Future of Genomic Medicine VI Conference Set for March 7-8

The Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) will present its sixth annual educational conference exploring the latest advances and challenges in the use of genomics to diagnose and treat disease and medical conditions on March 7-8, 2013, in San Diego.

Harvard geneticist George Church and Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee (“The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer”) will be among the world-class field of presenters appearing at The Future of Genomic Medicine VI.

“Each year we host some of the top thought leaders in genomics and individualized medicine, but this year’s lineup promises to be one of the best ever,” said conference course director Eric Topol, MD, who is director of STSI and chief academic officer of Scripps Health.

The symposium offers a dynamic, interactive forum where human geneticists, scientists, physicians and health-care professionals of all disciplines can gain valuable insights from leading experts in genomic medicine.

George Church has provided a visionary road map for the future of genomic medicine as a professor at Harvard Medical School, an initiator of the Personal Genome Project and an advisor to numerous businesses. At the conference, he will discuss the evolution of genetic sequencing technology and its potential impact on the practice of medicine.

Oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee won international acclaim with his best-selling book that chronicled the epic history of cancer from its first mention on a papyrus 3,600 years ago to recent efforts to tease out the genetic fingerprints that distinguish types of cancers and better guide treatment options. Conference attendees will hear Dr. Mukherjee discuss how genomics is changing cancer therapy and the hurdles that continue to block the transformation.

The conference program includes more than 30 specialized presentations interspersed with panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions. View the full program for 2013 (PDF, 1.8 MB).

First-day sessions will feature one of the hottest topics in genomic medicine today – DNA testing of unborn and newborn babies. Day 2 will include sessions on cancer featuring Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann, chancellor of the University of California San Francisco; Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research; Elaine Mardis with The Genome Institute at Washington University; and Dr. Danel Von Hoff with The Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix.

The conference will take place at the Scripps Seaside Forum, located at 8610 Kennel Way, La Jolla, Calif., 92037.

Registration is $150 and is complimentary for all students, medical residents and fellows. Pre-registration will be accepted through Feb. 20, 2013, on a space-available basis. More information is available at www.scripps.org/conferenceservices or by calling 858-652-5400.