SGPPH's 4th AGM took place on Wednesday 11 November 2009, at10am at the NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations), London.  

This one-day meeting was based on the theme of "Genetics and Health Promotion". Its aim was to examine the links between genetic and lifestyle factors that influence our health from a range of perspectives. It included presentations from psychologists, social scientists, industry and public health clinicians to get a sense of how these complex factors are linked, and how best to use this knowledge in communicating key health promotion messages.  It included presentations on the relationship between genetic factors and addiction in relation to drug and alcohol consumption. It also examined genetic factors linked with obesity and the link between environmental and genetic factors in this context. The respective roles of genetic and environmental factors in influencing our perception of risk were examined. A representative from industry examined how the promise nutrigenetics may assist in developing healthier lifestyles in the future. The meeting also considered the wider social implications for genetics and public health, and more explicitly how genetic information is used in health promotion by health professionals and the media.

Speakers included: Professor Gunter Schumann, Dr David Gunn, Professor Robin Bunton, Professor Steve O'Rahilly, Professor Susan Michie, Professor Alan Maryon-Davis.  Click on the speaker's name to see their presentation.

Click here for a detailed programme, publicity flyer and registration form.  

Click on the link to view the minutes and a report of the meeting, or see below:

Society for Genomics Policy and Population Health (SGPPH)Fourth Annual General Meeting11 November 2009 National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL 

Opening remarks and apologies for absence
There were no apologies for absence. 

President’s report
The President, Layla Jader expressed her delight that the SGPPH had joined the BSHG as a constituent group with effect from the BSHG Conference in September 2009. This is an important step for the organisation, and sets it on a secure footing for the future. She outlined the events which the SGPPH had been involved in during the previous year, including the successful Spring meeting on the wider implications of genetics, and sessions at the BSHG conference on genetics and intellectual property and the ESRC Genomics Forum on public health genetics and common complex diseases. She stressed the importance of the links with the PHG Foundation and thanked the administrator, Jane Lane and secretary Alison Hall for their assistance. Christine Patch, current Chair of the BSHG added that she was pleased that the SGPPH was now affiliated to the BSHG and that the link would be mutually beneficial. 

Questions arising from Secretary’s report
Alison Hall briefly presented her report and highlighted that there were vacancies arising (the Secretary's post, from which she was resigning in November, and one Council Member's post).  

Questions arising from Treasurer’s report
Michael Hopkins presented the Treasurer's report, and indicated that the Society had made a small surplus from the events it had hosted during the year, and that it might wish to work towards a situation where it was able to pay for its administrative support. Accounts universally adopted.     

Adoption of the minutes of the AGM 2007
Due to an oversight, copies of these were not placed in the delegate packs and will be distributed by email to members. 

Matters arising:
(a)    General Secretary's positionAlison Hall outlined the responsibilities involved. No nominations forthcoming.
(b)    Council membershipRobin Bunton was nominated as an additional council member and all voted in favour of adopting him as an additional Council member.
(c)     Resolution to adopt an annual subscription of £55 for the financial year 2010-2011.A resolution to raise the subscription levels to £55 for SGPPH members who are also existing BSHG members and £15 for non-BSHG members, with effect from April 2010, was universally adopted. From April 2011 it is the intention that the subscription rates for all members will be £55 (or whatever subscription rate is then current for constituent groups of the BSHG). 

Any other business     
No other business was discussed. The meeting ended at 13.45.     

Alison Hall 12.11.09