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The 3rd AGM of the Society for Genomics Policy and Population Health took place on Thursday 6 November 2008 at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. The theme for the AGM was 'Genetic Screening'.
Six speakers from multidisciplinary backgrounds presented an analysis of developing technologies, current applications, screening policies and ethical and legal issues, as well as an assessment of the implications for future health delivery and health policy in this field.
A short business meeting was held over lunch.Speakers were (Click on the links below to view their presentations):
Dr Jim Bonham, Director of the Regional Newborn Screening Service, Sheffield Children's NHS Trust, who spoke on newborn blood spot screening – current and future genetic applications
Dr Tom Dent, Programme Associate, PHG Foundation, Cambridge, who spoke on screening for coronary heart disease: risk, genes and biomarkers.
Mr Mark Henderson, Science Editor, The Times Newspaper, London, who spoke on on future perspectives – whole population genetic screening: fact or fiction? (No powerpoint presentation given.)
Dr Anne Mackie, Director of the National Screening Committee, UK Screening Programmes, Imperial College, London, who spoke on implementing national screening programmes in genetics
Dr Helen White, Senior Scientist, National Genetics Reference Laboratory, Salisbury District Hospital, who spoke on new genomic and post-genomic technologies for Down's syndrome screening
Dr Ron Zimmern, Executive Director, PHG Foundation, Cambridge, who spoke on conceptual issues in screening
For more information please see the flyer and programme. Click on links for the minutes and report or see below: Society for Genomics Policy and Population Health (SGPPH)Third Annual General Meeting6 November 2008 Robens Suite, Brunel Suite, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London, WCIH OXG
Opening remarks and apologies for absence
Layla Jader welcomed members to the meeting. There were no apologies for absence.
President’s report
Layla Jader has been acting as president for the past year since the resignation of Chris Patch. Layla described the events which had taken place over the previous year, including 3 national meetings, one of which being a session at the BSHG Conference (at which a poster about the Spring meeting was also displayed). Layla has a background in public health and is based in Wales, but welcomes links with the PHG Foundation in Cambridge which provides a hub for administrative support. She thanked Jane Lane and the officers of the organisation. Proposed: Alison Hall. Seconded: Michael Hopkins. All in favour of adoption. There was some discussion about how the Society could organise itself to respond to relevant consultations, and the mechanisms that could be used. Not only was it difficult for individuals to commit sufficient time and energy, but also developing sufficient authority in a heterogeneous membership might be problematic, but common themes could also develop. The necessary mechanism is in place, but a database of members might be worth exploring. Proposal to become a constituent organisation of the British Society for Human Genetics
The Society has been exploring the possibility of becoming an affiliate organisation of the British Society of Human Genetics for some time and exploratory meetings have been held. Affiliation would help to consolidate the Society as well as offer existing BSHG members opportunities for exploring broader issues arising from public health genomics. Chris Patch presented the perspective of the BSHG Council, namely that affiliation would broaden the scope and appeal of the Society and BSHG Conference, improve engagement with public health and social sciences and strengthen genomic policy generally. If SGPPH were to become a constituent group - this would involve an increase in subscription to a current level of £55 p.a.Proposed: Hilary Burton Seconded: Michael Hopkins All in favour.
Questions arising from Secretary’s report
Copies of the Secretary's report were in the packs. No questions arising. All in favour of adoption.
Questions arising from Treasurer’s report
Michael Hopkins outlined the Treasurer's report. No questions arising. All in favour of adoption.
Adoption of the minutes of the AGM 2007
Copies of the minutes were in the delegate packs.
Matters arising:
(a) Resolution to ratify Layla Jader as President Universally adopted.
(b) Election of new Council members (two vacancies) Two nominations arising: Alison Metcalfe, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham who is involved in research on parents' communication with families with genetic conditions, and Alison Harvey: a sociologist based at King's College London, working on socio-political issues related to nutrigenomics and susceptibility to disease and personalisation of science policy and practice. Both were universally adopted to become Council members.
(c) Resolution to adopt amended constitution An amended Constitution was adopted, to substitute 20% of the existing membership as to be the quorum for a general meeting, rather than 20 individuals (which was not sufficiently responsive to fluctuations in membership). Proposed: Hilary Burton. Seconded: Christine Patch. All in favour.
(d) Resolution to adopt an annual subscription for the financial year 2009-10
It was agreed that the subscription would be retained at £15 per annum pending the increase to £55 if the affiliation with the BSHG goes ahead.
Any other business
No other business was discussed. The meeting ended at 13.45.
Alison Hall |
