News Release

Sanofi Genzyme/ACMG Foundation present Training Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics

Grant and Award Announcement

American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics

ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine Logo

image: The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (www.acmgfoundation.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics and genomics and genetic counseling in healthcare. Established in 1992, the ACMG Foundation supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics' mission to "translate genes into health" by raising funds to promote the profession of medical genetics and genomics to medical students, to fund the training of future medical geneticists, to support best-practices and tools for practicing physicians and laboratory directors, to promote awareness and understanding of our work in the general public, and much more. view more 

Credit: ACMG Foundation

Mohammed Almannai, MD and Juanita Neira of Baylor College of Medicine were honored as the 2016-2017 recipients of the Sanofi Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Medical Genetics Training Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics at the 2016 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Tampa, FL.

The objective of the Sanofi Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Award is to support training programs that advance education, research and standards of practice in medical genetics, to develop and expand clinical and laboratory expertise in medical genetics, and to initiate and develop a broad-based infrastructure for industry funding of high quality projects in the fields of medical genetics. Two awardees are given the opportunity to participate in an in-depth clinical and research experience at a premier medical center with expertise and significant clinical volume in the area of biochemical genetics.

The award grants $75,000 per year to each of two recipients' institutions selected by the ACMG Foundation through a competitive process and will provide for the sponsorship of one year of the trainees' clinical genetics subspecialty in biochemical genetics following residency.

Dr. Almannai received his MD from the Arabian Gulf University located in Bahrain. He completed his Pediatrics Residency at the University of South Alabama, Children's and Women's Hospital in Mobile, AL. Prior to his residency in Alabama he had a pediatrics residency at Salmaniya Medical Complex in Bahrain. "I am honored to be granted the Sanofi Genzyme/ACMG Foundation award. Knowing people who had this opportunity in the past, I could see how this award shaped them into better medical biochemical geneticists. I am sure that this fellowship will allow me to better care for patients with this unique group of disorders as well as conducting clinical researches to help identify new treatment modalities."

The second award recipient, Dr. Neira, is currently in her second year of residency in Medical Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. She said, "Life has different challenges, but by increasing our knowledge we can overcome them, giving second life opportunities to those who are more in need." Dr. Neira completed her MD at the University of Health Sciences in Bogota, Colombia; she then completed her Pediatrics Residency at the Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in New York and her Fellowship in Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.

"The Sanofi Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Clinical Genetics Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics provides an important stimulus to the development of the genetics workforce. This fellowship allows Dr. Almannai and Dr. Neira the chance to receive advanced clinical and research training in biochemical genetics, a very rapidly advancing field of medical practice," said Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG, president of the ACMG Foundation.

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Since 2005, Sanofi Genzyme has generously sponsored this prestigious award, and in 2012 they doubled their commitment for the 2012 through 2016 Fellowships. The ACMG Foundation is honored to have the Genzyme Corporation as a member of its Corporate Partners Program. For more information about the Corporate Partners Program and other ways to support the work of the ACMG Foundation, please visit http://www.acmgfoundation.org.

Note to editors: To arrange interviews with experts in medical genetics, contact Kathy Beal, MBA, ACMG Director of Public Relations at kbeal@acmg.net or 301-238-4582.

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics and genomics and genetic counseling in healthcare. Established in 1992, the ACMG Foundation supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics' mission to "translate genes into health" by raising funds to promote the profession of medical genetics and genomics to medical students, to fund the training of future medical geneticists, to support best-practices and tools for practicing physicians and laboratory directors, to promote awareness and understanding of our work in the general public, and much more.


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