Dubai: H.E Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid, Chairman, Board of Trustees of Al Maktoum Charity Foundation, opened the activities of the 7th Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference and the accompanying exhibition, which is organized by the award’s Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (CAGS), and attended by about 500 geneticists and doctors from 24 countries.

Attending the opening ceremony were the members of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Medical Award, including Dr.Najib Al Khaja, Dr. Abdullah Al Khayat, Dr. Ahmed Al-Hashemi,  and Abdullah Bin Souqat, as well as Dr. Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, Director of the Center for Arab Genomic Studies and the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the conference, Dr. Al-Said Jafar Al-Said Mohammed , and Prof. Sehamuddin Galadari, Chairman of the Award’s Medical Research Grant Committee.

During the conference events His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan praised the efforts of the award and the Arab Center for Genetic Studies. Focusing on the development of medical services and genetic diseases, which serve the government's direction and the State Strategic Plan 2020, he also stressed the keenness of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum to support such scientific events that are important and aim to develop the potential of scientific cadres that serve the community.

During his speech, H.E Dr. Najib Al-Khaja the President of Center for Arab Genomic Studies expressed his happiness to attend this important conference held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Patron of the Hamdan Medical Award.

He said, “This conference series is organized by the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, which is one of the most important centres of the Hamdan Medical Award. In a short period of time, CAGS has earned itself a global standing, and has become a reference point in the field of human genetics in our Arab World.”

“Thanks to the continuous and dedicated efforts of the CAGS’ members, who represent 14 Arab countries, the centre was able to establish several research projects which have significantly contributed to a better understanding of issues related to human genetics at the scientific, medical, ethical, and legal levels. It is noteworthy to mention that CAGS continues to maintain and continuously update the ‘Catalogue of Transmission Genetics in Arabs’, CTGA, which remains the largest database for genetic diseases in the Arab World.”

He also stressed the keenness of the United Arab Emirates to promote the development of our societies in all fields and contribute actively in Growth and development, Under the guidance of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE President and his brother H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai as well as their brothers Their Highness members of Union Supreme Council, rulers of the Emirates.

He also extended his thanks to the members of the conference scientific and steering committees wishing to benefit everyone.

Dr. Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, the Director of the Center for Arab Genomic Studies and the chairman of the scientific committee of the conference in his speech said, “Over the past 14 years, this conference series has grown to be one of the most important conferences in human genetics in the Arab World. The conference series continues to provide a platform for regional and international researchers and professionals in genetics to have a constructive dialogue and share their views. I can tell you from personal experience that this conference has witnessed the start of many collaborations on issues relevant to researchers, medical professionals, and patients in this region. Hopefully, these 3 days will help further strengthen these collaborations, as well as form some new ones.

“Since we last met 2 years ago, CAGS has undergone several collaborative projects with various local and international scientific and medical institutes which have so far culminated in 19 published research papers as well as publication and distribution of thousands of educational materials on Genetics Made Easy aimed at the general public. We hope that this collaboration will stay strong and that our research at CAGS can help further enhance the global standing of Dubai and the UAE as a source of reliable scientific research. As for our CTGA database, which remains the largest public ethnic database of genetic disorders and gene variants, it has maintained its steady growth.  As of December 2017, the number of entries in our CTGA database has exceeded 2400, of which 970 are gene entries. Data from Saudi Arabia rank first with a total of 1092 entries. In addition to its horizontal expansion, whereby new disease/gene entries are made, CTGA has shown a continuous rapid vertical expansion, making the database’s coverage deeper and richer”, he added.

“It will feature 4 separate modules entitled precision medicine, genomics of multifactorial disorders, current trends in human genetics, and big data in human genetics. There are two keynote lectures by Prof Fowzan AlKuraya, and Prof Andrew Morris, also have eight invited talks from speakers doing some incredible work in the field of human genetics, as well as presentations that we’ve carefully selected from the many abstracts we have received this year. Some of these speakers have come a long way to be able to share their work with us and inform us about the latest findings of them researches.”

“The third day of the conference will feature two parallel workshops, the first on genetic counselling for Arab populations, and the second is an Ensembl workshop on genetic variation and gene regulation. We have also added a supplementary breakfast session by Prof Andre Megarbane, for tomorrow morning, to help students and junior researchers improve their scientific writing skills.”

Dr. Mahmoud also thanked everyone who participated in and contributed to the success of the scientific conference and to the members of the Organizing and Scientific Committees of the Conference who worked hard to make this conference pay off, and to the members of the Arab Council and the Executive Council of the Arab Center for Genetic Studies on their continuous guidance.

And finally Dr. Mahmoud expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance for his tremendous support for the Center and the award.

The first scientific session of the conference included a keynote lecture Professor Dr. Fawzan Al-Kuraya, Professor of Human Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, Al-Faisal University, and King Faisal Hospital on Unlocking the Mysteries of the Human Genome.  In the session on precision medicine, Dr. Emily Baple presented a lecture entitled The 100,000 Genomes Project Rare Disease Programme: Achievements and Future Plans.  Also Dr. Andre Megarbane Medical Director of the Medico-Psycho-Pedagogical Center (CEMEDIPP) Beirut, presented a lecture about Precision in Genetic Counselling.

In a lecture by Dr. Michael Pellini, President of Foundation Medicine, USA, the topic of using genomic analysis to promote cancer care was discussed. Also Owen Rennert, Chief of Clinical and Developmental Genomics lab Division of Intramural Research National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) USA presented a lecture about Autism. The lectures included a discussion session of other research posters revolving around the huge data in human genetics.

The first day of the 7th Arab Conference on Human Genetics concluded with a lecture by Dr. Yahya Sagliker on multiple mutations in patients with Saglker syndrome.

© Press Release 2018