }
-            workflow {
-                """
-                help             = false
-                workflow_command = null
-                pre_help_text    = null
-                post_help_text   = null
-                validate_params  = true
-                schema_filename  = "$moduleTestDir/nextflow_schema.json"
-
-                input[0] = help
-                input[1] = workflow_command
-                input[2] = pre_help_text
-                input[3] = post_help_text
-                input[4] = validate_params
-                input[5] = schema_filename
-                """
-            }
-        }
-
-        then {
-            assertAll(
-                { assert workflow.failed },
-                { assert workflow.stdout.any { it.contains('ERROR ~ ERROR: Validation of pipeline parameters failed!') } }
-            )
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/tags.yml b/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/tags.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 60b1cfff..00000000
--- a/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/tests/tags.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-subworkflows/utils_nfvalidation_plugin:
-  - subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfvalidation_plugin/**
diff --git a/workflows/raredisease.nf b/workflows/raredisease.nf
index 68e45b17..3d665daf 100644
--- a/workflows/raredisease.nf
+++ b/workflows/raredisease.nf
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@
     IMPORT MODULES / SUBWORKFLOWS / FUNCTIONS
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 */
-
-include { paramsSummaryLog; paramsSummaryMap; fromSamplesheet } from 'plugin/nf-validation'
-include { paramsSummaryMultiqc   } from '../subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
-include { softwareVersionsToYAML } from '../subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
-include { methodsDescriptionText } from '../subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline'
+include { paramsSummaryMap;samplesheetToList } from 'plugin/nf-schema'
+include { paramsSummaryMultiqc               } from '../subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
+include { softwareVersionsToYAML             } from '../subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nfcore_pipeline'
+include { methodsDescriptionText             } from '../subworkflows/local/utils_nfcore_raredisease_pipeline'
 
 /*
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@@ -176,7 +175,6 @@ workflow RAREDISEASE {
 
     take:
     ch_samplesheet // channel: samplesheet read in from --input
-
     main:
 
     ch_versions = Channel.empty()
@@ -269,7 +267,7 @@ workflow RAREDISEASE {
                                                                             : Channel.empty()
     ch_intervals_y              = params.intervals_y                        ? Channel.fromPath(params.intervals_y).collect()
                                                                             : Channel.empty()
-    ch_me_references            = params.mobile_element_references          ? Channel.fromSamplesheet("mobile_element_references")
+    ch_me_references            = params.mobile_element_references          ? Channel.fromList(samplesheetToList(params.mobile_element_references, "${projectDir}/assets/mobile_element_references_schema.json"))
                                                                             : Channel.empty()
     ch_me_svdb_resources        = params.mobile_element_svdb_annotations    ? Channel.fromPath(params.mobile_element_svdb_annotations)
                                                                             : Channel.empty()
@@ -298,7 +296,7 @@ workflow RAREDISEASE {
                                                                             : Channel.value([])
     ch_rtg_truthvcfs            = params.rtg_truthvcfs                      ? Channel.fromPath(params.rtg_truthvcfs).collect()
                                                                             : Channel.value([])
-    ch_sample_id_map            = params.sample_id_map                      ? Channel.fromSamplesheet("sample_id_map")
+    ch_sample_id_map            = params.sample_id_map                      ? Channel.fromList(samplesheetToList(params.sample_id_map, "${projectDir}/assets/sample_id_map.json"))
                                                                             : Channel.empty()
     ch_score_config_mt          = params.score_config_mt                    ? Channel.fromPath(params.score_config_mt).collect()
                                                                             : Channel.value([])
@@ -864,11 +862,12 @@ workflow RAREDISEASE {
     softwareVersionsToYAML(ch_versions)
         .collectFile(
             storeDir: "${params.outdir}/pipeline_info",
-            name: 'nf_core_pipeline_software_mqc_versions.yml',
+            name: 'nf_core_'  + 'pipeline_software_' +  'mqc_'  + 'versions.yml',
             sort: true,
             newLine: true
         ).set { ch_collated_versions }
 
+
     //
     // MODULE: MultiQC
     //
@@ -881,9 +880,12 @@ workflow RAREDISEASE {
         Channel.fromPath(params.multiqc_logo, checkIfExists: true) :
         Channel.fromPath("$projectDir/docs/images/nf-core-raredisease_logo_light.png", checkIfExists: true)
 
+
     summary_params      = paramsSummaryMap(
         workflow, parameters_schema: "nextflow_schema.json")
     ch_workflow_summary = Channel.value(paramsSummaryMultiqc(summary_params))
+    ch_multiqc_files = ch_multiqc_files.mix(
+        ch_workflow_summary.collectFile(name: 'workflow_summary_mqc.yaml'))
 
     ch_multiqc_custom_methods_description = params.multiqc_methods_description ?
         file(params.multiqc_methods_description, checkIfExists: true) :
@@ -891,8 +893,6 @@ workflow RAREDISEASE {
     ch_methods_description                = Channel.value(
         methodsDescriptionText(ch_multiqc_custom_methods_description))
 
-    ch_multiqc_files = ch_multiqc_files.mix(
-        ch_workflow_summary.collectFile(name: 'workflow_summary_mqc.yaml'))
     ch_multiqc_files = ch_multiqc_files.mix(ch_collated_versions)
     ch_multiqc_files = ch_multiqc_files.mix(
         ch_methods_description.collectFile(
@@ -922,9 +922,9 @@ workflow RAREDISEASE {
         []
     )
 
-    emit:
-    multiqc_report = MULTIQC.out.report.toList() // channel: /path/to/multiqc_report.html
+    emit:multiqc_report = MULTIQC.out.report.toList() // channel: /path/to/multiqc_report.html
     versions       = ch_versions                 // channel: [ path(versions.yml) ]
+
 }