What is the Partnership Program?

The American Society of Human Genetics and the Genetic Alliance have created a new program which will support 10-15 advocacy organization leaders to attend the ASHG Annual Meetings. This year the meeting will be held at the Ernst N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana October 9-13. This unprecedented opportunity will educate advocacy leaders in the fields of genetics, genomics, and related areas, as well as empower them to be proactive supporters of research, funding, cohort development, and policies that support genetic research and services.

Benefits to Advocates

Advocates will gather for daily briefings to hear several scientists on the Program Committee give an informal, five minute verbal impression of what they considered important or significant during that day. Advocates will be able to ask questions about any poster or talk, and the scientists will answer them to the best of their ability (advocates will be trained to think broadly, asking questions about basic premises and not minute details.)

Advocates receive complimentary registration to the meeting. Additionally, they will have access to the ASHG President, Vice President and research faculty, as well as the Genetic Alliance President, Vice President, and board members. They also have the opportunity to interact with other advocates who have a special interest in research. Genetic Alliance and American Society of Human Genetics provide support for the advocates before, during, and after the meeting.

Here is an excerpt from comments by an advocate who participated in the program last year:

“I C*A*N*N*O*T say enough about this I*N*C*R*E*D*I*B*L*E opportunity!

If you can, bring the most science-educated advocate in your group. We got a lot out of the Press Briefings, where we were able to listen to and talk to the presenter in a round-table discussion. It was fantastic! We were able to make a lot of very important contacts (this is an understatement).

Benefits to ASHG members

Researchers will talk to advocates who are interested in their particular research area, which will give scientists a deeper appreciation for their work. In addition, their work will be disseminated to a broader representative population. Partnerships can develop between advocates and researchers. Most of all, these researchers will know that there is a strong voice out there supporting policy critical to advancing genetic research.

For additional information about the Advocate Partnership Program, please contact Hanaa Rifaey (hrifaey@geneticalliance.org). Applications must be completed by August 31, 2006.