The first consumer genetics conference gets underway in Boston today, bringing together leaders in the fields of genetic testing, health, genetics and law.
The Consumer Genetics Show was born out of the growing interest in personal genetic testing, and will address key issues in the field, including scientific advances, best practices, and how to navigate the healthcare system. Doctors will learn more about the genetic testing field and how they can help their patients decide which genetic test is best for them.
The Consumer Genetics Show has attracted a veritable who’s who of the personal genomics industry.
Among those set to give speeches is Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, and George Church, well-known professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School.
Navigenics co-founder Dietrich Stephan has been tapped to give several presentations, including an opening plenary on how technology will transform personal genetics. He will also discuss what genetic markers and metrics for genetic tests meet the most rigorous scientific standards.
Genetic testing, which reveals a person’s individual genetic risk for many different health conditions, has been growing in popularity.
The Navigenics genetic test has been featured on ABC’s “Nightline,” the daytime medical show “The Doctors,” and in myriad newspaper articles and blogs.
It is also at the heart of a 20-year study of thousands of Americans to see how genetic testing can motivate people to adopt healthier lifestyles and possibly prevent disease or have it detected earlier.
The Consumer Genetics Show runs through Thursday.