6TH international conference: genomic medicine implementation in low resource settings

The Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (G2Mc) received a $109,050 project grant from the National Institutes of Health National Human Genome Research Institute to support its 6th International Conference on Genomic Medicine Implementation in Low Resource Settings. The conference will be held in September-October 2021 in Santiago, Chile and aims to bring together leaders in genomic medicine to discuss best practices for implementing genomics into diverse healthcare delivery systems. A hybrid in-person and virtual format is planned due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will support the conference agenda focusing on facilitating understanding of implementation strategies and advancing early career investigators from lower- and middle-income countries in Latin America through mentorship opportunities. The funding assists the Human Genome Research program goal of accelerating genomic research and its clinical application.

Abstract

The global genomics medicine collaborative (G2MC) requests support for its 6TH international conference: genomic medicine implementation in low resource settings, organized by DRS. Geoffrey s. Ginsburg, gabriela repetto and bruce korf. The event will be held on september 29 - october 1, 2021 in santiago, chile. G2MC is a not-for-profit organization based in the united states with the goal of bringing together the global community to enable the implementation of genomic medicine to improve individual and population health. Many nations are investing in large-scale national genomic medicine programs. To maximize the value of this investment, we propose this gathering as a means to 'DE-silo' these efforts and bring them together to inform implementation into healthcare delivery systems across diverse populations, demographics, and economies. To optimize the probability of success for implementing genomics into health care is IT necessary to bring the leaders at the forefront of genomic medicine together in a forum conducive to impactful conversations and dialogues. While genomic medicine offers major opportunities for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, there is a significant risk that IT will exacerbate disparities in access to healthcare. This is true in high-income countries such as the united states but is even more a concern in low resource settings (LRS). G2MC has selected the event location to enable engagement with regional attendees from latin america, a traditionally underrepresented group in genomic medicine. The conference agenda will facilitate a deeper understanding of best practices from subject matter experts that can be applied to genomic medicine and advancement of G2MC's implementation flagship projects. The conference will also provide a unique opportunity to mentor young investigators (YIS) from lower- and middle-resourced countries in latin america and beyond by established G2MC investigators and high-profile speakers from around the world with expertise in genomic medicine. Given the current covid-19 pandemic, this meeting is planned as a hybrid in-person and virtual event. G2MC will encourage YIS to attend in person, if possible, so as to increase their visibility, and highlight their achievements. An explicit goal of this meeting is to advance the careers of YIS through their interaction with G2MC members/investigators through mentorship, networking, dissemination of their research. YIS will also engage with G2MC flagship projects and working groups, leading to further opportunities for collaboration. The 6TH international G2MC conference is unique in emphasizing implementation through outreach with YIS as well as speaker and attendee representation from LRS. The agenda objectives emphasize solutions to implementation roadblocks by engaging with a truly global group of presenters and attendees to enable the successful implementation of genomic medicine around the world.