The media spotlight will shine again on Boston from June 2nd – June 4th, 2010 as the Consumer Genetics Conference, (www.consumergeneticsconference.com), hosts its yearly conference at the Hynes Convention Center. The Consumer Genetics Conference has established itself as the premier event for the convergence of the consumer market, genetics technology market, and healthcare/diagnostics market.
Last year’s Consumer Genetics Conference reached overcapacity levels in terms of attendees, and was covered by 3 major news networks, as well as over 12 national and local television programs – all filming onsite.
This year, the conference, is limiting the number of available attendee slots in order to prevent overcrowding in the conference halls and exhibit areas. A preliminary schedule has been released on its website, www.consumergeneticsconference.com. Early registration pricing is now open and will remain open through January, or until the attendee spots are sold out.
The conference attracted¸ as speakers, accomplished CEO’s and genetics thought leaders such as: Francis Collins, now Director of the National Institutes of Health, George Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and Jay Flatley, CEO of Illumina. Also present, and in some cases presenting on genetics and consumer products, were large consumer focused companies such as Procter and Gamble, L’Oreal, and MedCo. Flatley, unveiled the first prescription ever written for genome sequencing, as well as a genome sequence iPhone application. Given these consumer/patient focused products as well as advancements in the field; Collins speculated that the conference would grow to 6X its size within two years.