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Genetics Subdivision Report
Spring is
here and it is time again for an update from the Genetics
Subdivision. It has
been a busy Winter. Arlene Buller and I have been
working diligently to develop a wonderful Program for the
2009 AMP Annual Meeting in
Kissimmee,
Fl.
We are
expecting an exciting start with our Plenary Session
speaker, Hakon Hakonarson, from the Center for Applied of
Genomics at the Children Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP),
who will talk about the molecular
genetics of common diseases. The vast majority of
common diseases in children and adults are known to have
underlying inherited components. Rapid advances in
molecular genetics have led to a stage where identification
of genetic variants contributing to these common but complex
traits is feasible. Such identification promises to
revolutionize the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to
these disorders. Dr.
Hakonarson has ample experience in pioneering genome-wide
mapping and association studies. He is currently leading
one of the largest studies in the world, focusing on
genotyping more than 100,000 children over the next 3 years
for common diseases of childhood including asthma, diabetes,
ADHD, among others as well as pediatric cancer.
Building
on the complexity theme and childhood disorders, our Genetic
Workshop will highlight some of the challenges associated
with genetic diagnosis of inherited disorders caused by
large and/or complex reiterated genes. We are thrilled to
have as our speakers Sandro Rossetti from the
Division of Nephrology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, who
will talk to us about the molecular genetics of autosomal
dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and Dr. Maria
New (Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York), one of the
world's leading pediatric endocrinologists, who will discuss
the complex genetics of
congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Following last years
success, our Second Workshop will focus on platform
presentations of selected genetics abstracts which will be
given by our own AMP members.
Trainees as well as technologists are encouraged to submit
their work!
Other
great educational sessions include our Early Bird Sessions.
Iris Schrijver will lead a cystic fibrosis newborn
screening session to shed some light on newborn
screening practices and algorithms currently used across the
nation.
Vicky Pratt will present results from the Center for
Disease Control (CDC) regarding molecular genetic testing
for heritable diseases.
Other scheduled sessions include the opportunity to present
your most challenging cases to the Puzzlers by Prior.
This session consists of interesting and challenging
inherited disorders or cancer genetic cases, solved or
unsolved, provided by the AMP membership. Please submit
your interesting genetic case to Tom Prior (thomas.prior@osumc.edu).
We greatly value your input and cannot do this without you!
We are
truly
excited about the upcoming 2009 AMP Meeting and hope that
you are already working on your abstract. Looking forward
to see you all in Kissimmee in November! |
