News

2022.12.22 Tokyo to host the first joint conference of the Japan Society of Human Genetics, the Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics and the East Asian Union of Human Genetics Societies in 2023 (Human Genetics Asia 2023 [HGA2023])

The Japan Society of Human Genetics (JSHG) and the Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics (APSHG) have agreed to hold their first joint conference in Tokyo on October 11 – 14, 2023 following a coordinated campaign to bring the event to the city, led by Prof. Kenjiro Kosaki of the Center for Medical Genetics, who also serves as JSHG President, in partnership with the JNTO head office and the JNTO Singapore Office. This joint conference will be coincided with the conference of the East Asian Union of Human Genetics Societies, which have been hosted in rotation between Japan, China and South Korea. Around 2,700 people (including 350 international visitors) are expected to attend the conference.

JSHG was founded in 1956 and now boasts a membership of over 5,000 across Japan. It is one of Japan’s largest academic societies, aimed at contributing to the advancement of sciences through human genetics research, promoting consultation in the field of genetics, conducting research on health and illnesses to contribute to healthcare and welfare, and spreading human genetics knowledge across society through education and information dissemination. JSHG’s research field has undergone significant global technological innovation in terms of genome analysis, resulting in very active research and medical consultation. This is why APSHG, whose conference had previously excluded East Asia, approached JSHG for holding a joint conference. Accordingly, JNTO worked with its Singapore Office to invite APSHG President Thanyachai Sura and International Liaison Representative and Dr Lai Poh San to Japan in in August this year, facilitating a meeting between them and JSHG President Kosaki and his secretariat as well as an inspection tour of the conference venue. In October, the APSHG board formally approved the joint conference, clearing the way to the first joint conference between JSHG and APSHG.

Hosting this joint conference in Japan will increase awareness about past achievements by Japanese researchers in the field of genetic medicine, and facilitate international presentations and networking by researchers at the forefront. This, in turn allows Japan to make significant contributions to the advancement of human genetics and genetic medicine in Asia.

The Human Genetics Asia 2023 is to be held on Octber 11 – 14, 2023. We look forward to seeing you in Tokyo!