“Let’s All Work Towards Hope for Future Generations“ – PMFG Chairs
3 December 2024, Doha, Qatar - Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, today celebrated a decade of innovation in genomic medicine with the opening of its 10th annual Precision Medicine and the Future of Genomics (PMFG 2024) Summit at QNCC.
Day 1 of PMFG 2024, being held in Doha from December 3-5, welcomed 1,100 attendees, featured over 50 distinguished speakers and showcased over 42 booths from sponsors and partners, who gathered to explore the latest advancements in personalized healthcare, genomic research, and the ethical considerations surrounding this rapidly evolving field.
Ms. Khadija Benganna from Al Jazeera Arabic was the Master of Ceremonies who opened the event with stories of hope featuring patient narratives.
PMFG 2024 Chairs, Dr. Ammira Al-Shabeeb Akil and Prof. Khalid Fakhro said: “PMFG serves as a vital platform for collaboration in precision health, bringing together the brightest minds to drive innovation and progress. Let's all work towards hope for future generations by building partnerships and pushing the boundaries of personalized healthcare.”
Sessions on Day 1 of PMFG 2024 focused on advancements in genomic newborn screening, rare disease diagnosis, and population genomic cohorts. Discussions explored the ethical, legal, and social implications of integrating genomic data into healthcare, strategies for early detection and personalized treatment, and the role of international collaborations in shaping global genomic research.
Dr. Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, Chief Executive Officer of Sidra Medicine delivered her welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony of the PMFG 2024 Summit. Speaking about the significance of the event, she stated: "I am proud of the progress we have achieved and of how PMFG has evolved into a platform where the brightest talent and minds come together annually. Our shared insights into the latest research and best practices have a profound impact on patient populations globally, especially in the areas of genetic and rare diseases. "
Dr. Robert Green, Director of the Genomes2People Research Program at Harvard Medical School, delivered a compelling keynote address titled ‘The Path to Lifelong Genomic Medicine’: "Since the days of the Human Genome Project, people have envisioned a future where medicine transitions from reactive to proactive, and even to preventive. We are entering a new era, with large-scale studies launching globally to generate evidence on how genomics can be used in screening. The next frontier is not just newborn sequencing, but lifelong genomics-informed healthcare that is accessible to all."
In her opening remarks, Dr. Akil emphasized PMFG’s key goals, stating: "Our mission is to promote innovation in precision medicine, driving breakthroughs in genomics to enhance personalized healthcare and improve patient outcomes. This summit also serves as a platform for empowering knowledge sharing, where insights on cutting-edge research, clinical applications, and emerging technologies in genomics can be exchanged to shape the future of healthcare."
Dr. Chantal Mathieu, President of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), took part in the opening panel of the PMFG 2024 Summit. The session, titled "2024 in Review: Milestones in Precision Health and the Road Ahead," set the stage for the event by highlighting the pivotal advancements in precision medicine and health over the past year.
Speaking about the transformative developments in diabetes care, Dr. Mathieu remarked:
"We are living in the most exciting times for diabetes care, with groundbreaking disease-modifying therapies now at our fingertips. In type 2 diabetes, we have a surge of medications that not only treat obesity but also protect the heart, kidneys, and beta cells. In type 1 diabetes, we are identifying individuals in the early stages of the disease—before severe hyperglycemia and insulin dependence becomes a reality. This allows us to educate, monitor, and use therapies to delay progression in clinical diabetes."
The day concluded with the Final Dual Keynote Session, ‘One Child Every Child, Care for Rare and FaceBase: Precision Health Programs Integrating Deep Phenotyping and Genomics ’. Keynote speakers Dr. Francois Bernier, Director of the Clinical Genetics Unit and Scientific Director of Precision Health at Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Dr. Benedikt Hallgrímsson, Deputy Director of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, shared insights on integrating deep phenotyping and genomics in precision health programs for pediatric patients with rare genetic conditions.
PMFG 2024 is held under the patronage of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) and the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, with Qatar Precision Health Institute as a strategic partner, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a knowledge partner, Qatar National Bank as the Official Diamond Patronage and Sponsor, and Msheireb Museums as a community partner.
Day 2 of PMFG 2024 on 4 December will feature:
- Morning Session: Implementing Genomics – Bridging Science and Healthcare
- Keynote speaker, Dr. Nancy B. Spinner, Chief of Genomic Diagnostics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, will discuss "Successes and Challenges of Genomic Testing in the NICU."
- Afternoon Session: Global Health Innovations
- Keynote speaker, Dr. Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, will deliver a special lecture on "Innovating in Genomics: Journey of a Health Spin-off."
- Late Afternoon Session: Capacity Building for Precision Medicine
- Talks by Dr. Markus Wenk (HBKU), Dr. Medhat Askar (Qatar University), and Dr. Khaled Machaca (Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar).
Day 3 of PMFG 2024 on 5 December will feature:
- Morning Session: Expert Forum on Custom-Made Therapies and Clinical Trials
- Keynote speaker, Dr. Hakon Hakonarson (Director, Center for Applied Genomics, CHOP) will discuss Genomically-Informed Clinical Trials.
- Keynote speaker, Dr. Chantal Mathieu (President, EASD) will discuss Arresting Type 1 Diabetes: Insights and Innovations from Leading Experts and Clinical Trials.
- Afternoon Session: Dialogue in Gene Therapy
- Keynote speaker, Dr. James Wilson (President/CEO Gemma Biotherapeutics) will discuss Genetic Medicines for Rare Diseases.
- Closing Session: Precision Medicine in Qatar: Shaping the Future of Health through Genomics, Innovative Care, and Philosophies of Medicine
- Talks by Dr. Paul Franks, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at Lund University, Sweden and Dr. Ed Liu, Former President and CEO of The Jackson Laboratory, and Director of NCI-designated Cancer Center, USA.
For details and the agenda, please visit: https://www.sidra.org/events/research/pmfg/2024/program/