International Congress of Human Genetics 2022

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The International Federation of Human Genetics Societies (IFHGS) was formed in 1996 “to provide a transparent structure to facilitate communication throughout the international community of human geneticists” as well as provide a “forum for organized groups dedicated to all aspects of human genetics, including research, clinical practice, and professional and lay education.” A major activity of the IFHGS has been to oversee the International Congress of Human Genetics every five years. This coming year (delayed one year due to COVID-19) the 14th ICHG will be held in Cape Town, South Africa. The meeting will be co-hosted by African and Southern African Societies of Human Genetics and as the first ICHG in Africa will highlight the need to increase diversity in human genetics studies, as Africa harbors more genetic variation than the rest of the world combined. This meeting will, therefore, be important in filling a major gap in inclusivity in human genetics research. As the premier international human genetics meeting the ICHG will promote the sharing of the latest genomic and clinical findings to a broad base of attendees. A major focus of the proposal is to support junior researchers from low- and middle-income countries to participate so as to develop their skills and knowledge and promote the development of collaborations that can enhance genomic research globally. Sessions will include both research and clinical findings as well as defining ethical research practices that are inclusive and sensitive to local and diverse circumstances, with the intent of encouraging more people to become involved in genetics research as investigators and subjects. Other topics to be covered in sessions will include complex disease genetics, genetic services, genomic informed therapies, globalization of genetics and genomics research including human population genetics, and the future of genomics with an emphasis on novel bioinformatic and computational methods. Although it is anticipated that all speakers will be in person, we have developed a hybrid delivery model so that people can attend talks remotely, increasing the reach of the meeting. Invited keynote speakers include Carina Schlebusch from Sweden, Shomarka Keita from the UK and Egypt, Mayana Zatz from Brazil, Fowzan Alkuraya from Saudi Arabia and Nicole Soranzo from the UK.