Coming together as a global genomics community: highlights from GA4GH 12th Plenary

20 Sep 2024

The global genomics community convened in Melbourne, Australia and online for the GA4GH 12th Plenary meeting, where participants engaged in collaborative workshopping, discussed equity and inclusion in the field of genomics, and explored emerging technologies to scale genomic data sharing and advance human health.

By Jaclyn Estrin, GA4GH Science Writer

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) community gathered for its 12th annual Plenary meeting this week in Melbourne, Australia and online.

Researchers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and members of the broader genomics and health community came together for a week of collaborative workshops, identification of shared challenges, and discussion of best practices to advance responsible genomic and health data sharing. Over 650 people from 44 countries participated in the event, both in-person in Melbourne, Australia, and virtually.

GA4GH has a mission of accelerating progress in human health by establishing a shared global approach to responsible, broad, and democratised use of genomic and health data.

Genomic data — the information gathered through the study of an individual’s DNA — can inform doctors and healthcare professionals about potential underlying causes of genetic diseases to deliver tailored medical care. GA4GH’s goal is to foster the development of standards and policies that enable responsible genomic and health data sharing to bridge geographic and institutional silos and work towards a future where global communities can benefit from advancements in genomics.

GA4GH hosted its twelfth annual Plenary meeting this week with a special focus on advancing genomic and clinical data sharing across diverse industries, disciplines, and communities around the world. The event was a success, thanks in large part to the meeting co-host, Australian Genomics. Australian Genomics, a national collaboration supporting the translation of genomic research into clinical practice, provided critical on-the-ground support and expertise to bring the conference to life in Melbourne. A programme committee, co-chaired by Tiffany Boughtwood, Managing Director of Australian Genomics, and Oliver Hofmann, Professor at the University of Melbourne, was instrumental in crafting a meaningful event.

Australian Genomics Lead Professor Kathryn North said she was delighted that so many delegates came to Australia for the first GA4GH Plenary held in the southern hemisphere.

“Australia is at the forefront of so much that is happening in genomic medicine, and to have such an esteemed group of international leaders come here can only strengthen our global partnerships,” North said.  

“We are very excited to have GA4GH in this region,” said Boughtwood, in her 12th Plenary opening remarks. “It is great to see the diverse crowd here,” she continued. “I think that is a real testament to the importance of the conversations we are having this week and the need for a collaborative approach to the implementation of health genomics.”

The meeting kicked off with two days of productive working sessions during GA4GH September Connect. Connect sessions are designed for active contributors to collaborate on product development and other areas of shared interest. 

Hofmann said, “I am glad to see the strong in-person attendance during both Connect and Plenary. By hosting the GA4GH meeting in the southern hemisphere for the first time, we were able to engage with new and different projects. There is a strong case for future GA4GH meetings in new locations to bridge gaps in our standards and implementations.”

A full meeting report for September Connect and Plenary will be released in the coming weeks, summarising key takeaways and action items that were identified in each session. Video recordings and meeting minutes for all sessions will be available on the GA4GH website.

Building off of the momentum of a fruitful Connect meeting, Plenary began with an acknowledgement and performance by Djirri Djirri Cultural dancer Kiera Hunter, a member of the Traditional Owners of Narrm (Melbourne), the Wurunderji Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nations.

Plenary was headlined by four keynote speakers: Sue Hill (National Health Service England, UK), Phillip Wilcox (University of Otago, Aotearoa/New Zealand), Alex Brown (Telethon Kids Institute and the Australian National University, Australia), and Herawati Sudoyo (Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Indonesia).

A resounding theme of Plenary was the importance of building equity and inclusion in the field of genomics, with several talks acknowledging the important role of Indigenous genomics. An additional imperative of community-driven genomics, particularly in underrepresented communities, was discussed to improve access, cultivate dialogue, and deliver culturally and contextually appropriate health care that meets the needs of local patients.

The Plenary meeting also addressed possibilities to leverage and explore emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to drive advancements in genomics. Technological advancements that embed considerations about equity and inclusivity can help to promote standardised, secure, and responsible data sharing.

The GA4GH National Initiatives Forum (NIF) is working to realise this goal through a network of experts engaged in national genomic initiatives. The NIF meeting was held at the end of the week, highlighting lessons learned from national initiatives and encouraging discussion around potential future projects. Participants exchanged ideas about sharing data at scale, integrating clinical genomics into routine practice, and engaging the public, participants, and professionals in genomics newborn screening initiatives.

Together, Connect, Plenary, and NIF provided a valuable convening point for people, institutions, and initiatives around the world to discuss a harmonised approach to genomic and health data sharing. 

The GA4GH community will continue honing the strategies and products that align with the organisation’s vision through regular Work Stream and Product team meetings throughout the year. GA4GH welcomes those in genomics and related fields to join the organisation to develop standards and products, share feedback, and engage in collective problem solving. The GA4GH website has more information on how to get involved, and all those interested are encouraged to subscribe to the organisation’s weekly newsletter.

Heidi Rehm, Chair of GA4GH, said, “There is a strong value in coming together as a global genomics community. The work we do inherently benefits from collaborative exchange of knowledge. Events like 12th Plenary provide an important point of connection linking people from communities around the world and leveraging a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and expertise.”

The community can look forward to gathering again in 2025 at the GA4GH Connect meeting (1 to 4 April), co-hosted by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, USA, and 13th Plenary (22 to 26 September), co-hosted by Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) in Uppsala, Sweden.

Day 1 Livestream

Day 2 Livestream

Photo Credits: Jaclyn Ryan, Ontario Conference Management Group, Inc. 

Amendment: A previous version of this press release had stated that the dates of 13th Plenary were 15 to 19 September. The dates of 13th Plenary are now confirmed to be 22 to 26 September in Uppsala, Sweden.

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A special thank you to the 12th Plenary programme committee members: Tiffany Boughtwood (Programme Committee Co-Chair; Australian Genomics), Oliver Hofmann (Programme Committee Co-Chair; University of Melbourne), Shih Wee Seow (PRECISE), Louise Lyons (Telethon Kids Institute), Kahlil Lawless (Illumina), Karen Miga (University of California, Santa Cruz), Cameron MacPherson (Roche), Kenjiro Kosaki (Keio University), and Jonathan Tedds (ELIXIR).

Thank you to the generous funders and sponsors who helped to make GA4GH 12th Plenary possible.