Wednesday – Department of Genetics Research Colloquium: Kristy Crooks
2019-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)

Seminar: Beyond the Medical: Genetic Testing for Social Traits
2023-01-20 12:00 - 13:00
In traditional predictive genetic testing, single gene variants are analyzed to determine whether individuals are at high risk of developing disease. The vast majority of diseases, however, are polygenic—caused by many different genes. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) hold promise to predict risk for complex diseases like heart disease or diabetes by measuring the contribution of hundreds of genetic variants at once. Yet beyond prediction of medical outcomes, the realm of ‘sociogenomics’ is developing polygenic scores (PGS) measuring genetic contributions to social traits and behavioral factors, such as income, educational attainment, sexuality, and optimism. This presentation will present initial findings of a newly-funded NIH grant to study these complex scores.
Speakers:

Speakers:
Anya Prince, JD, Associate Profesor, College of Law, University of Iowa and Member, University of Iowa Genetics Cluster
Jean Cadigan, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Core Faculty Member, Center for Bioethics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sponsored by the UNC Center for Genomics & Society

Machine Learning Tools for Clinical Researchers: A Pragmatic Approach Series
2023-05-11

In Vitro Neural Platforms Workshop
2023-10-02 08:00 - 16:00 | Friday Conference Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27517, United States
As the use of in vitro neural platforms like brain organoids and microtissues increases, there is a lack of general knowledge about the limitations of the platforms. Bioethicists and scientists may also have concerns about the implications of the use of these systems in clinical and nonclinical research.
This workshop will facilitate a discussion of in vitro neural platforms development, organoid intelligence, and oversight of this technology. The plenary speaker is Dr. Katherine MacDuffie, Assistant Professor, Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington Medicine. Platform presentations will address:

Demystifying the Biology of Learning in In Vitro Neural Platforms
mAI vs. bAI: What is the relationship between Machine Artificial Intelligence and Biological Artificial Intelligence?
Defining Intelligence, Consciousness, and Sentience. How do we measure them?
Regulation of Neural Platforms: Current Practices and Predicting a Future Course

This is an in-person event; Click here to register.

Mini-Symposium- Cystic Fibrosis: Precision Treatment of a Rare Monogenic Disease
2023-10-04 15:00 - 17:00
Join us for a virtual Mini-Symposium and Forum on Wednesday 4, 2023 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
This event is hosted by UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care.
Click here to register and receive Zoom link.

UNC Employee Appreciation Day 2023: PHGS Table!
2023-10-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Carolina Union, 209 South Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States
Join the Division of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Compliance for Employee Appreciation Day on Friday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, at the Pit and Carolina Union to enjoy a day of entertainment, games, music, lunch and some good old Tar Heel fun!
Come visit the PPMH Precision Health Genetic Screening (PHGS) table to learn more about the initiative and for some PHGS swag!
For more information, see here.

University Research Week: UNC Open House Core Tours- GENYSIS Table!
2023-10-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Genetic Medicine Building (GMB), 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States
The Office of Research Technologies and Office of Sponsored Programs are coordinating tours and open houses for over 40 of UNC’s fantastic core facilities representing a wide breadth of technologies and services. Contact RCD@unc.edu for more info on available core services.
**Registration is NOT required
At this event, you will:

Meet core directors and staff
View available core instrumentation
Learn about new and upcoming core events

For tour schedules, locations, and more information see here.

While GENYSIS will not have a core tour, please visit the GENYSIS table on Wednesday, October 25th from 2pm-4pm in the Genetic Medicine Building (GMB) Atrium for some special treats and to learn more about the core!

Empowering trust: Insights from Community Engagement Initiatives
2023-11-08 16:00 - 17:15
Carolina Seminar Series theme: Science meets society at the intersection between precision medicine and justice, equity, and inclusion
Seminar title: Empowering trust: Insights from Community Engagement Initiatives
Virtual Event
Wednesday November 8th, 2023, 4:00pm-5:15pm
Register here: go.unc.edu/EmpoweringTrust
Event Details:
Speaker: Mya Roberson, MSPH, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, UNC-Chapel Hill
Panelists: Laura Crandon, Patient Advocate, Founder, Touch4Life
Langston Harrison, Immunization Equity Health Educator, NC Department of Health and Human Services
Julianne O’Daniel, Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, UNC-Chapel Hill
Erin Song, Member, Age-Based Genomic Screening Community Research Board
Community engagement continues to be a critical component in genomic medicine and precision health research where the overall goal is to improve health outcomes of communities. The translation of findings into practice and implementation depends heavily on stakeholder engagement throughout the research process. In this seminar session, we will explore insights gained from various engagement strategies and how appropriate incorporation of community stakeholders’ insights can improve the relevance and usefulness of genomic medicine and precision health research. Speakers and panelists will share their perspectives on community engagement, discuss strategies to address the gaps that remain, and how to address the challenge of hesitancy among some communities.

Transdisciplinary Conference For Future Leaders In Precision Public Health
2023-11-09 10:00 - 17:30, 2023-11-16 15:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
FREE virtual event!
Presented by the Precision Public Health Network
Poster Abstracts due September 1st, 2023
For direct link with more information and registration, click here.
2023 Theme: Applying Implementation Science to Precision Public Health
November 9th: (10AM-5:30PM EST)

Plenary Sessions by Dr. Bruce Korf and Dr. Rachel Shelton
Expert Presentations by Dr. Nora Pashayan, Dr. John Mathers, Dr. Michael Kosorok, Dr. Sarah Knerr, Dr. Deborah Cragun, and Dr. Stephanie Best
Virtual Poster Session

November 16th: (3PM-6PM EST)

Interactive Workshop on Research Priorities for Precision Public Health

Precision Medicine Research and Novel Clinical Offerings: Ensuring Equitable Impact Through Implementation Science
2023-12-06 16:00 - 17:15
Carolina Seminar Series theme: Science meets society at the intersection between precision medicine and justice, equity, and inclusion
Seminar title: Precision Medicine Research and Novel Clinical Offerings: Ensuring Equitable Impact Through Implementation Science
Virtual Event
Wednesday December 6th, 2023, 4:00pm-5:15pm
Register here
Event Details:
Speakers: Caitlin Allen, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Medical University of South Carolina
Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, PhD, RD
Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill
As technologies and health interventions expand at a rapid rate in healthcare, many providers and patients desire quick and efficient incorporation of these new offerings in to practice. The field of implementation science can be critical in studying the barriers and facilitators to bring options previously available only in the research realm to the clinic. The design and development of health interventions are increasingly informed by implementation science theories, models, and frameworks to emphasize diverse reach and improve adoption and increase health equity in underserved and marginalized communities. By testing new clinical offerings with implementation science methodologies, we can improve the quality of health practices for all patients while promoting equity and inclusion and ensuring that the availability of novel clinical offerings does not exacerbate existing health disparities.

Live Webinar for Continuing Education Credit: Integrating Germline Pharmacogenomic Testing into Oncology Care
2024-02-21 15:55 - 17:00
Webinar Description
Patients undergoing treatment for cancer utilize many medications that have relevant drug-gene interactions. The use of pharmacogenomic testing can assist with drug selection, drug dosing, and the development of personalized medication monitoring plans. Amber Cipriani, PharmD, BCOP, will describe some common examples of drug-gene interactions relevant to oncology. She will also discuss current efforts to expand the use of pharmacogenomic testing into current clinical practice.
Learning Objectives

Discuss examples of pharmacogenomic relationships for oncology medications
Identify resources to aid in interpretation and application of pharmacogenomic tests
Describe clinical workflows that integrate pharmacogenomic testing

Register here

Genetics-in-a-Day: Careers from the Bench to the Bedside
2024-03-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Mary Townes Science Building, NCCU campus, 1900 Concord St, Durham, NC, 27707, United States
Saturday March 23, 2024, 10am-2pm
Location: Mary Townes Science Building, NCCU campus
Lunch provided with registration.
The UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care and North Carolina Central University present a 1-day workshop for undergraduate students. The goals of the workshop are to 1) introduce NCCU undergraduate students to applications of genetics & genomics; 2) increase students’ awareness about potential careers in the field; and 3) highlight opportunities for internships and further training at UNC. The 4-hour workshop will consist of concurrent breakout sessions featuring applications of genomics, and during lunch, students will have the opportunity to chat with career professionals in several related fields. The workshop will wrap up with a joint session to discuss takeaways, future training opportunities, and Q&A with panelists from various careers.

TENTATIVE AGENDA
1. Welcome & Introductions – 10:00-10:20am
Greetings from:
Dean of the College of Health & Sciences (NCCU) – Dr. Mohammad Ahmed
Chair of the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (NCCU) – Dr. Veronica Nwosu
Distinguished Professor & Director of PPMH (UNC) – Dr. Jonathan S. Berg
Workshop overview – 10:20-10:30am

2. Breakout room interactive discussions (Round I) – 10:30-10:55am and 11:00-11:25am

Topic Areas – Session I

Room #

Presenter(s)

Clinical Genetic Interpretation

Shruthi Mohan

Genetics & the Law

Brenda Raddix-Smalls

Computational Biology

Markia Smith

Genes, Health, and Disease

Courtney Thaxton

Community Engagement for Health Equity

Laura Milko

3. LUNCH: Open discussion with career professionals -11:30am – 12:15pm

Career Fields

Lunch table career professional facilitator(s)

Genetic Counseling  (2)

Julianne O’Daniel & Dara McDougal

Grad students/Med students/Postdocs

Jahnelle Jackson & Essence Kendall

Undergrad trainees

Justine Siew

Clinician: Nephrology & Ethnic Disparities

Clinician: Epilepsy Neurogenetics

Keisha Gibson & Senyene Hunter

Epigenetics (Genes + Environment)

Folami Ideraabdullah

Genetic Epidemiology

Jessica Hunter

4. Breakout room interactive discussions (Round II) – 12:15-12:40pm and 12:45-1:10pm

Topic Areas – Session II

Room #

Presenter(s)

Genetic Diagnostics

Tirupapuliyur Damodaran

AI & Genomics

Keriayn Smith

Genetic Testing

Jenny Goldstein

Clinical Genomic Research

Tam Sneddon

Science Communication

Sabrina Powell

5. General Discussion, Career Panel Q&A, and training opportunities – 1:10-1:50pm

6. Wrap-up – 1:50-2:00pm

PRESENTERS AND FACILITATORS
Markia Smith, PhD. Computational biologist, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
Markia Smith is a computational biologist at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, driven by her overarching goal to directly impact and enhance clinical outcomes through omics analyses and Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI). Leveraging her expertise in cancer genetics/genomics, computational biology, and epidemiology, her current role involves determining the effects of genomic alterations and developing/discovering genomic determinants of response therapy.
Markia earned her PhD in Pathobiology and Translational Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, building upon her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Chinese Studies from the University of Delaware. Under the mentorship of Drs. Katherine A. Hoadley and Melissa A. Troester, her research focused on employing integrative genomic approaches to investigate genetic and environmental determinants of cancer, with a particular emphasis on understanding health disparities in historically marginalized populations.
Beyond her scientific endeavors, Markia is deeply committed to mentoring students in the STEM field, especially within the realms of health and disability equity. Outside of her professional pursuits, Markia is a passionate foodie, traveler, and avid lifter, finding joy in exploring new cuisines, cultures, and fitness routines.

Click here to register.
Questions? Email precisionmedicine@med.unc.edu

Download event flyer.

Ensuring Fairness: At the Crossroads of Equity and Economic Considerations in Precision Medicine
2024-03-26 12:00 - 13:00
Carolina Seminar Series theme: Science meets society at the intersection between precision medicine and justice, equity, and inclusion
Seminar title: Ensuring Fairness: At the Crossroads of Equity and Economic Considerations in Precision Medicine
Virtual Event
Tuesday March 26th, 2024, 12:00pm-1:15pm
Register here
Event Details:
Featured Speaker: Kate Saylor, PhD
Fellow, Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Genetics and Genomics
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Efforts to expand access to genomic health and precision medicine have resulted in a proliferation of screening programs for healthy adult populations across the nation. Issues of fairness and equity abound in medicine and are a critical component of assessing implementation of these genomic health and precision medicine efforts. But how can programs such as genomic screening ensure equitable access within a healthcare system that is already characterized by massive health disparities and barriers to equitable access? When and how should cost-effectiveness be considered when designing screening programs and their offerings? How can cost-effectiveness models incorporate justice, equity and inclusion? In this seminar session, we will explore these questions and the overall relationship between equity and economic considerations in precision medicine.

Confronting Bias in Medical Algorithms at UNC Health
2024-04-17 12:00 - 13:15
Carolina Seminar Series theme: Science meets society at the intersection between precision medicine and justice, equity, and inclusion
Seminar title: Confronting Bias in Medical Algorithms at UNC Health
In-person Event
Wednesday April 17th, 2024, 12:00pm-1:15pm
Register here before April 14th
To place a lunch order, please register by Friday, April 12th!
Event Details:
Featured Speakers: Keisha L. Gibson, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
Chief, Pediatric Nephrology Division, UNC School of Medicine
Jennifer Goralski, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care Medicine
Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, UNC School of Medicine
Carl Seashore, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, UNC School of Medicine
This seminar features three UNC faculty who will offer their perspectives on bias in medical algorithms:
Dr. Gibson, a nephrologist, will discuss race corrections for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Dr. Goralski, Pulmonary/Critical Care, will discuss bias in pulse oximeter and pulmonology function tests.
Dr. Seashore, Associate Chief Medical Informatics Officer for UNC Health, will discuss how UNC Health is approaching Al for clinical use, particularly when bias is “baked-in” to Epic@UNC.

Unlocking Equity: Disability Inclusion in Precision Medicine Research
2024-05-10 12:00 - 13:15
Carolina Seminar Series theme: Science meets society at the intersection between precision medicine and justice, equity, and inclusion
Seminar title: Unlocking Equity: Disability Inclusion in Precision Medicine Research
Virtual Event
Friday May 10th, 2024, 12:00pm-1:15pm
Register here
Event Details:
Featured Speakers: Megan Morris, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor, University of Colorado, Anschutz
Founder/ Director, Disability Equity Collaborative
Kara Ayers, PhD
Associate Director, University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
(UC UCEDD)
Despite comprising about 27% of the US population, the disability community has remained largely absent from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in precision medicine and genomics research. Research suggests that individuals with disabilities are willing to participate in precision medicine research, yet this group continues to be underrepresented. Reasons for this absence range from inaccessible research protocols (i.e. overly narrow inclusion and exclusion criteria) to the perception that it is too burdensome to recruit or accommodate disabled participants. Research can also be subject to ableism, which discourages marginalized communities from potential research partnerships. If not designed and communicated in ways that respect the complexity and diversity of human genetic variation, identities, and experiences, research risks reifying prejudices that marginalize those it hopes to benefit. This seminar will explore insights into various aspects of disability inclusion within precision medicine and genomics research with a lens on equity, accessibility, participation, and justice.

Working Towards Justice and Genetic Health Literacy in Clinical Genomics
2024-05-22 11:00 - 12:30
Carolina Seminar Series theme: Science meets society at the intersection between precision medicine and justice, equity, and inclusion
Seminar title: Working Towards Justice and Genetic Health Literacy in Clinical Genomics
Virtual Event
Wednesday May 22nd, 2024, 11:00am-12:30pm
Register here
Event Details:
Featured Speakers: Dr. Janeth Sanchez, PhD, MPH
Program Director for Health Equity at National Institutes of Health
Dr. Janina Jeff, PhD, MS
Bioinformatics Scientist at Illumina
Host of In Those Genes Podcast
Join us for a seminar and panel about working towards justice & genetic health literacy in clinical genomics and the complexity of supporting informed decision making by members of vulnerable or marginalized groups.

Research at UNC with All of Us Data – Getting Started (Workshop #1 of 3)
2024-09-05 11:30 - 13:00
All Of Us is an NIH-supported research program that brings together academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and community partners to gain deeper insights into human health via data science. With an emphasis on representing diverse US populations, AllOfUs provides access to clinical, genetic, wearables, and personal survey data for over 250K patients in a secure, cloud-hosted analytics environment known as the Researcher Workbench. By collecting such comprehensive health information into a single platform, the program seeks to improve medical research and advance personalized medicine for all.
The Raffield Lab, TISLab, and UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care (PPMH) present a workshop series in fall 2024 to introduce researchers, clinicians, faculty, staff, and students at UNC to both the Researcher Workbench and All Of Us data. Join us to get acquainted this powerful resource and connect with colleagues with similar interests.

Workshop 1 – Thursday September 5, 2024, 11:30am-1:00pm; lunch provided. In-person.

What is All of Us

What data is available

Controlled vs. Registered tier

Data types & workspaces for each data type

Example projects at UNC using All of Us data

Developing project ideas (hands-on)

Financing your All of Us research

Recommended All of Us training to complete on your own before next workshop

Workshop 2 – Thursday October 3, 2024, 12:00-3:00pm; lunch provided. In-person.

How to navigate data interfaces, what kinds of questions can be asked, limitations of data

Cohort building

EHR language (SNOMED etc.)

Cleaning data

Project presentations from researchers at UNC

Establishing interest in working groups with other researchers at UNC

Resources available

Workshop 3 – Thursday October 17, 2024, 11:00am-12:00pm. Virtual.

Working groups

Office hours for project assistance

Click here to register for workshop 1
Questions? Email sabrina_powell@med.unc.edu.

Research at UNC with All of Us Data – Getting Started (Workshop #2 of 3)
2024-10-03 12:00 - 15:00
All Of Us is an NIH-supported research program that brings together academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and community partners to gain deeper insights into human health via data science. With an emphasis on representing diverse US populations, AllOfUs provides access to clinical, genetic, wearables, and personal survey data for over 250K patients in a secure, cloud-hosted analytics environment known as the Researcher Workbench. By collecting such comprehensive health information into a single platform, the program seeks to improve medical research and advance personalized medicine for all.
The Raffield Lab, TISLab, and UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care (PPMH) present a workshop series in fall 2024 to introduce researchers, clinicians, faculty, staff, and students at UNC to both the Researcher Workbench and All Of Us data. Join us to get acquainted this powerful resource and connect with colleagues with similar interests.

Workshop 1 – Thursday September 5, 2024, 11:30am-1:00pm; lunch provided. In-person.

What is All of Us

What data is available

Controlled vs. Registered tier

Data types & workspaces for each data type

Example projects at UNC using All of Us data

Developing project ideas (hands-on)

Financing your All of Us research

Recommended All of Us training to complete on your own before next workshop

Workshop 2 – Thursday October 3, 2024, 12:00-3:00pm; lunch provided. In-person.

How to navigate data interfaces, what kinds of questions can be asked, limitations of data

Cohort building

EHR language (SNOMED etc.)

Cleaning data

Project presentations from researchers at UNC

Establishing interest in working groups with other researchers at UNC

Resources available

Workshop 3 – Thursday October 17, 2024, 11:00am-12:00pm. Virtual.

Working groups

Office hours for project assistance

Questions? Email sabrina_powell@med.unc.edu.

Research at UNC with All of Us Data – Getting Started (Workshop #3 of 3)
2024-10-17 11:00 - 12:00

Symposium - Beyond the Horizon: The Changing Landscape of Rare Disease Treatments
2025-02-28 14:00 - 17:00 | MacNider Hall 321, 333 S Columbia St, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States

Research at UNC with All of Us Data – Getting Started (workshop 1 of 3)
2025-04-17 12:30 - 14:00 | Mary Ellen Jones 3116, 116 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States

Genetics-in-a-Day 2025: Careers from the Bench to the Bedside
2025-04-26 10:00 - 16:00 | Mary Townes Science Building, NCCU campus, 1900 Concord St, Durham, NC, 27707, United States
Registration now open!
Saturday April 26, 2025, 10:00am-4:00pm
Location: Mary Townes Science Building, NCCU campus, Durham NC
Lunch provided with registration.
The UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care’s PARADIGM initiative and the North Carolina Central University Biological & Biomedical Sciences Department present a 1-day career workshop for undergraduate students. The goals of the workshop are to 1) introduce NCCU undergraduates and local community college students to applications of genetics & genomics; 2) increase students’ awareness about potential careers in the field; and 3) highlight opportunities for internships and further training at area institutions. The workshop will consist of concurrent breakout sessions featuring applications of genomics, a poster session, panel discussion, and during lunch students will have the opportunity to chat with career professionals in several related fields.

More information about speakers and agenda will be coming soon.
Click here to register.
Questions? Email precisionmedicine@med.unc.edu

Research at UNC with All of Us Data – Getting Started (workshop 2 of 3)
2025-05-08 12:30 - 14:30 | Mary Ellen Jones 3116, 116 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, United States

Research at UNC with All of Us Data – Getting Started (workshop 3 of 3)
2025-05-29 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
