Friday 12 May 2017

UCL workshop on "Personal Genetic Testing: Challenges, Pitfalls, and Benefits in and Beyond the Clinic"

The front entrance of UCL. Photo by Neil Turner.
Originally published on Flickr under a Creative Commons Licence.
We are hosting a workshop at University College London (UCL) on 27th June on “Personal Genetic Testing: Challenges, Pitfalls, and Benefits in and Beyond the Clinic”

It will take place between 09.45 and 19.30 at the UCL Anthropology Department, 14 Taviton Street, London.
The event is free to attend but there are only a limited number of spaces at the venue so if you are interested in coming along make sure you register at EventBrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/personal-genetic-testing-challenges-and-benefits-in-and-beyond-the-clinic-tickets-34145019673

Here is the timetable for the meeting:

09.45. Welcome

10.00. Keynote Speech: Genetics and Identity - Adam Rutherford (BBC)

11.00-11.20. ~ Coffee Break ~

11.20. Science of Ancestry Testing, Focus Group - Garrett Hellenthal (UCL), Debbie Kennett (UCL), Turi King (University of Leicester), David Nicholson (Living DNA), Mike Mulligan (AncestryDNA), Mark Thomas (Moderator, UCL)

12.20-13.30. ~ Lunch ~

13.30. Ethical Issues in Personal Genetic Testing, Panel - Ernesto Schwartz-Marin (Durham University), Speaker TBC, Matthias Wienroth (Moderator, Northumbria University)

14.30. Social Science Perspectives on Personal Genetic Testing and Identity, Panel - Catherine Nash (Queen Mary University), Speaker TBC, Sahra Gibbon (Moderator, UCL)

15.30-16.00. ~ Coffee break ~

16.00. Security and Privacy Challenges in Genomics, Tutorial - Emiliano De Cristofaro (UCL)

17.00. Medical and Research Aspects of Personal Genetic Testing, Short Talks - Stephen Beck (UCL), David Bentley (Illumina), Joyce Harper (UCL, moderator)

18.00. Reception

Please note that the agenda may change and will be confirmed a few days before the event as we are still finalising some invitations. Please check the Eventbrite page for updates.

Abstract
The rapid growth of the Personal Genetic Testing (PGT) market raises a number of important scientific, ethical, legal and social concerns, including data security, privacy, and identity, as well as issues around the accuracy, utility, and communication of inferences regarding ancestry, biological predispositions, disease vulnerability, and the sharing of personal data with third parties.

At the same time, PGT has great potential value to individuals and healthcare providers. Realising this potential requires evidence-based standards for translating commercial genetic testing data into actionable medical information, and educating clinicians and the public on what can and cannot be inferred from personal genomes.

Sponsored by the UCL Grand Challenges Initiative, this workshop aims at establishing a highly interdisciplinary, highly engaged UK-based community of researchers and practitioners that are eager to tackle the various challenges associated with personal genetic testing and inform policymakers, clinicians, and companies.

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