October 2020
Many members of G2MC are familiar with or involved in the activities of the International HundredK+ Cohorts Consortium (IHCC). Others have likely heard the acronym but are unsure how it is tied to the G2MC organization and what its purpose is. IHCC is a program formed by G2MC to help carry out its mission of advancing genomic medicine implementation in clinical care, and many of the projects and efforts carried out by IHCC may be of interest to G2MC members. We invite you to learn more about the IHCC organization below and explore the IHCC website so all G2MC members can be familiar with IHCC and its mission.
Mark your calendars for the 2021 G2MC International Conference scheduled for September 29 – October 1 in Santiago, Chile. The conference will include the in-person components of the 2020 conference that was moved to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plus much more!
Read about the latest genomic and genetic education updates from Sri Lanka including a recent workshop co-chaired by G2MC leadership team members Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake and Dr. Nirmala D. Sirisena, as well as a monthly webinar organized by the Human Genetics Society.
Be on the lookout for an announcement and registration for the 2021 G2MC Virtual Working Sessions. These breakout sessions will be held by G2MC Working Groups, Flagship Project Groups, and the Young Investigators Subcommittee over the course of several weeks in late January and early February 2021, and will include individual interactive sessions along with a group report-out session. These sessions will build upon the outcomes of the May 2020 International Virtual Conference Breakout Sessions, and the ongoing work and initiatives of these groups will be incorporated into the 2021 G2MC International Conference.
G2MC Working Groups focus on specific initiatives critical to advancing the G2MC mission while supporting the activities of developing G2MC Flagship Projects. The three working groups – Education, Evidence, and Policy – meet regularly to discuss projects and activities moving forward. Read below for brief working group updates.
The Education Working Group has completed the data analysis of the G2MC Education Needs Assessment Survey, which was distributed to all G2MC members and to all participants of the May 2020 international virtual conference. Results from the data analysis were presented at the last Education Working Group meeting. The working group is now planning to format the results as a paper for submission for publication. Additionally, the group has been working towards the Immersion course in Santiago, and local host and planning committee co-chair, Gabriela Repetto, is organizing a survey of clinicians in Santiago to assess the needs that will inform content. Lastly, the group will have a presentation by Rongling Li with the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the next working group meeting about a proposed educational approach.
The Evidence Working Group has been working on an evidence review of the clinical utility of genomic medicine. They have been tailoring search terms and working with experts on best practices to ensure all relevant evidence is captured. The group will begin reviewing all search results in the coming weeks; if members are interested in participating in this systematic review, they should contact Marc Abramowicz or Brittany Zick by using the G2MC Contact Form and stating in the message your interest in working with the Evidence Working Group on the review process. In the future, this process will lead to an automated search tool that continuously monitors the literature for new evidence.
Visit G2MC’s Functional Groups webpage for more information about the mission and activities of these groups and to learn how you can get involved.
The North Carolina Precision Health Collaborative, in partnership with the Precision Medicine Leaders Summit, will gather renowned experts in precision health who are shaping the field today and for the future, particularly in the area of Population Health. Learn more and register for this two-morning virtual Summit.
This article, recently published in Science Translational Medicine, highlights the work being done by G2MC as well as other large-scale genomic medicine implementation initiatives worldwide. The article specifically focuses on similarities in policy considerations and is authored by G2MC member Andrea Belcher, G2MC Co-Chair and President Geoffrey Ginsburg, and G2MC member Robyn Ward.
Interested in becoming a member of G2MC? Our community is comprised of health professionals, scientists, and policy makers 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.
