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The Society for Genomics Policy and Population Health Council meeting

Minutes of meeting held on 12/11/07 by conference call at 14.00

1.                  Welcome
The Chair welcomed the members of the Council to the conference call, especially the two new Council members, Dr Stuart Hogarth and Professor David Melzer. 
 
2.                  SGPPH Events     
   
i.            AGM 07:

• It was agreed that the AGM meeting had been successful, the presentations had been well received, and had provoked discussion and the speaker sessions were well attended. Unfortunately the constitution required a quorum of 20 members for the business sessions of the meeting to be quorate. However, only 19 members remained at the business meeting. It was agreed that the Constitution be amended to state that ‘20% of fully paid up members’ are required for a quorum and that that resolution to amend the Constitution be ratified by all the members at the next AGM.
• Only a small number of evaluation forms had been returned but the feedback had been largely favourable.

       ii.            Spring Meeting 08:

·         Theme/Speakers: There was continuing discussion about a range of possible topics for a spring meeting. Evaluation of genetic tests was mentioned, as well as the need for an independent body to advise the UKGTN. However given the media attention given to genetic susceptibility testing (such as the ITV 1 programme ‘The Killer in me’ and the activities of the company ‘Genetic Health’) it was felt that a theme around these issues was very timely. It was felt that a certain amount of duplication between this meeting and the BSHG plenary session would reinforce the Society’s position rather than weaken it.

·         Date: 8^th May agreed.

·         Venue/cost: The Birmingham Education centre had been identified as a venue. Its charges were reasonable and facilities adequate with good geographical links.Action: JL to process booking 

·         Registration materials/Publicity etc: It was agreed that a sub committee should be established to organise the Spring meeting and make detailed plans. Approaches should be made to the Leads of each of the ESRC centres as a means of publicity and a piece could be written for the Genomics Forum newsletter in due course. Stuart Hogarth agreed to chair this group, with additional members being LJ, MH, and HB/AH. DM is to advise specifically upon the selection of speakers for the BSHG.  Action: Birdcage to be circulated JL    

iii.            BSHG September 08: It was agreed that the plenary session should take the form of three speakers who would address different aspects of susceptibility testing:

·         The basic science
·         Translation into the clinic
·         The regulatory frameworkPossible speakers will be identified once the topic has been agreed by the BSHG.Action: CP to write to the BSHG Scientific committee 

3.                  AOB 

i.                  Concerns were raised about the lack of balanced media attention towards genetic susceptibility testing, given the recent ITV programme. There was discussion about the strategies that the Council might adopt to address this. One possibility suggested by SH is to contribute to a media briefing for print and broadcast media, to be attended by clinical geneticists and epidemiologists. Another approach is to contribute to a joint statement. It is likely that the future regulatory approach will be pragmatic, concentrating upon a pre-market review, codes of practice and stricter controls on advertising.  

ii.                  CP advised that she wished to resign as Chair and from Council with immediate effect, for personal reasons. The Council thanked CP for her leadership and insight over the past year. LJ agreed to be Interim Chair of the Society, until formal elections are held at next years AGM.