Centre of Genomics and Policy

YouTube video by The Royal Society of Canada Ma'n H Zawati | 2025 New College Member | McGill University

🎉 Congratulations to Prof. Ma'n H. Zawati @mhzawati.bsky.social, Research Director at the CGP, on being inducted on Nov. 14 2025, as a member of the Royal Society of Canada!

🎥 Watch Prof. Zawati discuss his research and its impact on Canadian healthcare: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHMc...

Foundational Projects | Cycle 2 The Foundational Projects funding program supports high-risk, early-stage projects with the potential to be game-changers in the fields of D2R’s areas of interest. In the second funding cycle launched...

We’re building tools to help researchers prioritize conditions and guide policies for fair, evidence-based implementation.

Learn more: www.mcgill.ca/dna-to-rna/f...

Foundational Projects | Cycle 2 The Foundational Projects funding program supports high-risk, early-stage projects with the potential to be game-changers in the fields of D2R’s areas of interest. In the second funding cycle launched...

Excited to share a new D2R-funded project led by Larry Lynd (UBC), co-led by Profs @YannJoly6 & @MHZawati (CGP, McGill): Early assessment of the value of novel #RNAtherapeutics in #genomicnewbornscreening initiatives: health, economic and ethical implications.
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Speakers:
Prof. Bartha Maria Knoppers – Distinguished James McGill Professor Emerita, Founding Director of the CGP, McGill University
Prof. Fruzsina Molnar-Gabor – Faculty of Law, Heidelberg University
Michael J.S. Beauvais – PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

The upcoming Brocher Foundation meeting will delve on the latest health data news and the ethical challenges surrounding them. Tune in on Nov. 11th, 2025 at 2PM (Geneva time).
🔗 us06web.zoom.us/j/83487320128

Bartha Knoppers awarded McGill Medal for lifetime of pioneering work in bioethics  - McGill Reporter From literature to law to genetics, the founder of McGill’s Centre of Genomics and Policy built a career at the crossroads of science and ethics

Congratulations to Prof. Bartha Maria Knoppers, our Centre’s Founding Director and Distinguished James McGill Professor Emerita, on receiving the McGill Medal for Exceptional Academic Achievement! 👏🏼 reporter.mcgill.ca/bartha-knopp...

Dr. Zohar Lederman (Emergency Medicine, University of Hong Kong) spoke about the Marburg outbreak in Rwanda 🦠🌍 While widely praised as a One Health & public health success, he highlighted key data gaps, limited attention to animal and environmental health and conflicting economic development goals.

New in Cell!
“Exploring Latin America one cell at a time” — we chart challenges & opportunities for single-cell & spatial genomics across LATAM.
A call for equitable funding, collaboration & capacity building.
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...

In Person Event | Breast Cancer & RNA Therapeutics: Exploring inclusive research and career opportunities Join D2R and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) for an event in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Women's History Month, in collaboration with Fondation du cancer du sein...

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 💗, CGP Director Yann Joly will be paneling at @d2rmcgill.bsky.social’s upcoming event on Breast Cancer & RNA Therapeutics on Oct. 22, 2025.

🔗 Register: bit.ly/3J4DbuB
🗓️ Oct. 22, 2025 @ 5 - 8:30PM
📍 Atrium, Bellini Building, McGill University

🗞️ Our newsletter is fresh off the press!

Catch up on the recent research, publications, and highlights at the CGP in our Summer-Fall Issue: mailchi.mp/mcgill/cgp-n...

📃 View statement:
drive.google.com/file/d/1claU...

Photo (left to right): Bartha Maria Knoppers, Brian Chung, Laura Blackburn, Ron Zimmern, Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, Colin, Ma’n H. Zawati, Anna Lewis, Edward Dove, Nicola Mulder, Jeffrey Barrett, Paul Pharoah, Marina Cornel, Anneke Lucassen, Anthony Ng, David Glazer, Katherine Littler, Jeff Skopek, Habiba Al Safar, Eric Meslin, Yann Joly, Calvin Ho, and Pete Mills.

The CGP and @phgfoundation.bsky.social co-hosted an international think tank at Ayer’s Cliff, Canada, bringing together leading scholars, professionals and practitioners to reimagine the future of #genomics, #medicine, and global population #health in a data-driven world now through 2050.

🌐 Discover our latest talks on our website:
www.genomicsandpolicy.org/en/news_even...

Prof. Calvin Ho presenting at the Bartha Maria Knoppers Annual Lecture 2025

Prof. Calvin W.L. Ho’s talk, “Polygenic Risk Scores and the Human Right to Science,” from the Annual Bartha Maria Knoppers Lecture, is now available for viewing! 🎤

Watch the recording on our YouTube channel:
youtu.be/BRbpegQDF5A?...

📸 In the photo (left to right): David Rosenblatt, Bartha Maria Knoppers, Calvin W.L. Ho, Eric M. Meslin, Yann Joly, and Ma'n H. Zawati.

🎤 That’s a wrap on the 3rd Annual Bartha Maria Knoppers Lecture! Honoured to host Prof. Calvin W.L. Ho (@monashuniversity.bsky.social) for his talk, "Polygenic Risk Scores and the Human Right to Science," celebrating Knoppers' legacy in genomics and health law. Thanks to all who attended!

Is it time to rethink ELSI? 💭

Last week at @mcgill.ca, our guest speaker Eric M. Meslin, global leader in bioethics and science policy and member of the CGP Advisory Committee member, sparked a vital convo on ELSI’s future in research & genomics—its roots, impact, and two diverging paths ahead.

Honoured to share that I have been elected to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada. Grateful to my mentors, colleagues & students whose support and collaboration made this possible, and I look forward to working with such an inspiring community.

At the H2R conference at @ox.ac.uk, Terese Knoppers spoke about the barriers and bridges towards making healthcare data more accessible for childhood cancer survivors and families. The talk drew on ACCESS & CGP’s research project: Pan-Canadian Approaches to Data Sharing & Access.

🔗 bit.ly/47kscHi

💡McGill iGEM's annual #biotech conference On the Verge brings together students, academics, and industry leaders to explore real-world applications of synthetic biology. This year’s theme focuses on #bioethics, systemic challenges, career pathways, and the future of #SynBio innovation.

📣 Upcoming conference on AI & biotech happening this week-end in Montreal!

CGP Academic Associate Maelenn Corfmat will be speaking on the “Bioethics in Action” panel at On the Verge, McGill iGEM’s annual biotech conference!

🔗 For more info & to register: igemontheverge.wixsite.com/home

Centering Community in Science: A D2R-Funded Student on Her IMPRESS Internship The Indigenous Mentorship and Paid Research Experience for Summer Students (IMPRESS) program at McGill University is more than just a summer job—it is a chance for Indigenous undergraduate students fr...

Our summer intern Olivia Maracle-Hill shares her experience working on a @d2rmcgill.bsky.social project as part of @mcgill.ca's IMPRESS program. 💻✨

🔗 bit.ly/4oIVjds

#CGPInternship #IndigenousHealthResearch #ELSI #RNAResearch

About our speaker:

Prof. Calvin Ho is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Law at Monash University in Melbourne (Australia), Research Fellow of the Centre for Medical Ethics at the University of Hong Kong, and Fellow of PHG Foundation at the University of Cambridge (UK).

⏰ Just over 2 weeks away until the 3rd Bartha Maria Knoppers Annual Lecture on Sept 5th! We are grateful to have Prof. Calvin Ho as this year’s speaker. Join us for an insightful talk on Polygenic Risk Scores & the Human Right to Science.

🧵More details: bit.ly/472cW1z

Towards Affirmative Intersex Health Communication in Canada: An Introductory Guide for Healthcare Providers

📘 Guide (English): lnkd.in/ecRmQqrM
📘 Guide (French): lnkd.in/eDJ9AQra

🔗 Both guides are also available on our website:
lnkd.in/exJTMtSr

#IntersexHealth #HealthEquity #InclusiveCare #AffirmativePractice

🩺 The Guide for Healthcare Providers on Affirmative Intersex Health Communication—now available in English & French. A Canadian-first resource to support inclusive, affirming care.

Link to guides below 🧵

🚨Two NEW papers from our team!

Ecological Genome Project
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/bioe...
A bold vision for ecogenomics + One Health to guide ethical, interdisciplinary genomics.

Data Sharing in Genomics
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s402...
New GA4GH lexicon to improve cross-border collaboration & data governance.

📢 New publication with @universitypress.cambridge.org!
"Psychedelic Treatment with Psilocybin" explores malpractice risks & regulatory gaps that may deter physicians—despite psilocybin’s therapeutic promise.

🔗 Read more: doi.org/10.1017/jme....

#Psilocybin #Psychedelics #HealthPolicy #MedicalLaw

Two new articles have been published from our team:
“The evolution of health data ecosystems: An international survey” in AJHG: doi.org/10.1016/j.aj... & “Harnessing the promises of cell therapy, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine in Québec, Canada” in Front. Med.: doi.org/10.3389/fmed...

We are elated to host the 3rd Bartha Maria Knoppers Annual Lecture on Sept 5th! Our guest speaker Calvin Ho, Associate Professor (Faculty of Law, Monash University), will present on “Polygenic Risk Scores and the Human Right to Science.”

RSVP by Aug 28: bit.ly/4kPaLBC