Conference Overview

Why Attend the EMGS Annual Meeting?

Environmental exposures pose a complex and constantly evolving threat to genomic integrity, putting our children and ourselves at increased risk of disease. The EMGS Annual Meeting uniquely brings together leading scientists from academia, industry, and government to discuss cutting-edge research aimed at understanding and mitigating environmental threats to the genome and to the epigenome.

Our dynamic and interactive meetings are designed to promote the Society’s mission to foster scientific research, education, and collaboration with a focus on issues pertinent to genomic stability. Emphasis areas include DNA damage, DNA repair, mutagenesis, heritable effects, and epigenetic alterations in genome function. Additionally, the EMGS aims to promote the application and communication of knowledge relevant to genetic toxicology testing, risk assessment, and regulatory policy-making to protect human health and the environment.

For decades, the EMGS Annual Meeting has been creating opportunities for new investigators to join a welcoming community of scientists working in research institutions, regulatory agencies, and industry, all with a shared commitment toward public health. The Society puts a major focus on supporting the next generation of scientists through both formal and informal activities throughout the meeting.

Program Overview

Environmental toxins and toxicants impact human physiology and biochemistry by altering or modifying DNA, RNA, proteins and metabolites. Across the spectrum of scientific inquiry, we are challenged with understanding the mechanisms which respond to or modulate these genotoxic effects. Furthermore, the development of tools for analysis, as well as, for evaluation of these biological endpoints are critical for the promotion and protection of human health. By forging a bridge to bring scientists studying exposures, mechanisms, and regulatory sciences, the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) will provide a venue for stimulating cross-disciplinary research and discovery. We will learn how environmental agents impact genomic, proteomic and metabolic signatures, and how we can use this knowledge base to develop informed biomarkers and improved regulatory policies that address human health concerns related to environmental exposures. Join us as we cross this bridge, find common ground in our advances in the study of Environmental Health Sciences, and bring together our efforts on Exposure, Mechanism and its impact on Public Health.

Emphasis areas include:

• Early Life Exposure to Lead and Adverse Health Effects in Children
• Chromosome Positioning: How the Nuclear Neighborhood Impacts DNA Repair and Gene Expression
• Cancer: Bad Luck? Bad Environment? Bad Mutation? Or Something Else?
• Adverse Human Health Effects of Diesel Engine Exhaust
• Interactions Among Diet, Metabolic Status, and DNA Repair: Impacts on the Genome and Epigenome
• Xenobiotic Exposures and Fetal Health
• Decline in Sperm Count and Quality: The Role of Genotixicity and Epigenotoxicity
• Environmental Exposure, Genotoxicity and Cancer Risk in Whales
• Defining the Spectrum of Human Germline Variability, and Exploring it's Environmental Stimulation
• Mechanism-based Classification of Mixtures to Predict Carcinogenic Potential with a Focus on PAHs: Application in Risk Assessment and Site Remediation
• The Power and Promise of in vitro 3D Models for Toxicological Testing
• Mechanisms of UV-Mutagenesis: Where the Rubber Meets the Road During Environmental Carcinogenesis
• Quantitative Analysis of Genetic Toxicity Dose-Response Data for Risk Assessment and Regulatory Decision-Making
• Controversies and Challenges in Risk Assessment: Examples of Regulatory Decision Making
• Non-Clinical Applications of Next-Generation Sequencing for Mutation Detection and Cancer Risk Assessment

The scientific program consists of symposia, platform and poster sessions, including rapid “flash” talks of abstracts, Saturday workshops, and internationally recognized speakers. Throughout there is a focus on the newest findings and technologies in basic and applied environmental science and how they are shaping future endeavors. In addition to the scientific program, the Annual Meeting will convene the nine Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that represent the diversity of the Society and help set the agenda for future EMGS meetings.

The program represents the full spectrum of interests and expertise of our uniquely multidisciplinary Society. The detailed program is located on the meeting agenda.

Program Highlights

Award Lectures
EMGS Award Lecture
This award is conferred in recognition of outstanding research contributions in the area of environmental mutagenesis.

Young Scientist Award Lecture 
A top young environmental scientist nominated by EMGS members and selected by public vote.

EMGS Special Interest Group Meetings
The morning meetings of the Society SIGs are a time-tested favorite of the Annual Meeting. The format provides free-form discussions and short presentations of key challenges and new initiatives. The SIGs provide a casual way for young investigators and seasoned researchers to interact.

The SIG meetings are scheduled Sunday through Tuesday. Advance registration is encouraged for the SIG meetings.

Student and New Investigator Free Luncheon

All students and new investigators are invited to attend a luncheon hosted by the Education, Student and New Investigator Affairs Committee. The luncheon will be held on Sunday, September 23 from 12:15 pm–1:45 pm. In addition to discussing opportunities for involvement in EMGS. This event is only open to student and new investigator registrants. Advance registration is required.

Women in EMGS Luncheon—Monday Afternoon

The WEMGS provides a forum for discussions focusing on career development and scientific research areas that affect women in particular, but are also relevant to the general membership of the EMGS. This year’s WEMGS Luncheon will be held on Monday, September 24, from 12:15 pm–1:45 pm. Separate registration is required for the WEMGS Luncheon.

President’s Welcome Reception and Student and New Investigator Poster Session—Saturday Afternoon

The President’s Welcome Reception will take place at 5:30 pm on Saturday, following the EMGS Forum. The Student and New Investigator Poster Session is part of this event. All students and new investigators presenting during the meeting should display their poster—it is one more opportunity to highlight your research and is in addition to your scheduled presentation.

Business Meeting and Banquet—Tuesday Afternoon and Evening
The Business Meeting will take place at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, September 25. Plan to attend this meeting to obtain a brief overview of EMGS accomplishments, which will be shared by the EMGS leadership and Editor-in-Chief of EMM. (Committee reports will be available via EMGS Website.) Later in the evening, join us in celebration of our award winners at our annual EMGS Banquet.