SBRI Hosts The 9th Annual Conference of the Indian Academy Of Medical Genetics

The Sandip and Bhavini Research Institute (SBRI) successfully hosted the 9th Annual Conference of the Indian Academy of Medical Genetics (IAMG-2024), themed “CLINI-OMICS: Navigating the Diagnostic Maze through the OMICS Compass.” This three-day event brought together over 300 participants, including clinical experts, researchers, and industry leaders from India and across the globe, to delve into the transformative impact of Multi-Omics in Clinical Genetics.

Advancing Multi-Omics for Precision Healthcare

Dr. Sheetal Sharda, Organizing Chairperson, emphasised, “While sequencing technologies have democratized genetic diagnostics, complexities like uncertain findings remain a challenge. IAMG-2024 highlighted the integration of genomics with other Omics technologies to address these complexities and improve the diagnosis of rare genetic disorders, ensuring healthcare accessibility for all populations.”

The event was inaugurated by Jaxay Shah, Chairperson of the Quality Council of India, who underlined the critical role of stringent quality control in laboratory and genetic testing for accuracy and reliability.

Key Highlights Across Three Days

The first day explored resolving variants of uncertain significance using multi-omics technologies like epigenomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics.

• The plenary session, led by Dr. Ratna Dua Puri, President of SIAMG, underscored India’s advancements in multi-omics.
• The Professor SS Agarwal Oration, delivered by Prof. David Bick from the UK, shed light on integrating genomics and metabolomics in newborn screening.

Keynote addresses were delivered by international experts Dr. Fowler, Dr. Neeraj Gupta, Dr. Kruszka, Dr. Valerie, and Dr. Edwin Kirk, alongside Indian stalwarts Dr. Surjit Singh and Dr. Binay Panda.

Day 2

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  The second day focused on population genomics, carrier screening, newborn screening, and AI-driven advances in genetic diagnoses.
• Speakers like Dr. Tzung (Germany), Dr. De Vries (Netherlands), Dr. Ting (USA), Dr. Nidhi Shah (USA), and Indian luminaries Dr. Anju Shukla, Dr. Rashmi Shukla, Dr. Thamodharan, and Dr. Mamta Muranjan shared their expertise.

A standout session by Dr. Fowzan Alkuraya (Saudi Arabia) highlighted how insights from special populations are enhancing the diagnostic yield of the clinical genome.

Day 3

The final day explored treatment of genetic disorders and emerging areas in genomic medicine, including wellness genomics, predictive risk scores, gut microbiome, and pharmacogenomics.

Esteemed speakers such as Dr. Wen-Hann Tan (Singapore), Dr. Abhijit Dixit (USA), Dr. Udai Bhan Pandey (USA), Dr. Ben Lacey (UK), and Dr. Sankar VH (India) presented compelling findings.

Vision for the Future of Genomic Medicine

Dr. Bhavini Shah, Director of SBRI, praised the conference’s success, remarking, “IAMG-2024 reflects our commitment to bridging cutting-edge research with practical applications. Our goal is to foster equitable healthcare and strengthen India’s leadership in genomic medicine.” She expressed gratitude to the global experts who shared transformative insights on the future of Multi-Omics in Clinical Genomics.

The 9th Annual IAMG Conference reinforced the importance of global collaboration in clinical genomics and genetic research, paving the way for innovative, inclusive, and accessible healthcare solutions. The event’s success positions India at the forefront of advancing genomic medicine for a healthier future