Media advisory

Science & Technology Minister, Naledi Pandor to open African Society for Human Genetics (AfSHG) and the Southern African Society for Human Genetics (SASHG) in Cape Town, 6-9 March 2011

Please find the link to the full programme for the upcoming conference from Sunday, March 6 to Wednesday March 9, 2011.

The SA Science & Technology Minister, Naledi Pandor will be opening the conference on Sunday afternoon at 13:45pm. The theme for the conference is ‘Building Capacity for Genomic and Translational Research in Africa.’

There will be also be several pre-conference satellite meetings held at UCT and the CTICC on Saturday, 5 March 2010. In particular, topics such as ‘Parkinson and genetics in North Africa’, ‘Genotype-phenotype correlation in Parkinson Disease in Tunisia’, ‘A partner’s perspective with Huntington’s Disease’ to ‘reasons for worldwide difference in prevalence of Huntington Disease: Implications for Africa’ to a ‘ genetic counselling workshop: Cancer risk calculation and communications skills workshop for genetic counsellors’. See attached full programme of the Young Researcher’s Forum (pdf format, 51kb).

DATE:              6 – 9 MARCH 2011
VENUE:           CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE (CTICC)
TIME:               08:30 – 16:45 DAILY

The chairperson of the conference is Prof Raj Ramesar from the UCT/MRC Human Genetics Research Unit.

The AfSHG and SASHG aim to provide a forum for scientists interested in Human Genetics in Africa to meet, interact, network and collaborate. In addition, they aim to equip the African scientific community and policymakers with the information and practical knowledge that will contribute to the field of genetics research and to attract global attention to the efforts of African research and the development of scientists on the continent.  Both organizations strive to promote and advance the practice and science of human and medical genetics on the continent through facilitating contact between persons in the different branches of human and medical genetics, and initiating contact with similar organizations in other parts of the world; and to practice their affairs in a non-profit making and non-discriminating manner.