How We Work
GGMC Functional Groups
To enhance coordination and collaboration of genomic medicine programs, GGMC has established the following core committees and working groups that function across all of GGMC’s consortia, with an emphasis on implementing group objectives in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and low-resource settings.
Resource Center Working Group
The Resource Center Working Group creates and maintains the “GGMC Resource Center” as a central hub, listing genomic medicine research and implementation resources and tools.
- Design and maintain the Resource Center infrastructure.
- Determine how genomic medicine tools and resources are identified, screened (vetting process), shared, and updated in the GGMC Resource Center.
- Populate the Resource Center with up-to-date and advanced resources.
- Set and evaluate progress on objectives.
Working Group Co-Leads
Michelle Bishop, PhD (United Kingdom)
Bronwyn Terrill, M.Ed (Australia)
Member Projects Working Group
The Member Projects Working Group facilitates collaborations in genomic medicine research and implementation by connecting members with one another and with external partners to develop and support projects. The group fosters partnerships, mentorship, and support to advance projects with the potential to improve global health.
- Develop and manage the Project Navigator and Support Network, a key benefit offered through the GGMC Membership Initiative in which members may submit a local project in need of resources.
- Utilize Project Navigators to respond to project submissions, helping match the project with subject matter experts and other resources.
- Monitor the program, making improvements and enhancements over time.
Working Group Co-Leads
Theodora Katsila, MSc, PhD (Greece)
Hasani Hewavitharana, PhD (Sri Lanka)
Conference Planning Working Group (Ad-Hoc)
Participants of the Conference Planning Working Group will support the scientific organization of conferences and convenings.
- Plan and produce all-member convenings, including in-person and virtual conferences, including the selection of the conference theme, subthemes, speakers, and the planning of the Early Career Investigator (ECI) Forum sessions.
- Set and evaluate progress on objectives.
Workforce and Training Committee
The Workforce and Training Committee focuses on developing and training the next generation of genomic medicine professionals.
- Assess genomic medicine workforce needs, capabilities, and competencies.
- Design genomic medicine educational and training resources to benefit researchers and healthcare professionals.
- Foster the development of the next generation of leaders in genomic medicine through mentorship.
- Coordinate with other GGMC working groups to address educational and training needs related to their missions.
- Connect with other organizations involved in genomic medicine education and training.
Committee Co-Leads
Richard Haspel, MD, PhD (USA)
Prof. Nirmala D. Sirisena, MBBS, MSc, PhD (Sri Lanka)
Prof. Albert Tenesa, MSc, PhD (United Kingdom)
Aleksandra Gentry-Maharaj, PhD (United Kingdom)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee helps foster a supportive environment in which colleagues from diverse backgrounds and demographics can excel.
- Assess the meaning of DEI to our members and how it is being addressed.
- Ongoing review of the following activities (not a comprehensive list) to ensure they incorporate the spirit of the DEI statement:
- Publications that are generated by GGMC-sponsored activities.
- Design of research studies sponsored or fostered by the GGMC.
- Metrics of diversity – organizational leadership, membership, and participation in collaborative research activities.
Committee Co-Leads
Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD (Canada)
Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, PhD (Mexico)
Policy and Advocacy Committee
The Policy and Advocacy Committee assembles the needs of our members in order to create, share, and advocate for the integration of policies that support the implementation of genomic medicine across the globe.
- Identify priority policy areas relevant to our members – individually for their country and those that are global.
- Craft policy statements and perspectives relative to these identified priority areas to influence and integrate into state/federal/country policies through outreach to Ministries of Health, local healthcare leadership, and other organizations of influence, such as industry.
- Craft statements and other responses that are relevant to current events.
- Ensure the implementation of these priority policy areas within our consortia activities.
Committee Co-Leads
Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, MBBS, PhD, FNASSL (Sri Lanka)
Prof. Meow-Keong (MK) Thong, MD (Malaysia)
Nicki Tiffin, PhD, MPH (South Africa)
