University of Coimbra (UC) will hold the "Day of Genomic Medicine" on Friday, June 2nd, at the Faculty of Medicine (Polo III). This event aims to bring together experts in the field of Genomic Medicine, an emerging area that utilizes genetic information to personalize disease treatment. The meeting is open to the public and will include the launch of an illustrated book titled "Genomic Medicine - A Brief Illustrated Guide," which will be distributed free of charge to participants.
The "Day of Genomic Medicine" will begin at 2:00 PM in Amphitheater I of Subunit I at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (Polo III). This event is part of the project "Empowering the Central Region for Genomic-based Personalized/Precision Medicine," funded by the Central Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRC) and coordinated by Fernando J. Regateiro, Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC).
The opening session will be chaired by the Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão. Throughout the afternoon, relevant topics in the field will be addressed through sessions such as "Examples of Genomic Medicine Implementation in European Union countries," "Best Practices in Genomic Medicine - from laboratory analysis to ethical-legal perspectives and entrepreneurship," "Capacity Building for Genomic Medicine - the role of education, health professions, and citizens," and "A strategic vision for the Central Region." Additionally, the initiative will host Gianni D'Errico, responsible for International Projects and European Affairs at the Toscana Life Sciences Foundation, who will deliver a lecture on "Personalized Medicine in the Europe of Regions: current state and future initiatives."
Fernando Regateiro explains that this event "exemplifies the virtuous combination of different visions, desires, knowledge, and experiences, as those that were gathered in this project, from more than ten research centers at the Universities of Coimbra, Aveiro, and Beira Interior, as well as partnerships with the main hospitals in the region, the Directorate of Services of the Central Region of the Directorate-General of Schools, the Portuguese Press Association, and the Portuguese Association of Biology and Geology Teachers." "In a limited time frame to achieve something relevant, if everyone acted individually, it was possible to make a difference, doing more and doing better", he emphasizes.
The Full Professor of FMUC further adds, "On this 'Day of Genomic Medicine,' we propose for knowledge and reflection, within a broader framework of what Genomic-based Personalized Medicine is, much of what has been a search for the best approaches to the issues, the results, and above all, the proposals for future work, the value of thought networks and organizational responses, the technical and ethical-legal issues, and the good practices to be ensured, the indispensability of empowering the population to have a critical view of the scope and limitations of Genomics and its applications in Medicine, based on clear reasoning, a strategic vision for Genomic Medicine in the Central Region. Because not everything that can be done should be done, or meets the conditions to be done with fairness and justice."
Registration for the "Day of Genomic Medicine" is free but mandatory.
Carolina Caetano
