September 2019

As ASHG begins to implement its new Vision and Strategic Plan, there is a renewed focus on driving the global reach and impact of human genetics and genomics research. Including geneticists from around the world in the Society enhances our sense of community, strengthens the productive international collaborations already in place, and helps accurately reflect the diversity of the genetics and genomics field.

Building on current activities, including international representation in Society leadership and committees, ASHG is expanding its support of the developing country community. Earlier this year, the Society announced the expansion of the Developing Country Awards Program to include 25 awardees from Africa, supported by NHGRI, the H3Africa consortium, and ASHG. That brought the total number of Developing Country Awardees for the ASHG 2019 Annual Meeting to 37.

Also this year, ASHG is again a proud sponsor of the NHGRI International Summit in Human Genetics and Genomics.  The program brings researchers from developing countries to NIH for one month of in-person training to expand their knowledge base, infrastructure, systems and technologies in genetics and genomics. The Summit helps them to understand the prevalence and basis of genetic diseases in their nations and to address these public health challenges.

ASHG is now pleased to announce new reduced dues rates for members living in Developing Countries, beginning with 2020 membership. This dues structure will help increase ASHG’s global community of members as well as allow geneticists around the world access to resources that will help serve the growing worldwide profession.

The dues structure is based on the World Bank Developing Country categories.

• Members living and working in Category 1 Nations, defined as World Bank “low-income economies,” shall pay 10% of the dues for the appropriate membership category.
• Members living and working in Category 2 Nations, defined as World Bank “lower-middle income economies,” shall pay 25% of the dues for the appropriate membership category.
• Members living and working in Category 3 Nations, defined as World Bank “upper-middle income economies,” shall pay 50% of the dues for the appropriate membership category.

ASHG is committed to ensuring that membership is affordable to all. “The Society hopes that by removing the economic barriers that impede people in developing countries from being a part of the ASHG community, we will enhance the participation and visibility of genetics and genomics professionals worldwide,” said Anthony Wynshaw-Boris, ASHG President-elect.

ASHG also continues to value its partnerships with other international genetics societies. These include support of the upcoming International Congress of Human Genetics in Cape Town, South Africa from March 7-11, 2021; ASHG’s ongoing Building Bridges session series with the European Society of Human Genetics, now in its sixth year; and a talk by ASHG President Leslie Biesecker at the upcoming meeting of the Japan Society of Human Genetics.

Congratulations to 2019 Developing Country Awardees

ASHG, in partnership with PerkinElmer Genomics, is providing up to 12 scholarships to help defray the costs of airfare, hotel, meals, and registration for the 2019 meeting.

This year, ASHG is also partnering with NHGRI and H3Africa to add up to 25 additional awards to individuals living in countries in Africa categorized by the World Bank as having low-income or lower-middle-income economies, with priority given to trainees and early- to mid-career investigators. Below are this year’s awardees.