Covering The Gaps
The Course You Didn’t Know You Needed
In this course, the ESHG team led by Francesca Forzano and Angus Clarke aims to cover topics that are important – often crucial – for your genetics research and practice but that are usually neglected, taken for granted or left for others to cover.
We look at issues of quality, regulation, ethics and justice in diagnostics and research. We look at data sharing and biobanks. We look at the return of results to patients and at the reporting of research in journals: what are the responsibilities of the editorial teams? How do they (and you!) avoid hype? And how can we all prevent unethical research, when human rights are abused by the state or other interests?
The course format includes multiple opportunities for interactive discussions, with one session on human germline genetic engineering and a more structured debate on a controversial topic to be chosen by the course participants.
This first course took place online in October 2024 and was a huge success. The second course will also be virtual only and will occupy two full days in November 2025. We hope that future iterations may be hybrid.
Programme
Please note that all times are in CET (GMT+1).
Thursday, November 27, 2025:
| 09.00 | Welcome and introduction Ice breaking session who we are, what we do aim to achieve with this course | Francesca Forzano and Angus Clarke |
| 09.45 | Just Genomics equitable opportunities? | Angus Clarke |
| 10.45 | Coffee Break | |
| 11.00 | Quality matters ..and not just to pass your certification test! | Ros Hastings |
| 11.45 | Return of Results in diagnostic and in research | Heidi Howard |
| 12.45 | Lunch Break | |
| 13.45 | Use and misuse of data consider the context to avoid unintended consequences | Yves Moreau |
| 14.45 | Research ethics Navigating ethics landscape: role and challenges of research ethics committees | Lisa Tambornini, Jurate Lekstutiene |
| 15.45 | Coffee Break | |
| 16.00 | Controversial future perspectives: the case of germline gene editing interactive, includes group works | Heidi Howard, Sam Riedijk, Elizabeth Loehrer |
| 18.30 | Q&A on day 1 | |
| 18.45 | End of day one |
Friday, November 28, 2025
| 09.00 | IVD and IVDR | Els Dequeker |
| 09.45 | Data sharing in a connected world how to share responsibly | Emmanuelle Rial-Sebbag |
| 10.45 | Coffee Break | |
| 11.00 | Workshop: sharing data interactive | Emmanuelle Rial-Sebbag (lead), Elizabeth Loehrer |
| 12.15 | Lunch Break | |
| 13.15 | Getting your research published how scientific journals work, what are the tasks and responsibilities of an Editor in Chief, what is the role of the Editorial Board | Alisdair McNeill (EJHG Chief Editor), contribution of Yves Moreau |
| 14.15 | The Newsrooom and Social Media Ethical reporting is a two-way street interactive | Mary Rice, Aleena Mushtaq, Elizabeth Loehrer |
| 15.15 | Coffee Break | |
| 15.30 | Biobanks types, challenges and opportunities | Deborah Mascalzoni/BBMRI-ERIC staff/Elizabeth Loehrer |
| 16.15 | Workshop: databases and guidelines in interpreting genomic data interactive | Julia Baptista (lead), Ros Hastings (and Elizabeth Loehrer) |
| 17.45 | Coffee Break | |
| 18.00 | This House Believes 2 opposite parties (2 participants each) topic to be chosen | facilitators Francesca Forzano and Angus Clarke |
| 19.00 | Q&A on day 2 | |
| 19.15 | End of the course |
CME accreditation
We are in the process of applying for CME accreditation for this course, to ensure it meets the highest educational standards and provides participants with valuable continuing medical education credits.
Cancellation
Cancellations and refunds
Notice of cancellation must be made in writing by e-mail to the Congress Office:
courses@eshg.org
Registration fees may be refunded if written cancellation has been received as follows:
until October 1, 2025: 50% refund
as of October 2, 2025: no refund
The cancellation will not be effective until a written acknowledgement from the Congress Office is received. In the case of over-payment or double payment, refund requests must be made in writing and sent to the Congress Office by e-mail. No refunds will be granted for unattended events or early termination of attendance, in case of cancellation of speakers or any other incidents during the conference, which are beyond the control of the conference organisers.
No exceptions to the refund policy can be made, including health or family issues. By registering to this course, participants agree that neither the organising committee nor the congress office assume any liability whatsoever.
Refunds will be made after the course.
Contact
Congress Office:
WMA GmbH
Ms. Magdalena Seidl
Alser Strasse 4
1090 Vienna, Austria
T: +43 1 405 13 83 24
F: +43 1 405 13 83 924
E: Courses@eshg.org