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Society for Genomics Policy and Population Health
Second Annual General Meeting 2 November 2007 Robens Suite, Guy’s Tower, Guy’s Hospital, London 


1.                  Opening Remarks and Apologies for Absence

The Chair Dr Christine Patch welcomed the members to the meeting. There were no apologies for absence.

 2(a).     Resolution to adopt amended constitution

The constitution had been amended by Council members and a resolution to adopt these changes was ratified by those present.

 2(b).     Election of two new Council members

It was noted that Mark Kroese had stepped down from being a Council member due to pressure of work. The Chair commended his contribution to the Society. Professor David Melzer and Stuart Hogarth were elected as additional Council members.

 2(c).     Resolution to adopt an annual subscription for ordinary members of £15
             for 2007-8

     It was agreed that the subscription would remain at £15 for the next financial year.

 3.         President’s report    
 
             Past activities

Christine Patch thanked Jane Lane, the administrator of the Society for her hard work and the PHG Foundation for their support. She described the activities of the Society for the last year. These included joint sponsorship of a meeting on the genetic testing of children (with the BMA, GIG and the Clinical Genetics Society) and providing posters and representation at the BSHG and ESRC conferences.

             What next?

Future plans include a meeting in May, possibly on the regulation of genetic testing.  The Society have also proposed to the BSHG that it organise a plenary session at the BSHG meeting in 2008. The details are yet to be agreed. Possible topics include the evaluation and regulation of genetic tests and/or addressing translational issues from research to policy (including an analysis of funding and methodology). The web forum may provide an opportunity for interdisciplinary contributions.

 Plenary Discussion

There was support for these two proposals and a wide ranging discussion of possible relevant topics and the extent to which potential members could be engaged and the Society become more sustainable. A variety of topics were identified as possible topics for both the spring meeting and the BSHG meeting. (Those topics thought to be particularly relevant to the BSHG and to an audience dominated by clinical geneticists and scientists are indicated by *):

·        The anticipated amendment of the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Directive (in association with the Lisbon meeting in June 2008);

·        Public health records and their use for research and service development. This topic could include an exploration of public attitudes and use of Guthrie spots as an exemplar;

·        Public health observatories;

·        The effect of genome wide associations on public health to include cumulative diverse effects*;

·        Genetic testing, insurance and genetic discrimination particularly the impact of common complex gene associations upon insurance. It was noted that the moratorium against using genetic test results for insurance was due to expire in November 2011 and that some commercial companies were already offering genetic susceptibility testing for cardiovascular conditions;

·        Cardiovascular genetics generally*;

·        A debate ‘This house believes that genome based association studies are the future of clinical care in this country’*.      

 4.         Questions arising from the Secretary's report

There were none arising.

5.         Questions arising from the Treasurer’s report and adoption of accounts

     No questions were forthcoming and the accounts were ratified.

 6.         Adoption of the minutes of the AGM 2006

The minutes were ratified as a true record.

 7.         Introduction on the website and forum

Alison Hall, secretary of the Society presented a short presentation on the Discussion forum of the website and illustrated how new topics and replies could be posted. The website is at www.sgpph.org and guidance notes on these topics are available.

 8.                  Any other business

It was noted that Article 27 of the amended constitution required a quorum of 20 members and only 19 members were present at the meeting. It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting would be circulated to all members to obtain retrospective ratification.