Conferences & expos

First Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference set for April

The Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (CAGS) will hold its First Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference in Dubai, UAE, from 4-6 April this year.

The scientific programme of the conference will be preceded by a workshop organised by the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (DoHMS) in association with the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies on Fundamental Approaches in Molecular Diagnosis of Hemoglobinopathies (4 April, 2006) at the Genetic and Thalassemia Center, Dubai.

Experts with extensive experience of molecular detection of hemoglobin disorders will conduct the course. The laboratory workshop programme focuses on genome analysis in various monogenic disorders starting from basic DNA detection to PCR, RFLP, restriction enzyme digestion, DNA fingerprinting, reverse dot-blot hybridization, and automated DNA sequencing followed by interpretation of results.

Workshop seminars include lectures on molecular medicine, methods and techniques in molecular biology, and molecular characterisation of hemoglobinopathies. The scientific programme of the First Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference includes 23 lectures given by 20 speakers in four sessions from 5 to 6 April 2006 at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai.

Topics will include: population genetics, genetic disorders in the Arab world, clinical and molecular basis of human disease, genomics, cancer genetics, genetics of blood disorders, cytogenetics, consanguinity, and bioethics.

Speakers at the conference include a faculty of renowned Arab and international scientists. Arab speakers include members of the executive committee of CAGS as well as all members of the newly formed Council of CAGS representing nine Arab countries.

Despite the fact that the conference is Pan Arab, international speakers are also numerous and represent important institutes active in human genetics: The Human Genome Organisation, University College London (UK), Cambridge University (UK), Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (Germany), University of Bonn (Germany), Russian Academy of Science (Russia), and the European Neuromuscular Center (The Netherlands).

For more information visit: www.cags.org.ae/1stpahgc.html