12-Sep-2003
Press Release

Genomics Conference Expands Focus To New Frontiers of Research

GSAC 15 Features Leading Scientists, Hot Topics in Genomics

September 12, 2003 

Rockville, MD - The expansion of the genomics revolution into medicine, the environment, systems biology and an array of other scientific fields will dominate discussions among leading researchers at the 15th International Genome Sequencing and Analysis Conference. 

GSAC 15, which is organized by The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), will be held in Savannah, GA, from September 21-24. The conference will feature presentations by some of the world's best-known scientists in their fields, with keynote speeches by: 

  • LeRoy Hood of the Institute for Systems Biology, who will discuss the importance of genomics to systems biology. 
  • Svante Pääbo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, who will give a presentation about primate genomics. 
  • Ralph Snyderman of the Duke University Health System, who will discuss the potential role of genomics in transforming health care. 
  • Mathias Uhlen of Sweden's Royal Institute for Technology (KTH), who will outline the promise of proteomics. 

In addition, genomics pioneer J. Craig Venter - whose nonprofit Foundation recently opened one of the world's largest and most advanced genome sequencing centers - will moderate a symposium on "New Frontiers in Sequencing Technology" that will feature presentations by key scientists at firms that are developing faster, less expensive, and more accurate alternatives to capillary sequencing. 

Venter is TIGR's founder and Board chairman and president of The Center for the Advancement of Genomics (TCAG) and of the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives (IBEA). 

"For 15 years, GSAC has been the forum for researchers to learn about the latest advances in genomics," says Venter. "This year is no exception, as GSAC expands its focus to include lectures from scientists at the forefront of genomic medicine, environmental genomics, proteomics, and new sequencing technologies." 

Among the hot topics to be discussed at GSAC plenary sessions and symposia will be: 

  • How genomics has the potential to transform health care, 
  • Cloning, stem cells, and efforts to "remodel the genome." 
  • New developments in environmental genomics, including a trailblazing project to use shotgun sequencing to characterize entire microbial communities. 
  • Analysis of how the full human and mouse genomes can be used to help extract information from low-pass coverage of other mammalian genomes. 
  • Progress in developing vaccines as a result of genome analysis. 

For more information on GSAC 15, please check the conference website at http://www.tigr.org/conf/gsac or contact TIGR's Conference Department at (301) 610-5959.