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The first Advances in Precision Medicine (APM2021) conference will focus on “Epigenetics and Precision Medicine” to highlight exciting recent developments in the field of epigenetics related to clinical decision making, diagnosis, and treatment. It will include keynote lectures from renowned international experts, short selected talks from early career researchers, and an engaging poster session. It will also showcase epigenetics research conducted in Qatar.
Chair’s Welcome message
It is our pleasure to invite you to the first Advances in Precision Medicine (APM) conference, which will be held at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Education City, Qatar from November 29 to December 01, 2021.
The College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) at HBKU and the Qatar Genome Program are delighted to organize the first of this conference series that will put the limelight on different research areas related to the development and implementation of precision medicine approaches in diagnosis and treatment.
The first APM meeting, “Epigenetics and Precision Medicine”, focuses on the diverse epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to disease development and how they can be targeted for personalized therapy. Epigenetics is a rapidly evolving research area, which links environmental exposures, be it the cellular microenvironment or our living conditions, to inheritable changes of cell states that are potentially inheritable through generations. For example, oxidative stress has been linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases. The three-day program covers the role of epigenetics in a diverse set of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and cancer, it will also introduce the epigenetic changes occurring during aging and discuss the transgenerational heritability of these epigenetic marks.
The conference is aimed at local and international researchers and clinicians. It includes internationally recognized keynote speakers, talks from early-career scientists, and an interactive poster session.
Participants are also invited to a celebratory dinner, and a social event introducing them to Qatar’s unique culture and sights.
We look forward to welcoming you to Qatar at the end of 2021.
Borbala Mifsud
On behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee
Nady El Hajj
Ehsan Pourkarimi
Judith Zaugg
Gioacchino Natoli
Dean’s Welcome Message
Welcome to the inaugural “Advances in Precision Medicine” (APM), conference held at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Education City, in Qatar. The goal of this conference is to spur development in the field of precision medicine by bringing together, in an interactive and collaborative assembly, world-class educators, researchers, and clinicians. An overarching aim is to provide a platform for information exchange among professionals to foster advancements in clinical and therapeutic applications of precision medicine to society.
This inaugural meeting is exciting in that it addresses advances in groundbreaking scientific discoveries within a rapidly advancing field of epigenetics. Exchange of information and innovative ideas are central to progress in precision medicine clinical care both regionally and globally. We are pleased that the organizers of this conference involve a collaboration between the College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) at HBKU, a leader in educational and research training within genomics and precision medicine, the internationally recognized Qatar Genome Program, and outstanding international partners from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the European Institute of Oncology.
Again, welcome to the conference!
Dr. Edward Stuenkel
Dean of College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS)
HBKU
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Organizers
About
The first Advances in Precision Medicine (APM2021) conference will focus on “Epigenetics and Precision Medicine” to highlight exciting recent developments in the field of epigenetics related to clinical decision making, diagnosis, and treatment. It will include keynote lectures from renowned international experts, short selected talks from early career researchers, and an engaging poster session. It will also showcase epigenetics research conducted in Qatar.
APM2021 will cover epigenetics research in a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, autoimmune and neurological diseases, and will address epigenetics mechanisms involved in aging and transgenerational inheritance of environmental effects.
The conference will take place in the College of Islamic Studies (CIS), at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), which has been the venue of several international conferences, allowing participants to become familiar with the unique environment of Doha’s Education City.
About Hamad Bin Khalifa University
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF), was founded in 2010 to continue fulfilling QF’s vision of unlocking human potential. A homegrown research and graduate studies, the university acts as a catalyst for positive transformation in Qatar and the region while having a global impact.
Located within Education City, HBKU seeks to provide unparalleled opportunities where inquiry and discovery are integral to teaching and learning at all levels utilizing a multidisciplinary approach across all focus areas.
HBKU is committed to actively contribute to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030 by building and cultivating human capacity through an enriching academic experience and an innovative research ecosystem. Through applying creativity to knowledge, students will have the opportunity to discover innovative solutions that are locally relevant and have a global impact.
At HBKU our students, faculty, staff, partners, and leadership all share a common belief in the power of higher education and research to make a positive impact on the development of nations.
More information at www.hbku.edu.qa
About Qatar Genome
Qatar Genome Programme – part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development, and Innovation – is a national program generating large databases that combine whole genome sequencing and other omics data from the Qatari population, enabling researchers to make breakthrough discoveries and support the future direction of healthcare in Qatar.
More information at www.qatargenome.org.qa
About Education City
Qatar Foundation’s flagship initiative is a campus of more than 12 square kilometers that hosts branch campuses of some of the world's leading educational institutes, a homegrown university, and other research, scholastic, and community centers. Together, these institutes make Education City a unique model of academic and research excellence, pioneering a new approach to multidisciplinary, global education and enabling breakthroughs that benefit Qatar and the rest of the world.
Total number of students across our universities and schools: 8,000+
Universities located in Education City: 9
Schools as part of our pre-university education network: 11
More information at https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city
About Qatar
Qatar has been an independent sovereign state since 1971. Qatar comprises an 11,500 square kilometer peninsula extending northwards into the Arabian Gulf. It has 563 km of uninterrupted coastline. The country’s population stands at 2.69 million and its capital city is Doha.
Local time is GMT/UCT + 3 hours. There are no daylight savings adjustments.
Qatar has a desert climate with year-round sunshine, very hot summers and mild winters. Mean monthly temperatures range from 17°C in January to 36°C in July, sometimes reaching highs of 40°C+ during the summer. Rain is infrequent, falling in brief showers mainly in winter.
Capital: Doha
Population: 2.69 million
Area: 11,500 sq. km
Language: Arabic
Religion: Islam
Currency: Riyal
Power Connection: The power plugs and sockets are of type D and G. The standard voltage is 240 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
More information at https://www.visitqatar.qa
Submission
We welcome abstract submissions related, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Epigenetics of Aging
- Epigenetics in Obesity and Diabetes
- Epigenetics of Cardiovascular Diseases
- Epigenetic Mechanisms Involved in Cancer
- Epigenetics Contribution to Neurological Disorders
- Epigenetics in Immunology and Autoimmune Diseases
- Epigenetics and Transgenerational Inheritance
- Epigenetics in Diagnostics
- Epigenetic Treatments
- Pharmacoepigenetics
- Integration of Genetic and Epigenetic Information for Disease
- Epigenetic Factors in COVID19
- Epigenome-Wide Association Studies (EWAS)
Guidelines for Abstract Submission
- Abstract text should not exceed 300 words.
- Submitted abstracts must include a title, author names, and affiliations.
- Tables or graphics should not be included in the abstract.
- The main language for abstract submission is English.
Submission Procedures
Abstracts should be submitted online via the conference management system EASYCHAIR. Please note that abstracts can be programmed for the poster or oral presentation sessions. The authors have to register on EASYCHAIR. Afterward, they can upload their abstract(s) by logging into the “Advances in Precision Medicine” conference page on EASYCHAIR and pressing the "make a new submission" link.
Authors can always check the status of their submissions online using EASYCHAIR.
Abstract submission for poster presentations is still open, deadline: November 15, 2021
Abstract Review Process
The organizing committee will evaluate all submitted abstracts before October 31, 2021. The submitting author will be notified via email and/or on EASYCHAIR on whether the abstract has been accepted for a poster or oral presentation. Please indicate your preference and note that only eight abstracts will be accepted for a short talk (oral presentation) during the conference sessions, all other accepted abstracts will be presented as posters. Upon acceptance, the first author and/or senior author of the abstract will have to attend the Advances in Precision Medicine conference to present the abstract.
General Information for Abstract Submission
- Please note that a first author can be selected to present one talk only during the conference.
- There is no limit to the number of abstracts you can co-author.
- Abstracts used for advertising products or marketing purposes will be rejected.
Support
If you have any questions during the submission process, please click here.
Registration
All attendees to this conference, including speakers and poster presenters, are required to register.
If you submitted an abstract and would like to be considered for a travel fellowship, please click here.
Kindly be reminded that due to COVID19-related safety precautions, we only have a limited number of spots available for physical attendance. We advise that you wait for a confirmation before arranging your travel itinerary.
As the conference will be held in a hybrid format, please choose the attendance link below corresponding to whether you wish to participate Physically or Virtually.