Gknowmix is constantly involved in many areas of genetic research in South Africa and internationally, with the aim of taking new genetic knowledge and bringing it into clinical practice.
Here you will find information about our involvement with other researchers and companies. Please click on the links on the left for information on previous GeneTalk Workshops and public lectures relating to genetic research, education and service delivery.
NEXT GENETALK EVENT: 5th Applied Genetics Workshop
Date & Time: 5 October 2010, from 14h00-19h00 (finger lunch from 13h00-14h00)
Venue: Van der Horst Building, Room 201, Stellenbosch Business School, Bellville, Cape Town
Registration fee: R 250.00 per person. Free attendance offered to registered healthcare practitioners who complete a 3-page research questionnaire to be provided after registration.
CPD accreditation: 1 Ethics and 4 Clinical points to be applied for
Enquiries: Please contact Maritha at 021 9389324 or E-mail: lyndall@sun.ac.za
Workshop Program:
14h00: Prof Johann Schneider - Introduction
14h30: Funding genetic testing in South Africa: what are the drivers? - Prof M de Klerk
15h15-16h00: The importance of multidisciplinary decision-making in breast cancer genetics - Dr E Myburgh
TEA/COFFEE BREAK
16h15: The predictive value and cost-effectiveness of breast cancer gene profiling - Dr R Pienaar
17h00: Pathology supported genetic testing: Ethical considerations - Prof MJ Kotze
17h45-19h00: Discussion
During the discussion session, Ronald van Klaveren will bring us up to speed with the latest research findings and applications in breast cancer transcriptional profiling done at Agendia in the Netherlands. BluePrint is one of the new additions to the MammaPrint service used to subtype breast cancer into Basal-type, Luminal-type and ERBB2-type intrinsic subgroups of tumours using advanced microarray analysis.
Please register online or contact lyndall@sun.ac.za (tel. 021 9389324) for the registration form.
Public lectures: Breast Cancer Awareness
Please invite your patients with breast cancer or a family history of breast cancer to attend the public lecture (no cost) by Professor Justus Apffelstaedt of the Tygerberg Hospital Breast Cancer Clinic - between 9h30-12h00 - at the above-mentioned venue. Some of our students and the clinicians involved in breast cancer genetic research and the Wellness Project (discussed below) will present their research aims and preliminary findings in short 15 minute slots. Topics include the impact of genetic variation on the metabolism of drugs used in cancer prevention like Tamoxifen, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and food substances - such as caffeine, alcohol and folate - that may modify the (recurrence) risk of breast cancer (including BRCA gene mutation carriers) and other chronic diseases of lifestyle. A CANSA trained counsellor, Lujane Nutt, will co-ordinate future research activities to be discussed after the lectures.
Prof Maritha Kotze was invited to present a talk on Breast Cancer Genetics and Well-being at the Vergelegen Medi-Clinic in Somerset-West on the 9th of October 2010.