Three-Day International Annual Conference of BGCI Concludes Successfully at Central University of Punjab

Three-Day International Annual Conference of BGCI Concludes Successfully at Central University of Punjab

Bathinda 6 July ( PDL ) : The three-day 11th International Annual Conference of the Board of Genetic Counseling India (BGCI) concluded successfully with a valedictory session held on Sunday at the Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab), Bathinda. Organized by the Board of Genetic Counseling India (BGCI) in association with the Central University of Punjab, the conference brought together eminent clinicians, geneticists, researchers, academicians, genetic counselors, and healthcare professionals from India and abroad to deliberate on the theme, "Genetic Counseling: Pivotal for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Multiple Clinical Disorders."

The conference commenced with an inaugural session graced by Dr. N.K. Mehra, AIIMS, New Delhi, as the Chief Guest. Over the three days, it featured keynote addresses by Dr. Renu John (IIT Hyderabad), Dr. Subhash Kaul (KIMS Hospitals, Hyderabad), Prof. Pradeep Vasudevan (University of Leicester, UK), and Prof. Shirley Hodgson (City St George's, University of London), who shared their expertise on emerging trends in genomics, precision medicine, and genetic counseling.

The conference also featured two workshops on "Genetic Counseling Teaching and Training Programmes in India" and "Next Generation Sequencing: Process and Data Analysis." It also included six technical sessions on Ocular Genetics, Neurology, Rare Genetic Disorders, Hematology, Reproductive Biology, and Oncology, where experts discussed recent advances in genetics, precision medicine, and the expanding role of genetic counseling in healthcare. The programme also comprised panel discussions, poster presentations, and interactive sessions that promoted scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange among participants.

Speaking on the successful conclusion of the conference, Prof. Anjana Munshi, Director (Research & Development) and Organizing Chairperson, said the conference served as an excellent platform for scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and capacity building in genetic counseling.

During the valedictory session, Dr. Annie Hasan, President of the Board of Genetic Counseling India, expressed her gratitude to Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Punjab, for his guidance and unwavering support in the successful organization of the conference. She emphasized that the conference reinforced the pivotal role of genetic counseling in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of inherited and rare disorders. The valedictory ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards recognizing outstanding scientific papers and poster presentations, followed by a vote of thanks to the organizing committee, speakers, delegates, and participants for their valuable contributions in making the international conference a grand success.