25th Annual Irish Society of Human Genetics conference

,

Our 25th annual conference took place on the 16th September in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane, Christchurch, Dublin 2.

The meeting had 129 registrations and was hugely successful. After a welcome from our Chairperson Jackie Turner we had an address from Dr Mark Bale, Advisor and Lead for the National Strategy for Genetics and Genomics for Ireland who provided “An update on The National Genetics and Genomics Strategy for Ireland”. We also had an update from the IPPOSI Citizen Jury on Genetics and Genomics before the keynote talk from Prof Nicola Whiffin on “Interpreting variation in the non-coding genome”. Sequencing the coding regions only misses the impact of regions that play regulatory roles.

After coffee 5 speakers presented in our clinical plenary which took us to lunch and poster viewing. An impressive sponsored lecture from Accuscience on their FlowBot (wit a demo model on site!) followed before the keynote from Prof Lorna Harries on “Dysregulated alternative splicing – a new (and druggable) hallmark of ageing”. Unsurprisingly this talk generated a lot of excitement as Prof Harries was able to demonstrate new understandings in the ageing process, with the promise of interventions to increase “healthspan”.

Our basic research plenary followed before our final keynote from Prof Dan Bradley who gave us history and genetics on a tour of ancient Ireland as informed through ancient DNA. Honorary membership was then deservedly bestowed on Prof David McConnell who entertained everyone with his look back on the research genetics community in Ireland.

There was a warm reception for the two Secondary Student Essay Prizes:

  • First Prize: Amy Deng – Institute of Education, Leeson Street
  • Second Prize: Eoghan Strain – Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, Co. Donegal

The conference concluded with the announcement of the best presentations listed below. The oral presentations were voted on by all attendees and the poster prizes were judged by the ISHG committee.

Prizes 2022

  • Best Postdoctoral Oral Presentation: “AAV-delivered gene therapy for dry AMD provides benefit in murine and cellular models” presented by Dr. Sophia Millington-Ward. Prize of €150 cash & Registration fees for the ESHG 2023
  • Best Postgraduate Oral Presentation: “Methylome profiling of young adults with depression in Ireland” presented by Amy Louise Doherty. Prize of €150 cash, & travel scholarship to ESHG 2023.
  • Best Postdoctoral Poster: “Therapeutic potential of AAV-ophNdi1 for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease”  presented by Dr. Naomi Chadderton. Prize of Registration fees for ESHG 2023.
  • Best Postgraduate Poster: “Folic acid intervention during pregnancy alters DNA methylation, affecting neural target genes through two distinct mechanisms” presented by Luke Hilman. Prize of Registration fees for ESHG 2023.
  • Young Investigator Award Rebecca Mahoney. Prize of €150 cash prize & travel scholarship to 2023 ESHG meeting.
Prof David McConnell, Honorary Member
Outgoing Chairperson Jackie Turner and Dr Lisa Bradley
Dr Lorna Lopez and keynote speaker Prof Lorna Harries
Keynote speaker Prof Nicky Whiffin
Keynote speaker Prof Dan Bradley and Dr Lara Cassidy
129 delegates registered in 2022
Best Postgraduate Oral Presentation was awarded to Amy Louise Doherty
Best Postdoctoral Poster was awarded to Dr. Naomi Chadderton
Best Postdoctoral Oral Presentation was awarded to Dr. Sophia Millington-Ward.
Amy Deng of the Institute of Education, Leeson Street won first prize in the DNA Day Essay competition
Eoghan Strain of Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, Co. Donegal won second prize in the DNA Day Essay competition
/by