NHGRI Division of Intramural Research Seminar Series

The importance of environmental and ancestral context in genetic risk examination for diverse and admixed populations

Thursday, September 5 | 2 p.m. ET | Hybrid: In-person and Virtual

Speaker: Genevieve Wojcik, PhD, MHS
Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

As a statistical geneticist and genetic epidemiologist, Dr. Wojcik’s research focuses on method development for diverse populations, specifically in admixed populations. Many of her efforts focus on improving statistical methods for complex trait mapping and polygenic risk scores for these populations to address existing health inequities and ensure downstream translation for all.

The second arm of Dr. Wojcik’s research program focuses on the genetic susceptibility to infectious disease and vaccine response, with an eye towards host-pathogen co-evolution.

For more information and to register, visit the seminar series webpage. Please note: Zoom registration is required for virtual attendees.

2024 Precision Health Research Symposium

2024 Precision Health Research Symposium

November 14 – 15 | Medical University of South Carolina

Join the Precision Public Health Network for their third conference focused on Advancing Equity through Precision Health. The conference will coincide with MUSC’s second annual Precision Health Research Symposium.

For more conference information and to register, visit the event page. Please note: Registration is required.

 

Call for Abstracts

Registrants interested in participating in the symposium poster session are invited to submit abstracts. Abstracts should have a maximum of 300 words and abstract submitters must register for Day 1 of the symposium. Abstract submissions close on June 15, 2024. Abstracts can be submitted here.

Working Towards Justice & Genetic Health Literacy in Clinical Genomics

Working Towards Justice & Genetic Health Literacy in Clinical Genomics

Wednesday, May 22 | 11 a.m. ET | Virtual

Speakers:
Dr. Janeth Sanchez, PhD, MPH
Program Director for Health Equity at National Institutes of Health

Dr. Janina Jeff, PhD, MS
Bioinformatics Scientist at Illumina and Host of In Those Genes Podcast

Join the UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care (PPMH) for a seminar and panel about working towards justice and genetic health literacy in clinical genomics and the complexity of supporting informed decision making by members of vulnerable or marginalized groups.

To learn more and register, visit the event page. Please note: Registration is required for this seminar.

Carolina Seminar Series | Ensuring Fairness: At the Crossroads of Equity and Economic Considerations in Precision Medicine

Ensuring Fairness: At the Crossroads of Equity and Economic Considerations in Precision Medicine

Tuesday, March 26 | 12 p.m. ET | Virtual

Speaker: Kate Saylor, PhD
Fellow, Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genetics and Genomics,
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Efforts to expand access to genomic health and precision medicine have resulted in a proliferation of screening programs for healthy adult populations across the nation. Issues of fairness and equity abound in medicine and are a critical component of assessing implementation of these genomic health and precision medicine efforts. But how can programs such as genomic screening ensure equitable access within a healthcare system that is already characterized by massive health disparities and barriers to equitable access? When and how should cost-effectiveness be considered when designing screening programs and their offerings? How can cost-effectiveness models incorporate justice, equity and inclusion? In this seminar session, we will explore these questions and the overall relationship between equity and economic considerations in precision medicine.

To learn more and register, visit the event webpage.

Global Diversity, Local Context: The Role of Ancestry, Genetics, and Environment on Human Health

Global Diversity, Local Context: The Role of Ancestry, Genetics, and Environment on Human Health

Thursday, January 11 | 3-4 p.m. ET | In-person & Virtual

Speaker: Genevieve Wojcik, PhD, MHS
Genetic Epidemiologist and Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Dr. Wojcik’s research focuses on understanding the role of ancestry in genetic risk and developing solutions to address health inequities for diverse and admixed populations, as well as genetic susceptibility to infectious disease. Her most recent work explores the interaction of genetic ancestry and environment in admixed populations and downstream consequences for genetic risk prediction. Dr. Wojcik is a member of multiple NIH consortia, including the Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE) Study, the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen), and the Polygenic Risk Methods in Diverse Populations (PRIMED) Consortium.

The Genomics and Health Disparities Lecture Series was formed to enhance opportunities for dialogue about how innovations in genomics research and technology can impact health disparities. Topics will range from basic science to translational research.

To learn more and register, visit the lecture series page.

Please note: Zoom registration is required for virtual attendees.

Carolina Seminar Series | Precision Medicine Research and Novel Clinical Offerings: Ensuring Equitable Impact Through Implementation Science

Precision Medicine Research and Novel Clinical Offerings: Ensuring Equitable Impact Through Implementation Science

Wednesday, December 6 | 4 p.m. ET | Online

Speakers: Caitlin Allen, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Medical University of South Carolina

Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, PhD, RD
Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill

As technologies and health interventions expand at a rapid rate in healthcare, many providers and patients desire quick and efficient incorporation of these new offerings in to practice.  The field of implementation science can be critical in studying the barriers and facilitators to bring options previously available only in the research realm to the clinic. The design and development of health interventions are increasingly informed by implementation science theories, models, and frameworks to emphasize diverse reach and improve adoption and increase health equity in under served and marginalized communities. By testing new clinical offerings with implementation science methodologies, we can improve the quality of health practices for all patients while promoting equity and inclusion and ensuring that the availability of novel clinical offerings does not exacerbate existing health disparities.

To learn more and register, visit the UNC events page.

Please note: Registration is required for this seminar.

Precision Medicine and Immunotherapy: The new frontiers in cancer care?

Precision Medicine and Immunotherapy: The new frontiers in cancer care?

Friday, November 10 | 11 a.m. ET | Online

Speaker: Ugwuji Maduekwe, MD, MMSc, MPH

Dr. Maduekwe will present an exploration of the dispersion of new therapies in the care of cancer that are inequitably distributed and solutions to closing these gaps.

To learn more and register, visit the webinar page.

Please note: Registration for the full webinar series is required.

Carolina Seminar Series | Empowering Trust: Insights from Community Engagement Initiatives

Empowering Trust: Insights from Community Engagement Initiatives

Wednesday, November 8 | 4 p.m. ET | Online

Speaker: Mya Roberson, MSPH, PhD,
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, UNC-Chapel Hill

Community engagement continues to be a critical component in genomic medicine and precision health research where the overall goal is to improve health outcomes of communities.  The translation of findings into practice and implementation depends heavily on stakeholder engagement throughout the research process. This seminar session will explore insights gained from various engagement strategies and how appropriate incorporation of community stakeholders’ insights can improve the relevance and usefulness of genomic medicine and precision health research.  Speakers and panelists will share their perspectives on community engagement, discuss strategies to address the gaps that remain and how to address the challenge of hesitancy among some communities.

To learn more and register, visit the UNC events page.

Please note: Registration is required for this seminar.

Training in Genomics & Precision Public Health

Thursday-Friday, September 7-8 | Online

Advances in genomics, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are transforming practice. Next generation public health and medical workforces need to understand these developments and how they can be used to benefit population health.

Recognizing this challenge, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is partnering with the Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to offer a free 2-day training event covering the latest developments in these fields: Current Issues in Genomics and Precision Public Health – Using Genomics and Big Data to Improve Population Health and Reduce Health Inequities. 

Learn more and register on the event website.

Pre-Application Webinar for the Investigator-Initiated Research in Genomics and Health Equity RFAs

Wednesday, August 23 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Online

NHGRI will host a pre-application webinar for the Investigator-Initiated Research in Genomics and Health Equity RFAs:  RFA-HG-23-017 and RFA-HG-23-018.

The purpose of these RFAs is to support investigator-initiated research in genomics and health equity, with the ultimate goal of developing approaches, generating and disseminating data, and implementing metrics or interventions that will advance the equitable use of genomics to improve health in U.S. populations.

Learn more and register on the NHGRI website.