G2MC Quarterly Newsletter
February 2023
In this edition
- Featured: Get Involved in G2MC’s New and Revised Functional Groups
- G2MC 7th International Conference Updates
- Featured Early Career Investigator: Tania Vasquez
- Organizational Updates and Announcements
- Flagship Project Updates
- Other Genomic Medicine News and Events
- Recent Publications
Interested in joining a G2MC Functional Group? Learn more and get involved below.
Featured Story
Get Involved in G2MC's New and Revised Functional Groups
We are pleased to share the new G2MC Strategic Plan, which can be viewed on the G2MC Strategic Plan webpage along with a summary, descriptions of the new and revised functional groups, the updated organizational structure, and the background on the strategic planning process.
How to Get Involved
As part of the strategic planning, G2MC restructured its functional groups to better align with its priorities. G2MC now has eight functional groups including four subcommittees, two flagship projects, an affinity group, and an ad-hoc 2023 Conference Planning Working Group.
We encourage you to review the functional groups’ descriptions and objectives summarized here. We are looking for individuals with the desire and capacity to volunteer for roles ranging from leadership to organizational development, project implementation, and more. Skills and experience, as well as level of involvement, vary across functional groups. We encourage those interested to select a group that best fits your professional background and schedule.
Please use the G2MC Functional Groups Interest Form below to indicate your interest in joining a group.
- For G2MC members who are already part of a functional group, we ask that you still complete the interest form. This will allow us to confirm your continued interest and also ensure that we have the most updated information for our members. You can also use the form to indicate your interest in joining different or additional functional groups.
- Non-G2MC members may also use the form above to join G2MC and indicate their interest in a functional group. At this time, we do not charge a membership fee to be a part of G2MC.
Thank You to Our Supporters
Thanks to our members, partners, and sponsors who have allowed G2MC to grow tremendously in regard to our membership enrollment, accomplishments, and impacts on the individuals and communities we have reached. We look forward to continued growth and your active participation in our community. Please reach out to us at any time with questions or feedback.
G2MC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) (tax-exempt in the U.S.) organization. Sponsorships and donations to help support our mission are greatly appreciated. Support G2MC.
G2MC 7th International Conference Updates
Registration NOW OPEN!
Registration is now open for the G2MC 7th International Conference that will be held October 2-4, 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. For those unable to attend in person, registration for online attendance is also available. Visit the conference registration page to learn more. The preliminary program is also available to view and will be updated regularly as conference planning commences.
Early Career Investigators (ECI) Abstract Submissions – DEADLINE EXTENDED
We are pleased to continue our tradition of holding an Early Career Investigators (ECI) Forum (formerly called Young Investigators Forum) that will promote the next generation of leaders in the field and give them opportunities to network with leaders in genomic medicine from around the world.
We are currently accepting ECI Forum abstract submissions. Abstracts will be selected for podium presentations or flash talks, and all qualified abstracts will be chosen for poster presentations. The submission deadline for oral presentations has been extended to March 1, 2023. Abstracts submitted after this deadline but prior to July 31, 2023, will be considered for poster presentations only. G2MC will cover the registration fee and lodging for ECIs selected for podium presentations and flash talks.
For additional information, please visit the ECI Forum Abstract Submission webpage.
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you or your organization may be interested in being a conference sponsor, please contact us and we will be happy to provide additional details about sponsorship opportunities.
Featured Early Career Investigator
G2MC is committed to fostering the growth of early career investigators in the field of genomic medicine. Through the implementation of Early Career Forums at our international conferences and our G2MC Early Career Investigators Subcommittee, we hope to provide opportunities for our members to mentor and cultivate young talent in genomic medicine implementation all over the world.
Tania Vasquez
G2MC is excited to speak with our latest Early Career Investigator looking to invigorate the next era of Genomic Medicine. Tania Vasquez is a House Officer at a pediatrics clinic located in Brooklyn, New York, mostly serving the Hispanic population including children with genetic and developmental conditions. Vasquez is passionate about helping underserved populations, particularly infants and children, and improving healthcare for these groups through the implementation of genomic medicine.
Continue reading to learn more about Vasquez and her career goals.
Organizational Updates and Announcements
Announcing the Appointment of Tejinder K. Rakhra-Burris as President & CEO of the Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative
We’re excited to announce Executive Director Tejinder Rakhra-Burris’ appointment to President and CEO of the Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC). Rakhra-Burris has been an active leader since June 2018, shepherding the continued growth of the G2MC and spearheading the creation of the International Cohorts HundredK+ Cohorts Consortium (IHCC) as well as the all encompassing GGMC as the parent organization. Rakhra-Burris has been involved in nearly every facet of the Collaborative, serving as the Executive Director since June 2018 and as the interim CEO and President since June 2022. She will be heading the entirety of the Secretariat as she carries out her five-year term.
The entire organization extends an enormous congratulations to our new President and CEO, we know your leadership will ensure the collaborative will leverage the growth of genomic medicine and improve global health.
G2MC Appoints Interim Co-Chair as Founding Co-Chair Finishes Term
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Korf, MD, PhD (USA), as G2MC Interim Co-Chair for 2023. Dr. Korf has actively contributed to the growth of G2MC over the years, serving as a member on the Steering Committee, co-chair of the Education Working Group, and co-host of the past three G2MC international conferences. In his professional role, Dr. Korf serves as Wayne H. and Sara Crews Finley Endowed Chair in Medical Genetics and Associate Dean for Genomic Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, Chief Genomics Officer at UAB Medicine, and Co-Director of the UAB-HudsonAlpha Center for Genomic Medicine. He will be joining co-chairs Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD (Canada), and George P. Patrinos, PhD (Greece), as he carries out his one-year term.
REMINDER: Funding and Grants Webpage
The GGMC Development Committee is requesting for G2MC members to share potential funding opportunities and sources applicable to the implementation of genomic medicine. These will be posted on our website and shared in our newsletters and social media channels, with the goal of allowing other members the opportunity to consider collaborative proposals to answer them. We have recently created a Funding and Grants webpage on our website to list these opportunities and funding sources. We encourage members to use the submission form on the webpage to submit potential funding opportunities and sources to be posted and shared.
Flagship Project Updates
Learn more about G2MC Flagship Projects and other Functional Groups and how you can get involved.
G2MC Family Health History (FHH) Flagship Project
Navigating 2023: G2MC FHH Journey Continues
Building upon ongoing activities, the Family Health History (FHH) Flagship Project group has defined three major projects for 2023. The group’s projects and activities are based on action items and tangible milestones that have been set with a clear focus on the comments and feedback from G2MC members around the globe. As the group continues to come together to share challenges and opportunities of implementing FHH in patient care across individual countries, opportunities for collaboration and synergy are emerging.
Genomic Medicine Clinics for Rare Genetic Disorders
Pilot Project Results To Be Shared at ICBD
The results from the G2MC flagship project on Genomic Medicine Clinics for Rare Genetic Disorders will be presented during a session at the International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World (ICBD), held March 1-4, 2023 in Santiago, Chile. The presentation titled “Diversity Rare Undiagnosed Diseases Program: A Pilot Project Study Results” will be presented by several of the project’s collaborators who will represent the G2MC team.
The Genomic Medicine Clinics for Rare Genetic Disorders pilot project kicked off in 2021 with funding from the RTW foundation, and partners with the University of Maryland School of Medicine to establish access to evidence-based exome sequencing for the diagnosis of rare uncharacterized and undiagnosed diseases in sites located in Chile, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Africa, and Nepal.
Upcoming Events
Educational Webinar Series – Qatar Biobank Showcase
The International Hundred K+ Cohorts Consortium (IHCC) is pleased to share a short webinar series held over the dates of March 1-9, 2023, and presented by a team from Qatar Biobank, that will explore the journey of Qatar Biobank from conception until today as they celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Each session will explore a key area of biobanking, from designing a collection study to the IT infrastructure to sharing data and services and connecting with the local community. Presenters will share their challenges, successes, and lessons learned in their journey to develop the largest population biobank in the middle east region.
Duke Precision Medicine Program Forum Series
Tune in to the Duke Precision Medicine Program Forum Series taking place on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 12 -1 p.m. EST on Zoom. The webinars are free to attend but registration is required. Click below to learn more and register for upcoming talks.
Other Genomic Medicine News
Postdoctoral Position Opportunity with MAUCO Cohort
The Maule Cohort (MAUCO), a member of the International Hundred K+ Cohorts Consortium (IHCC) is currently accepting applications for a postdoctoral position. The application deadline is 3 March 2023. MAUCO, which belongs to the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), is a Chilean cohort study that examines the natural history of chronic diseases among inhabitants of the agricultural county of Molina (approximately 43,000 inhabitants) in Chile’s Maule Region. Click below to learn more about the PostDoc opportunity.
Publications
“How to Sabbatical Successfully (and Reinvigorate Your Career)?” authored by Prof. Juergen Reichardt, a member of the G2MC leadership team, was recently published in Methods and Protocols.
Abstract:
Sabbaticals should be a main feature of every academic career. This article provides some personal insights from experience along with an analysis of the benefits to the home and host institutions. Furthermore, the paper includes extensive and easy-to-follow timelines and guides for one’s own sabbatical. It is hoped that this article will expand the use of sabbaticals for everyone’s benefit in academia.
Get Involved With G2MC!
Interested in becoming a member of G2MC or getting involved with one of our Functional Groups? Let us know below!
Our community is comprised of health professionals, scientists, and policymakers in over 35 countries. We collaborate to demonstrate the value and the effective use of genomics in medicine. Join us to share and learn best practices.
