G2MC Quarterly Newsletter
November 2022
In this edition
- Featured: G2MC Strategic Planning Process
- G2MC 7th International Conference Update
- Featured Early Career Investigator: Peter James Abad
- Organizational Updates and Announcements
- Working Group and Flagship Project Updates
- Other Genomic Medicine News and Events
- Recent Publications
Interested in joining G2MC or getting involved with a Working Group or Flagship Project? We want to hear from you!
Featured Story
G2MC Strategic Planning Process
In May 2022, the G2MC leadership team embarked on a strategic planning process with the aim to revise G2MC’s mission, vision, core values, and guiding principles for the next 5 years. The process also included a review of G2MC’s organizational structure and restructuring of G2MC’s functional groups.
In early 2022, G2MC announced structural and branding changes that were the result of the organization’s growth and opportunities to expand our reach in the genomic medicine arena. The changes included the establishment of a parent organization, the Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC). What was previously the Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative was renamed the Global Genomic Medicine Consortium (G2MC). This shift prompted the need for the strategic planning process to review and revise G2MC’s defining elements and future directions.
As part of the strategic planning process, G2MC formed an ad hoc Strategic Planning Advisory Group, consisting of members from the G2MC leadership team, who met regularly with an external strategic planning consultant beginning in July 2022. In October, the group held a virtual meeting for the entire G2MC membership to provide an update on the strategic plan and its core elements, and to allow for engagement and feedback to further refine the plan. The summary of the plan can be viewed below. We look forward to releasing the full finalized plan globally in late December 2022/January 2023.
G2MC 7th International Conference: Geneva Switzerland
Dates Finalized: October 2-4, 2023
We are excited to share that the Global Genomic Medicine Consortium (G2MC) 7th International Conference will be held October 2-4, 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. For those unable to attend in person, we will also be incorporating virtual sessions. The conference theme is connecting with governing bodies and organizations, particularly LMICs, to enhance collaborations to ultimately influence genomic medicine implementation worldwide. Subthemes are being established and will be shared as the planning process continues.
Call for Planning Committee Volunteers
We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help make this conference an exciting and engaging event. Conference Planning Committee members will be charged with finalizing the theme, establishing sub-themes, building the agenda, suggesting and inviting speakers, and leading and/or moderating a session during the conference. The committee will meet monthly until the conference in October 2023. If you are interested in participating on the planning committee, please contact us and let us know.
Early Career Investigators (ECI) Forum
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. Beginning in February/March 2023, ECIs will be able to submit abstracts that will be reviewed and selected for a podium presentation, flash talk, or poster. An ECI Forum Planning Committee will review and select the abstracts prior to the conference, develop and lead the ECI Forum agenda during the conference, and judge for the selection of the best presentation/flash talk/poster awards. If you are interested in participating on the ECI Forum Planning Committee, please contact us and let us know.
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.
Peter James Abad
For our November G2MC Early Career Investigator profile, we’re proud to sit down with Nurse and Genetic Counselor, Peter James Abad. Abad is part of the faculty at the University of the Philippines Manila College of Nursing and also an affiliate of the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program at the College of Medicine. He’s currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Nursing at the University of Iowa. Continue reading to learn more about Abad’s background, research interests, and career goals.
Organizational Updates and Announcements
NEW 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 created a new 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.
Working Group and Flagship Project Updates
Visit the G2MC Working Groups and Flagship Projects webpage to learn more about our initiatives and how to get involved.
G2MC Family Health History (FHH) Flagship Project
FHH Group Shares Projects Going Into 2023; Challenges and Successes of Members
The year 2023 will be a busy one for the Family Health History (FHH) Flagship Project group. Building on activities that have been under development in 2022, the group will focus on three major projects: building a web-based shared database of FHH use cases, building an FHH tools clearinghouse, and continuing the goal of implementing FHH screening capabilities through localized pilots. Additionally, the group continues to understand the challenges and successes of FHH practices across the globe by looking to its members to share updates about their local practices. Continue reading to learn more about the work being done by the FHH Flagship Project group.
Genomic Medicine Clinics for Rare Genetic Disorders
Pilot Project Update
The G2MC flagship project on Genomic Medicine Clinics for Rare Genetic Disorders is aimed at promoting the implementation of Genomic Medicine in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The pilot project, which kicked off in 2021 with funding from the RTW foundation, 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. A team consisting of genomic medicine researchers, genetic counselors, a clinical geneticist, and a research coordinator provides support and training to the local clinics. Continue reading for the latest updates on this project.
Upcoming Events
IHCC 5th International Cohorts Summit (ICS5)
Register now for the International Hundred K+ Cohorts Consortium (IHCC) 5th International Cohorts Summit (ICS5) scheduled to take place virtually November 29 – December 2, 2022. The theme of this year’s summit is The Journey to Globally Accelerate Science, Diversity, and Global Health in Longitudinal Populations Studies. Visit the event webpage for additional information and to view the full agenda.
Webinar: Innovation in Genomics in the UK & UAE
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office and Public Policy Projects are coming together to host the webinar ‘Innovation in Genomics in the UK & UAE’ on November 30, 2022. The webinar will focus on where expert panelists feel the UK and UAE are with innovation in genomics, and improvement and opportunity along the way. Learn more and register below.
Other Genomic Medicine News
PREPARE Study Completed; To Be Published in the LANCET
Scientists for Fair Publication Practices (SfFPP)
Scientists for Fair Publication Practices (SfFPP) was founded in 2022 by 4 scientists, including Juergen Reichardt, a member of the G2MC Steering Committee, to address issues in the business of scientific publications. Its origins can be traced back to the botched implementation of a not-fit-for purpose new editorial tool heaved upon associate editors etc. Continue reading to learn more.
Successful First Year of UDD Online Genetic Counseling Diploma Course
In April 2022, the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad del Desarrollo, launched the first online genetic counseling diploma course in Chile – filling a long-overlooked gap in healthcare in Chile and Latin America. Organizers of the course are pleased to share the successful completion of the first version of the course with 22 healthcare professional students. Organizers are enthusiastic about the results and hope to make a second version in 2023. For more information, view the brochure of the diploma course, which is aimed at providing basic skills in genetics and genetic counseling to healthcare providers from different areas.
Rare Disease Project Awarded Funding for High Throughput Genotyping Equipment
The Rare Disease Project was recently awarded funding by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID-Chile) for high throughput genotyping equipment, the first in Chile. This interdisciplinary 4-year project is led by Gabriela Repetto, M.D., a member of the G2MC leadership team, and is aimed at evaluating the personal, familial, healthcare and societal implications of reaching a diagnosis (or not) via exome sequencing for persons with unknown rare disorders in Chile. Click below to learn more about the project and funding awarded.
Genomic Medicine Training Programme for Medical Professionals in Sri Lanka
The Department of Anatomy, Genetics and Biomedical Informatics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka introduced a short course designed to equip medical doctors to integrate genetic and genomic information into their routine clinical practice in January 2021. This 3-months hybrid short course is conducted twice yearly in January and July, by a team of experts in the field of genomic medicine, including members of the GGMC. Continue reading to learn more.
Publications
The article “Diversity of pharmacogenomic variants affecting warfarin metabolism in Sri Lankans” has been published online in Pharmacogenomics, authored by members of the G2MC leadership team, Dr. Nirmala D. Sirisena, and Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake. The study aims to describe the diversity of pharmacogenomic variants affecting warfarin metabolism in Sri Lankans using genotype data filtered out from an anonymized database of 400 Sri Lankans. The abstract and restricted access to the article can be accessed below.
The clinical utility of polygenic risk scores in genomic medicine practices: a systematic review
We are pleased to announce that the article “The clinical utility of polygenic risk scores in genomic medicine practices: a systematic review” has been published online in Human Genetics, led and authored by members of the G2MC Evidence Working group. The publication is a result of a systematic evidence review of the clinical utility of genomic medicine that was conducted by our Evidence working group members and other experts beginning in late 2020.
An international genomics health workforce education priorities assessment
We are pleased to announce that the article “An international genomics health workforce education priorities assessment” has been published online in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, led and authored by members of the G2MC Education Working group. The publication is based on an international genomics education needs assessment survey conducted by the group in 2020. Of note, a medical student with the University of Alabama at Birmingham provided significant assistance and is the lead author on the publication.
Get Involved With G2MC!
Interested in becoming a member of G2MC or getting involved with one of our Working Groups or Flagship Projects? 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.
