The International Congress of Human Genetics is the foremost meeting of the international
human genetics community. The first Congress was held in 1956 in
Copenhagen, and has met every five years since then with the exception of the 2021 meeting which was postponed for two years because of the global
COVID19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
. The Congress is held under the auspices of the International Federation of Human Genetics Societie
an umbrella organization founded by the
American Society of Human Genetics, the
European Society of Human Genetics
The European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) is a non-profit organization that promotes research, facilitates communication and encourages best practice in applications of human and medical genetics, particularly in Europe.
The society organizes t ...
and the
Human Genetics Society of Australasia
The Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) is a membership organization for individuals in the field of human genetics who primarily practise in the Oceania region. Members typically hold both a qualification in human genetics and work in ...
. Congresses have been held in such diverse venues as
Berlin,
Brisbane,
Chicago,
The Hague,
Jerusalem,
Mexico City,
Paris,
Rio de Janeiro,
Vienna and
Washington.
The purview of the International Congress of Human Genetics is all aspects of human genetics, including research, clinical practice, and education. The Congress now attracts thousands of participants, including
M.D. medical geneticists,
Ph.D. human geneticists and
genetic counselor
Genetic counseling is the process of investigating individuals and families affected by or at risk of genetic disorders to help them understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease; t ...
s from 80 or more countries. It is by far the largest human genetics meeting in the world.
External links
History of the International Congress of Human Genetics
Genetics organizations
Recurring events established in 1956
Medical conferences
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