President: Prof. Dr. Andreas Gal Institut für Humangenetik Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf Universität Hamburg Martinistraße 52 20246 Hamburg   This conference is jointly organised by Austrian Society of Human Genetics (ÖGH) and Swiss Society of Medical Genetics (SGMG). The GfH annual conference provides a forum for all with a common interest in Human Genetics to meet and discuss their latest findings and to offer young scientists the possibility to present their results to the scientific community. This series of conferences began with the first meeting being held in Munich in 1989. Each year the conference is held in a different German or Austrian location and is usually of 2 or 3 days duration.

Between 800-900 people attend the annual conferences representing a wide range of human genetic professional disciplines. Of these, approximately 80% are from Germany, Austria and Switzerland with 20% from countries in the rest of the world mostly Europe.

Invited experts from basic science, clinical and social care give presentations within educationals sessions, symposia and workshops. The conference is held in English (exception: EDU and QS sessions). In addition an essential ingredient of the conference is the presentation of work following the submission of abstracts from all areas of interest in Human Genetics. These presentations illustrate the work being conducted in the multiple disciplines throughout the Scientific and Clinical Human Genetic Fields.

About 400 abstract submissions are received per conference. These abstracts are reviewed by members of the scientific program committee for acceptance or rejection. A decision is then made on accepted abstracts whether a presentation is best made as a poster or an oral presentation at the conference. Accepted abstracts are published in an edition of medizinischegenetik. Additionally, case presentations are invited for discussion within specialist fields particularly in well attended educational sessions (EDU).

Running parallel with the scientific meeting, the conference venue hosts the industrial exhibition and industrial workshops. The annual conference provides a platform for companies with an interest in Human Genetics related issues to exhibit their products, meet the delegates, and to conduct their own Satellite Symposia. The GfH actively encourages such participation and is grateful for the sponsorship it receives from these companies. Such sponsorship is essential in reducing the cost of the meeting to those attending.

There are also occasions for meetings of working groups and organisations that choose to hold their annual meetings in association with the German conference e.g. BVDH and VPAH.

The GfH also welcomes any type of educational grant towards the development of the conference program, and/or towards the conference itself.