Genetic network conference kicks off

Manama, Mar. 17 (BNA): President of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), Lieutenant General Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa opened today the first conference for genetic network in the Arab world entitled, "Human Genetics, Epigenetics, and Personalised Genomics.” The event is organised by the Princess Al Jawhara Al Ibrahim Centre for Molecular Medicine and Inherited Disorders at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), in cooperation with the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Council. While opening the conference, in the presence of AGU President, Dr. Khalid Abdul Rahman Al-Ohaly, diplomatic corps, as well as health sector’s officials, academicians and staff, the SCH president said that the conference is in line with the SCH’s support for innovative health sciences that drastically treat genetic diseases that face the Bahraini society. He highlighted the importance of AGU’s academic and research potentials, noting that the regional and international conferences organised by AGU provide a platform to transfer the latest expertise and research to Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf. He said that the kingdom supports all scientific efforts in the fields of human genetics, epigenetics, and personalised genomics, given their importance in understanding the genetic and environmental features of every society to deal with them on a preventive basis that contributes to achieving health welfare, in accordance with the Economic Vision for Bahrain, 2030. The two-day conference has attracted attract 150 experts from 150 countries such as the US, New Zealand, Canada and Japan as well as various Arab countries such as the Kingdom of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq , Lebanon, Sudan and Jordan. The conference is expected to shed light on “Epigenetics” and its role in the interaction between genes and diet in the development of chronic diseases, for the first time in the Arab world. This new and exciting science has never been presented at Arab conferences. It will bring together medical and molecular genetics scientists and doctors, researchers and other health professionals and companies interested in this science, to interact and build productive professional relationships. A workshop on strategic planning will be organised by the Arab Genetics Research Association on the side-lines, in a move to establish a strong, productive and effective network for genetics research and education in the Arab world.