The American Society of Human Genetics hosts 59th Annual Meeting in Honolulu

The world's top scientists and clinicians in the human genetics field will gather in Honolulu, Hawaii to present their latest research findings at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, from Tuesday, October 20, through Saturday, October 24, 2009, at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Founded in 1948, the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide, representing nearly 8,000 researchers, academicians, clinicians, genetic counselors, nurses and others with a special interest in this area. The Society's Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of human genetics professionals and a forum for renowned experts in the field to share their latest research results.

With more than 260 platform and plenary presentations, 2,828 posters, 24 invited sessions and special symposia, and a number of press briefing events that will be webcast to the media, the 2009 ASHG Annual Meeting will provide journalists with a rich resource of new information about cutting-edge developments in human genetics and genomics research. In addition, nearly 250 U.S. and international exhibitors at this year's ASHG Exhibitor Trade Show will offer an unprecedented opportunity to view the latest advances in genetics-related products and services derived, in part, from work presented at previous ASHG meetings.

PRESS BRIEFING SESSIONS:

ASHG has planned three press briefing events that will be held in the Hawaii Convention Center during the week of the Society's 59th Annual Meeting. The Society will be webcasting this year's press briefing sessions, allowing credentialed members of the media who are unable to attend the ASHG 2009 meeting in-person to view the events through an online Web portal.

If you cannot attend this year's Annual Meeting in Honolulu, but still wish to receive embargoed press releases from ASHG and/or register to view webcast(s) of the Society's press briefing events, please e-mail your request to Kristen Long at klong@ashg.org, and remember to include your contact information.

The press briefing events and scientific sessions at the ASHG 2009 meeting will feature presentations from prominent experts in the field on a diverse range of "hot" topics of interest in human genetics, including the following: 1000 Genomes Project, biotechnology, cancer genetics, clinical/translational research, ethical, legal, social & policy issues, evolutionary & population genetics, family health history, genetic testing, genetic variation of common & rare Diseases, genome architecture (CNV & structural variation), genome-wide association studies, neurogenetics/psychiatric genetics, pharmacogenetics (susceptibility and drug response), personalized medicine , public health genomics & education initiatives, stem cell research, treatment of genetic disease/gene therapy

To view a complete listing (and the full-text abstracts) of all scientific sessions and posters presented at the 2009 meeting, visit: www.ashg.org/cgi-bin/2009/ashgSOE.pl.

Members of the media and general public can also receive news about the ASHG 2009 Annual Meeting by following us on Twitter using the hashtag: #ASHG2009.

GENERAL PRESS INFORMATION AND ONLINE REGISTRATION:

The ASHG 2009 Annual Meeting is open to print, online and broadcast news media, as well as health, medical and science reporters, and freelance writers on a verifiable assignment from an established news source. Complimentary meeting registration will be available to members of the media who provide appropriate press credentials and identification. The Society offers reporters many resources onsite at the meeting, including news releases, press conferences, media interviews with top experts in the field, and a press room with free Internet access and complimentary refreshments.

Press attendees are strongly encouraged to pre-register onlin for the 2009 meeting in advance; however, we will continue to offer onsite press registration in the ASHG Press Office as well (located on the third floor of the Hawaii Convention Center, in Room 318).* To pre-register for the ASHG 2009 meeting, please complete the online press registration application form at the following URL: http://www.ashg.org/2009meeting/pages/press_register.shtml/.

Source: American Society of Human Genetics