The First Advances in Precision Medicine (APM2021) Conference

The first Advances in Precision Medicine (APM2021) conference will focus on “Epigenetics and Precision Medicine” to highlight exciting recent developments in the field of epigenetics related to clinical decision making, diagnosis, and treatment. It will include keynote lectures from renowned international experts, short selected talks from early career researchers, and an engaging poster session. It will also showcase epigenetics research conducted in Qatar. 

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Chair’s Welcome message

It is our pleasure to invite you to the first Advances in Precision Medicine (APM) conference, which will be held at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Education City, Qatar from November 29 to December 01, 2021. 

The College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) at HBKU and the Qatar Genome Program are delighted to organize the first of this conference series that will put the limelight on different research areas related to the development and implementation of precision medicine approaches in diagnosis and treatment.

The first APM meeting, “Epigenetics and Precision Medicine”, focuses on the diverse epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to disease development and how they can be targeted for personalized therapy. Epigenetics is a rapidly evolving research area, which links environmental exposures, be it the cellular microenvironment or our living conditions, to inheritable changes of cell states that are potentially inheritable through generations. For example, oxidative stress has been linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases. The three-day program covers the role of epigenetics in a diverse set of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and cancer, it will also introduce the epigenetic changes occurring during aging and discuss the transgenerational heritability of these epigenetic marks.

The conference is aimed at local and international researchers and clinicians. It includes internationally recognized keynote speakers, talks from early-career scientists, and an interactive poster session. 

Participants are also invited to a celebratory dinner, and a social event introducing them to Qatar’s unique culture and sights.

We look forward to welcoming you to Qatar at the end of 2021. 

Borbala Mifsud
On behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee
Nady El Hajj 
Ehsan Pourkarimi
Judith Zaugg
Gioacchino Natoli

Dean’s Welcome Message

Welcome to the inaugural “Advances in Precision Medicine” (APM), conference held at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Education City, in Qatar.  The goal of this conference is to spur development in the field of precision medicine by bringing together, in an interactive and collaborative assembly, world-class educators, researchers, and clinicians.  An overarching aim is to provide a platform for information exchange among professionals to foster advancements in clinical and therapeutic applications of precision medicine to society.   
 
This inaugural meeting is exciting in that it addresses advances in groundbreaking scientific discoveries within a rapidly advancing field of epigenetics.  Exchange of information and innovative ideas are central to progress in precision medicine clinical care both regionally and globally.  We are pleased that the organizers of this conference involve a collaboration between the College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) at HBKU, a leader in educational and research training within genomics and precision medicine, the internationally recognized Qatar Genome Program, and outstanding international partners from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the European Institute of Oncology.

Again, welcome to the conference! 

Dr. Edward Stuenkel
Dean of College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS)
HBKU