World Congress on Genetic Counselling

The fifth World Congress on Genetic Counselling will serve as a platform to highlight and share knowledge in genetic counselling research, clinical practice and training and education, while also highlighting the impact of genetic counsellors in the field of genomic medicine.

We invite you to connect with a diverse community of professionals, including clinicians from various fields such as genetic counselling, nursing, medical genetics, as well as academics specializing in social sciences, psychology, ethics, and genetic counselling research. This conference offers a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and seek potential collaborations that can enhance your work.

The programme will emphasise best practices in genetic counselling on a global scale, covering topics such as education, training, and regulations. We will also address the importance of working with diverse and underserved populations in genetic counselling. Additionally, sessions will examine the impact of technology, including artificial intelligence, on the counselling process. A dedicated workshop will focus on fostering collaboration in genetic counselling research, with the goal of establishing a network of researchers committed to advancing the field.

Join this international assembly of experts in genetic counselling to further your professional development, broaden your network, and gain insightful perspectives on the evolving landscape of genetic counselling practice, education and research.

This conference is endorsed by the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors. An application has been made for CPD hours to the Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (UK and Ireland).

The conference will start at approximately 12.50 on Monday 24 February and close at approximately 12.45 on Wednesday 26 February 2024. All times are in GMT. See the time where you are here.

Sessions will focus on a variety of topics on genetic counselling, including:

• Genetic counselling practice – around the world
• Genetic counselling education and training – sharing best approaches
• Debate: What defines a genetic counsellor –  skills vs certification?
• Cultural humility in genetic counselling: global perspectives and adaptive practices
• Using technology in genetic counselling
• The art of being a researcher – building capacity and collaborations
• Research collaborations  (in person workshop)
• The future of genetic counselling in precision medicine

Scientific programme committee

Khadijah Bakur
King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

Annie Qurratulain Hasan
Kamineni Hospital, India

Charlotta Ingvoldstad Malmgren
Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden

Kelly Ormond
ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Keynote speaker

Clara Gaff
Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia

Confirmed speakers

Dawn Allain – Ohio State University, USA
Rachelle Chambers  –  NYU Langone Health, USA
Breana Cham – KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore
Sasha Henriques – Wellcome Connecting Science, UK
Cindy James – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA
Reem Jawad A Al Sulaiman – Hamad Medical Corporation Doha, Qatar
J. Matt McCrary – Hannover Medical School, Germany
Ramona Moldovan – University of Manchester, UK
Rebecka Pestoff – Linköping University , Sweden
Elen Siglen –  Haukeland University Hospital, Norway

Organisers

Treasa Creavin
Wellcome Connecting Science

Laura Wyatt
Wellcome Connecting Science

Registration deadline: 28 January 2025 (in person) | 18 February 2025 (virtual)

Deadlines close 23.59  GMT

The in-person registration fee includes:

• Full access to scientific programme: oral and poster presentations, and networking on campus
• Access to the online conference portal to network with online participants
• Meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked onsite accommodation.
• Recordings of the live-stream sessions, which will be available ‘on-demand’ for four weeks after the event ends.

Virtual registration fee includes:

• Access to the virtual event portal (Log in details will be emailed a few days before the event starts)
• Live-stream sessions, including posters and online networking channels
• Recordings of the live-stream sessions, available ‘on-demand’ for four weeks after the event ends.

* To promote more inclusive scientific discussions with international colleagues at our conferences, virtual delegates based in Lower and Middle-Income Countries can register for free (see list of countries here).

If you are an editor or journalist, please contact the conference organiser for more information about the discounted fee.

Accommodation
Booked accommodation is for the nights of 24 and 25 February 2025.
Please note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis; therefore, early registration is recommended.

If you wish to book campus accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Hinxton Hall Conference Centre directly.

Accommodation services phishing scam – please be vigilant. More information.

Travel visas
Citizens of many countries can travel to the UK to attend a course or conference without needing a visa. Please check the UK government website for visitor information: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor.

Confirmed attendees requiring a letter to support a visa application should contact the event organiser.

Bursaries

Bursary deadline:  19 November 2024

Wellcome Connecting Science offers registration bursaries (usually up to 50% of the registration fee) to those who would benefit from attending the conference but face financial barriers to attending events.

Priority will be given to trainees,  applicants from lower and middle income countries, or those from underrepresented/minoritised groups. Other early career researchers will be considered if funds allow.

To apply for funding support, please register and then select that you want to apply for a bursary. This will direct you to the online application form. Please be prepared to explain why you need support and how you will benefit from attending the conference. Once you have submitted the application form, you will be emailed an abstract portal link. Please use this to submit your abstract before bursary deadline.

Applications without abstracts will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Additional funding opportunities

Visit our support page for information on financial support, including carer grants to help delegates with the costs of caring for children or dependent family members while attending a course or a conference.

Abstract deadline: 3 December 2024

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted. Presenters of oral presentations as expected to be onsite for the duration of the conference, whereas those presenting posters can do so in person or virtually.

To submit an abstract, you must first register for the conference. Once your registration is completed, you will be emailed a link to submit to the abstract submission portal. If you wish to edit your abstract following submission, please use the link in the abstract acknowledgement email.

All abstracts must be submitted and, if desired, edited by the deadline. The scientific programme committee will then assess your abstract and you will be notified about 2 weeks after the deadline whether you have been selected to present an oral or poster presentation. If you require acknowledgment that your abstract has been accepted earlier than this, please contact the event organiser.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0-portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the conference programme book; poster board numbers will be allocated at the conference.

Those accepted for a poster presentation will also have the opportunity present a ~1 min ‘poster pitch’ summarising their work.

With thanks to our supporters:

If you are interested in exhibiting at this meeting, please contact us.

For more information about the benefits of having a presence at this meeting, see our sponsorship page.

Dr Danya Vears, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia

Examining Genethics through a genetic counselling lens

Feedback from previous World Congress on Genetic Counselling conferences

“It was a great opportunity to network and the talks were all relevant interesting and high quality”

“I really enjoyed the conference, meeting GCs from around the world and reflecting on the future for genetic counselling”

“Since attending the first one in 2017, this conference continues to exceed my expectations with regards to the people I meet, the conversations I have, and the content I learn”

“The conference was well organized and focused. I appreciated the fact that all presentations were plenary. There were also a variety of opportunities to interact informally during meals, tea breaks and poster sessions”

“I came to the conference expecting to be challenged and to learn something and I have gone home with a new zest for my profession and a head full of ideas”