November 9-10, 2022

Advancing Equity in Genetics and Genomics in Canada


Thank you for your participation to AEG2C!

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Announcement

We are pleased to announce an international Symposium on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Genomics entitled: "Advancing Equity in Genetics and Genomics in Canada (AEG2C)", to be held on November 9th and 10th, 2022.

This event is organized and supported by the McGill Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Genomic Medicine and the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Genetics.

Registrations will open on Thursday September 15th, 2022.


Overview

Including diverse populations in genomics and post-genomics is considered a scientific and clinical imperative. In recent years, resounding global calls to fill diversity gaps in genomics have prompted a profound reflection on barriers, challenges and opportunities related to this goal, and sparked renewed discussions about equity, diversity, and inclusion best practices. By convening diverse stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, community members, research funders, knowledge users, representative of the industry, this international two-day symposium will highlight the importance and value of inclusion and diversity in genomics to advance our understanding of the mechanisms of diseases and to promote health equity. It will also present best practices for making the genomics research enterprise diverse, inclusive, and beneficial to all. Lessons learned from international research initiatives engaging with diverse populations will be showcased, as well as those arising from genomic studies in Quebec and Canada.


Keynote speakers

  • Dr Ambroise Wonkam

    Dr Ambroise Wonkam

    Johns Hopkins Medicine

    Prof Ambroise Wonkam is a professor of Genetic Medicine, and Director of the McKusick-Nathans Institute, and Department of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Prof Wonkam is president of the African Society of Human Genetics, Chair of the steering committee of H3Africa consortium, Board member of the International Federation of Human Genetics Societies, steering committee’s member of the Global Genetic Medicine Collaborative (G2MC). Prof Wonkam research interests are reflected in more than 180 peer-reviewed publications, which are in molecular, clinical, educational, and ethical aspects of medical and human genetics. His research focuses on 1) Genomics modifiers of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD); 2) Genetics of hearing loss, and 3) Ethical and educational Issues in human genetics.

    Website

  • Dr Sandra Soo-Jin Lee

    Dr Sandra Soo-Jin Lee

    Columbia University

    Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, PhD, is Chief of the Division of Ethics and Professor of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University. Trained as a medical anthropologist, Dr. Lee has extensive experience leading multi-disciplinary bioethics research on race, ancestry and equity in genomics, precision medicine and artificial intelligence; governance of biorepositories and commercialization of biotechnology; and diversity in academic medicine and entrepreneurship. Dr. Lee is Co-PI of the national Center for ELSI Resources and Analysis (CERA) funded by the NIH/NHGRI, a collaboration between Columbia and Stanford with partners at the Hastings Center and Harvard University. Dr. Lee is also the co-Director of the NIH/NHGRI funded biennial International ELSI Congress and President of the Association of Bioethics Program Directors.

    Website

  • Dr Nadine Caron

    Dr Nadine Caron

    UBC/UNBC

    Dr Nadine Caron MD, MPH, FRCSC, is a General and Endocrine Surgeon at Prince George Regional Hospital and Professor at University of British Columbia (UBC)'s Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery and teaching in the Northern Medical Program. She is Co-Director of the UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health located at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health. Dr Caron is also appointed as an Associate Faculty member of the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University where she teaches for the Center for American Indian Health. Dr Caron is Anishnawbe from Sagamok First Nation. Her work involves a variety of audiences and knowledge users including governments, provincial health authorities, national medical organizations, health research funding bodies, and several universities to achieve identified and overlapping objectives.

    Website

  • Vence L. Bonham Jr

    Vence L. Bonham Jr

    NHGRI/NHI

    Vence L. Bonham, Jr. is acting deputy director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and a member of the senior leadership team for the institute. Mr. Bonham provides leadership for the institute’s health equity and workforce diversity programs and works in partnership across NIH to promote the mission of the institute. He is currently an associate investigator in the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) within the Division of Intramural Research's Social and Behavioral Research Branch. He leads the Health Disparities Unit, which investigates the equitable integration of new genomic knowledge and precision medicine into clinical settings.

    Website

Organizing Committee members (in alphabetical order)

Claude Bhérer, Assistant Professor, Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University; Researcher, CERC Program in Genomic Medicine, McGill University

Yvonne Bombard, Associate Professor, Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; Scientist & Director, Genomics Health Services Group, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada

Sali Farhan, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Human Genetics, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University; Clinical Molecular Geneticist, McGill University Health Centre

Jennifer Fishman, Associate Professor, Biomedical Ethics Unit, Social Studies of Medicine Department, McGill University

François Gros-Louis, Professor, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval; Canada Research Chair in biomodelling and treatment of brain diseases, Université Laval

Julie Kristof, Chair, Montreal Jewish Genetic Disorders Funds

Claire Le Moigne, Project Administrator, CERC Program in Genomic Medicine, McGill University

Christopher McMaster, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Genetics and Professor of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University

Vincent Mooser, Professor, Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University; Chairholder, CERC in Genomic Medicine, McGill University

Hermann Nabi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City; Researcher and Deputy Director, Oncology axis, CHU Québec, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement

Anjie Ni, Graduate Student, Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University; President, Human Genetics Student Society

Étienne Richer, Associate Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Genetics

Hosted by:

  • McGill CERC in Genomic Medicine
  • Canadian Institute for Health Research - Institute of Genetics

Additional sponsors:

  • Genome Canada
  • Génome Québec

Location

Hybrid event

McGill University

845, Sherbrooke O Montreal, Quebec Canada, H3A 0G4

Registration period

September 15, 2022 - 18:00 until November 7, 2022 - 15:45

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact cerc.genome@mcgill.ca .

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