Program

Program available for download here

Invited Speakers

• Professor Joris Vermeesch
  Katholieke Univesiteit Leuven, Belgium
  1. Molecular karyotyping: From postnatal to preimplantation genetic diagnosis? & 2. The cradle of constitutional chromosome rearrangements is the leavage stage embryo

• Professor Rob McLachlan
  Prince Henry's Institute, Melbourne
  Genetics of Male Infertility: a clinical perspective

• Professor Lynda Campbell
  Victorian Cancer Cytogenetics Services, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne
  Cytogenetics in the management of myeloid malignancies

Professor Joris Vermeesch
Katholieke Univesiteit Leuven, Belgium

Prof Joris Vermeesch heads the constitutional cytogenetic laboratory in the department of cytogenetics and genome research at Katholieke Univesiteit Leuven. In addition to clinical cytogenetics, the laboratory’s research programs include the development of novel techniques for chromosomal analysis and genomics, and the molecular causes of developmental, mental and behavioural disturbances. As well a lecturing at the university, Prof Vermeesch is on the Editorial Board of
Molecular Cytogenetics.

Professor Rob McLachlan
Prince Henry's Institute, Melbourne

Prof Rob McLachlan is a principal research fellow at Prince Henry's Institute and is deputy director of Endocrinology at Monash Medical Centre. He holds the position of secretary of the International Society of Andrology, and is a consultant to the World Health Organisation on male infertility regulation. His interests include endocrinology, infertility and andrology, in both research and clinical practice.

Professor Lynda Campbell
Victorian Cancer Cytogenetics Service, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

A/Prof Lynda Campbell has been the director of the Victorian Cancer Cytogenetics Service at St Vincent’s Hospital since 1992. She has been an elected member of the International Standing Committee on Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature since 2001, and has previously been an examiner in cytogenetics for the HGSA and has also served on the HGSA committee. Her research interests include the genetics of acute myeloid leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Workshops

This year, we would really like to make the workshops more interactive: we want your input! You come to conferences not just to listen to other cytogeneticists tell you about their work, but also to discuss issues with colleagues. We’d like to make this happen in the workshops as well as in tea and lunch breaks. We would like to hear what all of you have to say – bring your problems, your ideas, your comments.

Select one workshop from each group on the registration form webpage. Later, the workshop facilitator will send you additional information.

Group A:

Euchromatic Variation and other Diagnostic Nightmares
All of us know the heterochromatic variants that we see regularly in our specimens. But how many times have we noticed a euchromatic change that is apparently of no consequence? Deletions and duplications of certain euchromatic regions can occur without phenotypic effect. Let’s compare cases and stories – how do we interpret these changes, and what are the consequences for our patients and clinicians?

Cytogenetic training programmes for examination candidates
The MHGSA and FHGSA examinations are held yearly in March. Candidates are given a list of topics to be covered, but individual study programmes are organized by the candidate or their laboratory supervisor. We want to know: how do you do it? Do any laboratories have a formal study programme? What works for you, and what would you like to see happen? We’d like to know, from both the candidate’s and supervisor’s point of view.

Group B:

Measurement of Uncertainty
We have all worked out our laboratory’s MU for the relevant FISH tests. But, how do we compare? Are our results similar to another laboratory’s? Did we all apply the results to the same FISH tests? Have any clinicians requested this data? Does any laboratory put this data on their reports? After a couple of years of MU, it’s time to review our findings.

Problematic probes, consumables and nomenclature
Have you used a FISH probe and routinely got cross-contamination? Or it just does not work? Finally found that great banding trypsin, only to find it discontinued? Just can’t find an example of the nomenclature for your unusual abnormality? Perhaps someone else is in the same boat. Maybe we can find solutions together.

Company Lectures

Cytogenetics into Cytogenomics: SNP Arrays Expand the Screening Capabilities of Genetics Laboratories

Vanessa Tyrrell - Asia Pacific and Japan Applied Markets Segment Manager

The Affymetrix Cytogenetics Solution

Oliver Vasilevski – Millennium Science