This series is for genetics health professionals led by the Canadian College of Medical Genetics and co-sponsored by Can-GARD. Speakers will be translation-focused researchers, clinicians and innovators. The series will help attendees anticipate, access, and apply new approaches and technologies for patient care.
The Can-GARD/CCMG Leading Strand Series is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
We are pleased to share that as of the 2026/2027 season, the Garrod Association will be providing two presentations per season.
To register, click the button below or go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e2yO6xnsSK2v70BLslqwjA
2025-2026 Leading Strand from 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET on:
Friday June 26, 2026 – CANCELLED – Postponed to the 2026-2027 Series
Prenatal Whole Exome Sequencing in Alberta: A Canadian Provincial Experience
With any pregnancy, patients and families will face moments of important lifelong decision making that can impact the health of both the mother and child. Prenatal genetics has increasingly been able to offer earlier detection of such diagnoses, which are crucial in providing medical and social support for managing these complex pregnancies. Following its clinical success in pediatric and adult cases, whole exome sequencing (WES) has become one of the most powerful technologies used in prenatal genetics. In 2021, Alberta Health Services initiated a pilot program to utilize WES during pregnancies with anomalies. This study set out to evaluate the impact of prenatal WES utilization within the initial 3 years of the program across Alberta.
Learning Objectives:
- Review main steps in the development of the field of prenatal genetic screening and testing
- Describe how prenatal WES contributes to the understanding of prenatal genetics practice at a provincial level in Alberta
- Reflect on what diagnostic challenges are ahead in the practice of prenatal genetics
Speaker: Dr. Oana Caluseriu
Oana is a medical geneticist with a clinical and research focus on rare disorders in prenatal and pediatric age, working in Edmonton. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Characterizing human phenotypes is the mainstay of Oana’s clinical practice as a fundamental step towards exploring the molecular basis and underlying mechanisms of genetic disorders. A focus around gaining clarity about DNA variants found clinically has embolden her to develop The Translational Genomics Hub that she co-leads under the auspices of the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute at the University of Alberta (Translational Genomics Hub – WCHRI). Improving genetic services for patients and their families is a core goal for Oana as the Section Chief for Medical Genetics in the Edmonton Zone. She has been honored to serve the Canadian genetics community most recently as the President of CCMG.
