On May 5th, 2018, DISCO study group held 2018 Forum for Genetics and Epigenetics of Skeletal Associated Disorders in Beijing, China. Professor Guixing Qiu, a senior member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering was the chairperson of the 2018 Forum for Genetics and Epigenetics of Skeletal Associated Disorders. Dr. Zhihong Wu, Dr. Nan Wu and Dr. Jianzhong Su were co-executive chairpersons of this forum. The forum lasted for 2 days.

DISCO group gathered experienced geneticists and bioinformatician, innovative research and the most advanced research strategy in this international forum. Dr. Bo Yuan, a human geneticist from the Baylor College of Medicine gave a key note lecture entitled “Providing Molecular Diagnosis for Mendelian Disorders”. Dr. Jianzhong Su, an academic leader of bioinformatics at Wenzhou medical university, introduced the epigenetics in human disease. Dr. Xiaofei Song from Baylor College of Medicine gave a key note lecture entitled “Mechanisms underlying CNV formation in genomic disorders”. Dr. Nan Wu gave a key note lecture, and introduced the Deciphering Disorders Involving Scoliosis and COmorbidities (DISCO) project as well as our previous work of TBX6 variants in CS and associated disorders, and the contributions of DISCO project to the genetic diagnostic strategies of scoliosis.

Dr. Liangde Xu, an experienced bioinformatics at Harbin Medical University, presented the association between RNA structurome and human diseases. Professor Lan Zhu, the deputy director of department of obstetrics and gynecology at PMCH, gave a key note lecture entitled “The multi-center clinical and genetic research of rare female lower genital tract malformations”. Professor Wen Tian, the deputy director of department of hand surgery from Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, introduced several interesting rare cases in hand surgery. Dr. Yingli Sun, an academic leader of molecular biology at Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave a keynote lecture entitled “the application of epigenetics in tumor biomarkers”. The members from DISCO project, including Dr. Sen Liu, Dr. Gang Liu, Dr. Jiaqi Liu and Dr. Sen Zhao, also gave oral presentations at the 2018 Forum for Genetics and Epigenetics of Skeletal Associated Disorders.

Group photo of whole members of 2018 Forum for Genetics and Epigenetics of Skeletal Associated Disorders

Members of Su Lab.

Co-executive chairpersons of the 2018 Forum for Genetics and Epigenetics of Skeletal Associated Disorders

Great moments of the forum.

Great moments of the forum.

Great moments of the forum.

Great moments of the forum.