Human Genome Variation Society

(formerly HUGO-Mutation Database Initative)

Newsletter No. 3

July 2002

(Previous HUGO-MDI newsletters may be found on our website at: www.genomic.unimelb.edu.au/hgvs/newsletters.html, these may be helpful for new members to familiarize themselves with our projects).

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

HGVS NEWS

Office update

Notice of Annual General Meeting, Baltimore, 15 October

Call for Abstracts- Baltimore Scientific Meeting, 15 October

CORRESPONDENCE

RettBASE; MECP2 Mutation Database

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

The IARC TP53 Database

Arab Genetic Disease Database (AGDDB)

GeneTests-GeneClinics

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

HGVS Scientific & Annual General Meeting, 15 Oct., 2002, Baltimore, U.S.A

HGVS Scientific Meeting, 27 Apr. 2003, Cancun, Mexico

Mutation Detection 2003, 2 - 6 Jul. 2003 Palm Cove, Australia


HGVS NEWS

Office Update

We are pleased to report that HGVS now has 66 full memberships. We envision solicitation of many new members at the Baltimore American Society of Human Genetics Meeting (ASHG).

We will be hosting a not-for-profit exhibitors booth at the ASHG meeting. This will be situated on the 3rd level of the Baltimore Convention Centre directly outside two concurrent session rooms. Come along and meet us if you are there.

Call for Abstracts- Baltimore Scientific Meeting, 15 October

We are inviting all members and others to submit their abstracts for the Baltimore Scientific meeting as soon as possible so the program may be set. All abstracts relating to human genome variation, especially those with a database of variations or nomenclature slant will be considered. You need to get your abstract in early if you would like an oral presentation. If you know you will attend, please submit your abstract or at least register for the meeting and let us know the topic of your presentation as soon as possible so relevant arrangements may be made. Registrations without presentations are also accepted. Register here.

Notice of Annual General Meeting, Baltimore, 15 October

We invite all HGVS members to attend our annual general meeting, to be held 15th October 2002 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, U.S.A. See below for details.

CORRESPONDENCE

All members who wish to make an announcement of interest to members in these newsletters please send a short paragraph to Rania at (horaitis@medstv.unimelb.edu.au) to be included in the next issue.

RettBASE; MECP2 Mutation Database

Communicated by John Christodoulou Associate Professor & Director, Western Sydney Genetics Program, Children's Hospital at Westmead (Sydney), Westmead, NSW Australia

Through the generous support of International Rett Syndrome Association and the Rett Syndrome Australian Research Fund, and in association with the bioinformatics company BioLateral, I am pleased to authorise a limited release of the database. The URL to access the database is: http://mecp2.chw.edu.au/ . This database will ultimately include all published mutations and polymorphisms (similar to other databases already in existence), but in addition provides the opportunity for researchers and diagnostic labs to input their mutation data in a secure and anonymised manner. We are keen to log all patients with all mutations, not just new mutations. In addition, we are keen to hear about polymorphisms (previously reported or new). Our hope is that this resource will provide true prevalence data for mutations and polymorphisms, and ultimately may allow us to draw solid phenotype genotype correlations. The database is still in the development stages, in that there are some pages that need resources added, and not all publications have been entered yet. Before we authorise a general release of the website, I would be grateful for your input of the current version. In particular, we are keen to hear about: 1. Bugs [with the actual website] 2. Content errors in database 3. Enhancements you would like - [look, features etc]

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

The IARC TP53 Database: New Online Mutation Analysis and Recommendations to Users

M. Olivier, R. Eeles, M. Hollstein, M.A. Khan, C.C. Harris and P. Hainaut Hum Mut 19:607-614

Arab Genetic Disease Database (AGDDB): A population-specific clinical and mutation database

A.S. Teebi, A. A. Teebi, C. J. Porter and A. J. Cuticchia Hum Mut 19:615-621

GeneTests-GeneClinics: Genetic Testing Information for a Growing Audience

R.A. Pagon, P. Tarczy-Hornoch, P.K. Baskin, J. E. Edwards, M. L. Covington, M. Espeseth, C. Beahler, T. D. Bird, B. Popovich, C. Nesbitt, C. Dolan, K. Marymee, N. B. Hanson, W. Neufeld-Kaiser, G. McCullough Grohs, T. Kicklighter, C. Abair, A. Malmin, M. Barclay and R.D. Palepu Hum Mut 19:501-509

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

HGVS Scientific & Annual General Meeting - Baltimore, USA

(Formerly HUGO Mutation Database Initiative Meeting)

Satellite of American Society of Human Genetics

15 October 2002

All are invited and encouraged to attend the annual general meeting of the HGVS in Baltimore. This is our main annual meeting where scientific presentations are usually made in the morning and a business meeting and discussion of problems & plans occurs in the afternoon. Abstracts are invited from all attendees.

The program has not been determined yet, however, apart from scientific presentations from submitted abstracts, we will discuss an update to mutation nomenclature, the planned central variation database plans and progress, plans for collection of variations from diagnostic laboratories, Locus Specific Database in a Box software and also discuss the business of the Human Variation Society. The meeting closes with a mixer to give attendees the opportunity to meet and discuss ideas in a casual environment.

Registration fees include room rental, Audio Visual and administrative costs as well as all breaks, a buffet lunch and mixer.

Date: Tuesday October 15, 2002
Time: Registration: 8:00AM, Start: 8:30AM, Finish: 7:00-8:00PM
Venue: Hyatt Regency Baltimore, U.S.A.
Registration: Earlybird (available until 15 September 2002):
HGVS member US$85
Non-HGVS member: US$100


Standard (after 15 September 2002):
HGVS member US$100
Non-HGVS member: US$120


Register here
Abstracts: All HGVS members & others are invited to send in an abstract. All abstracts MUST be received by 15th September. There is more chance of an oral presentation if you get your abstract in early! (Note you do not need to submit an abstract to attend the meeting.)
Organizers: R. Horaitis, Executive Secretary HGVS
R.G.H. Cotton, President HGVS

1st ANNOUNCEMENT

HGVS Scientific Meeting - Cancun, Mexico

Satellite of Human Genome Meeting (HGM2003)

27 April 2003

No details as yet however HGVS will be joining HGM2003 in Cancun on Mexico's Mayan Riviera on the Caribbean. Note this in your diary as the meeting is likely to be as exciting as the location! See HUGO Website for more details on HGM 2003 and keep an eye on our newsletters and website for more details on this meeting in future.

1st ANNOUNCEMENT

Mutation Detection 2003

VII International Symposium on Mutations in the Human Genome
2 - 6 July 2003
Palm Cove, Tropical North Queensland, Australia
(Satellite of XIX International Congress of Genetics "Genomes-The Linkage to Life" 6 - 12 July, 2003 Melbourne, Australia)

Link to Palm Cove Meeting Website

To join the HGVS - click here

Next Newsletter Mid-September 2002
© Copyright HUGO MDI 2002 Created by Rania Horaitis Posted July 12, 2002
Coordinator Rania Horaitis horaitis@mail.medstv.unimelb.edu.au