Melbourne Genomics continues to strengthen our national and international links, and grow our reputation as leaders in implementing genomics, with colleagues and experts around the globe.
Executive Director, Clara Gaff, and Head of Data and Technology, Kate Birch, recently attended the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health Leadership Meeting in Toronto. In attendance also to progress the Australian Genomics Driver Project were colleagues Professor Kathryn North, Dr David Hansen, Associate Professor Oliver Hofmann and Tiffany Boughtwood. The Toronto meeting provided GA4GH leadership the opportunity to meet in-person with key contributors, to advance the 2018 Strategic Roadmap.
“We relished the opportunity to share the work of Melbourne Genomics with this influential gathering of world genomics experts,” said Dr David Hansen, who is Chair of the Alliance’s Data and Technology Project Control Group, and a member of the Executive Management Committee.
Melbourne Genomics is eagerly anticipating a visit in late July from global antibiotic-resistance expert, Professor Yehuda Carmeli. With primary research interest in the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance, Professor Carmeli is Professor of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, Head of the Israeli National Center for Antibiotic Resistance, and Chief of the Division for Epidemiology at Tel Aviv Medical Center.
Professor Lindsay Grayson, co-leader of our Alliance’s Controlling Superbugs project and a long-time professional colleague of Professor Carmeli, said the visit would enhance this highly-regarded expert's understanding of Melbourne Genomics' collaborative work in applying genomic sequencing to help control superbug outbreaks.
Also visiting Melbourne in early August is genomics health services researcher and scientist Dr Yvonne Bombard (University of Toronto, St Michael's Hospital). Dr Bombard evaluates the adoption of new genomic technologies into clinical practice, and conducts public and patient engagement research to advance health technology assessment and health service delivery. While in Melbourne, Dr Bombard will meet with health services and clinical researchers from across the Alliance, present a professional seminar and meet with the Melbourne Genomics Community Advisory Group.
Dr Bombard said: “Toronto and Melbourne are doing similar leading-edge evaluation of genomics in clinical care, so I look forward to the opportunity to strengthen links with Melbourne Genomics’ people and work.”
Meanwhile, interim findings from Melbourne Genomics’ clinical projects have been presented at recent national and international conferences, including: the European Human Genetics Conference and European Meeting on Psychosocial Aspects of Genetics, the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group Annual Scientific Meeting, the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 2018, the Pediatric Academic Societies 2018 Meeting (Canada), and the Australian Society for Antimicrobials Conference 2018. (Congratulations to all presenters!)
[Image: Melbourne Genomics Evaluation Project Manager, Dr Melissa Martyn, presenting at the European Meeting on Psychosocial Aspects of Genetics.]