The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) convened its Industry Roundtable in October 2025, bringing together leaders from ASHG and major companies in human genetics and genomics, including Illumina, PacBio, BridgeBio, and GeneDx. The Roundtable serves as a collaborative forum to discuss challenges and opportunities in the field, review progress on ongoing initiatives, and identify non-competitive opportunities to support the genetics and genomics workforce in the future.
Workforce Trends & Opportunities
- ASHG highlighted the broad representation in its membership, demonstrating that research is increasingly being conducted in industry and in the clinician scientist community. This may be in part because the academic and government sectors recently faced headwinds.
- The group discussed the future of the genetic counselor profession and the potential impact that AI will have not only on these roles, but also on the broader workforce needed to support research and patients. Some challenges facing patients include varying levels of insurance coverage for genetic testing.
- The Roundtable identified a rising demand for smaller, focused meetings on emerging scientific and professional development topics.
Updates on Prior Initiatives
- Undiagnosed Hackathon: ASHG participated in the Mayo Clinic’s event, solving rare disease cases and planning future collaborations, including a possible mini hackathon at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
- Leadership Workshop: A new professional development program launched at the 2025 Annual Meeting, focusing on communications and project management.
- Virtual Symposia: ASHG’s ongoing series covers emerging topics; the December 2025 symposium focused on genetic diagnosis and rare diseases.
- Public Engagement: ASHG updated its Discover Genetics website and is developing new science communication resources, with recommendations to expand media outreach.
- Emerging Markets: The LATAM Scholars Pilot Program in Brazil was a success, with plans to expand globally and develop a “Global Leadership Academy” for early-career geneticists.
Emerging Topics & Future Directions
- AI in Genomics: The Roundtable discussed the disruptive impact of AI, emphasizing the need for faculty training, governance standards, and addressing bias and workforce changes.
- NIH & Funding: Advocacy efforts continue for robust NIH funding, balancing data sharing with biosecurity, and supporting policy changes through workshops and coalition efforts.
- Professional Standards: The group identified gaps in education and standards, especially in data sharing, multi-omics, and AI governance, recommending collaborations with organizations like GA4GH and MOHD.
- Commercialization: There is a call for more training in technology transfer and commercialization, with suggestions for pitch sessions and workshops.
ASHG is working to advance the Roundtable’s recommendations where possible. The Society welcomes new members, partnerships, and ideas to advance these initiatives and ensure the continued growth and impact of human genetics and genomics.