Dubai-march 2019: CAGS attended the 7th Kuwait International Genetic Conference. The conference was organized by Dr. Laila Bastaki, conference chairperson and director of the Kuwait Medical Genetic Centre, under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basel Al Sabah. 

 

The 7th KIGC conference the conference included 11 sessions over 3 days and hosted 41 lecturers, 20 of them from abroad and 21 local lecturers, who reviewed a variety of topics in the field of medical genetics. Talks and discussions centered on population genetics (including Arab genome programs) and newborn screening, methods in pre-implantation genetic testing, as well as advances in therapies and management of genetic diseases, particularly focusing on metabolic and neuromuscular disorders. Researchers in the Kuwait Medical Genetic Center also shared their experiences with patients and analysis methods of rare and complex genetic disorders. An interesting educational session on molecular genetic techniques was also held; it was directed at clinicians unfamiliar with the various procedures to choose that match the type of genetic disorder they are investigating. Some very interesting lectures were held, one of which discussed revolutionary treatments in stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy. 

 

A workshop on new management strategies in spinal muscular atrophy was held on the last day discussing experiences in the Arab world, treatment options and outcomes, as well as SMA registries. The conference was well attended, with members of the CAGS Arab council and advisory committee providing talks and chairing sessions. 

A poster session was also held with around twenty posters detailing research work in Kuwait and regional Arab countries. CAGS won the first prize with their poster, which detailed their novel comprehensive genetic variant database of which work had begun early this year. 

CAGS looks forward to attending future iterations of this conference, as well as other medical genetics conferences in the Arab World in order to establish networks and report on the latest research occurring in the region.