Regional Summit Research Articles

The Management of Patients at High Risk of Serious COVID-19 Disease: Optimising the Patient Pathway in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

Introduction For patients at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease, antiviral therapeutic options are available to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death. Although many countries have developed national guidelines for COVID-19 management that include use of antiviral agents, it is unclear how these guidelines are used in daily clinical practice. This study aims to assess the management of high-risk COVID-19 patients in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, with a focus on understanding current practices, challenges, and potential strategies for improvement. Methods Healthcare professionals (HCPs) from the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe came together at a regional summit in February 2023 to share perspectives on the therapeutic management of patients at high risk of serious COVID-19 disease in the community. Summit participants represented diverse medical specialties, geographical regions, and healthcare settings. Key insights gathered during the summit were supplemented with evidence from the published literature via a non-systematic literature search of MEDLINE and online sources such as government reports since the start of 2020 to identify articles on disease burden, unmet needs, treatment access, antiviral therapy, guidelines related to individuals with COVID-19 at high-risk for poor outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Together, these sources were used by the authors to generate their recommendations for future priorities and optimal care pathways globally. Results Specific insights gathered from the summit were that participants reported that primary care is the first point of contact for high-risk patients, but the role of primary care physicians (PCPs) in treatment is uncertain. Additionally, participants highlighted that between-country differences in the care pathway for high-risk patients are due to variations in local treatment practices, healthcare system structures, and resourcing. In line with the published literature, participants agreed that HCP education is needed to support the identification, counseling, and appropriate management of high-risk patients and that pharmacists have a critical role to play in identifying clinically important potential interactions with antiviral treatment and recommending appropriate adjustments. Furthermore, patient hesitancy can result in late presentation, delayed treatment, and potential progression of symptoms. HCPs should proactively counsel high-risk patients, so they are aware of their risk and its implications and understand what to do if they experience symptoms of COVID-19. Targeted educational initiatives for patients are needed to mitigate reluctance to undergo COVID-19 testing and counter COVID-19 misinformation. Conclusion Collaboration among stakeholders is essential to optimize COVID-19 management for high-risk patients globally, ensuring effective implementation of guidelines and improving outcomes.

Levelling up or down? Examining the case of North-East England

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the levelling up (LU) debate by examining the case of the North-East of England, a region with long-standing and deep-seated historical issues of inequality. It will determine if centrally directed LU policies are appropriate and necessary interventions by charting the evolution of UK policy shifts and impacts on the region. In analysing the past failed policies and current situation, including the Devolution Deal, the authors point to some of the critical challenges and opportunities still facing regional leaders. It concludes by arguing that the region is at an impasse and calls for a regional summit to agree on regional priorities and more robust and effectively targeted strategies for the future. Overall, the paper suggests that without the correct policy interventions and the capacity to deliver them, levels of inequality will persist.

Weaving a new blanket together: lessons on compassionate leadership and engagement from a virtual regional summit on early childhood wellness in northern communities of British Columbia, Canada

BackgroundEarly childhood is a critical period of development for infants, young children, and their families. An array of services, programs, and interventions exist to support families during this life stage, often delivered by a diverse range of professionals. Overlap in early years services exists between healthcare, social care, childcare, education, and not-for-profit organizations. Such diversity in services has the potential to add a rich experience to early childhood development, or without collaboration, widen service gaps, risking providers’ ability to meet the needs of families.MethodsIn northern British Columbia (BC), Canada, a group of individuals came together to approach building relationships and engagement across sectors in early years services using compassionate systems leadership (CSL). A virtual summit was hosted with early childhood service providers including peer support workers and parents/caregivers using a hybrid model of pre-recorded asynchronous sessions combined with a live workshop. The purpose of the event was to find common ground, celebrate local success, and build understanding of how to work collaboratively across the region to identify and address early years priorities.ResultsThe event was successful in engaging 121 providers across early years services from a broad geographic region. Applying CSL principles for engagement allowed the team to examine how all partners could address silos in early years services across northern BC. Using a reflexive thematic approach, four key themes were identified at the Summit: (1) early years services are a patchwork but there are dreams of weaving a new blanket together, (2) an ideal model of service is family-centred and inclusive, (3) all sectors are needed at the table, and (4) compassion is the thread that weaves this work together.ConclusionsThe application of CSL principles can be used to guide engagement and develop supportive spaces for open conversation about creating systems change. In facilitating a space that allowed for vulnerability and relational ways of engaging across sectors we discovered commitment and a willingness for those present to consider new ideas and partnerships that would allow for greater integration of early years services in northern BC.

Green infrastructure in western Washington and Oregon: Perspectives from a regional summit

Green infrastructure (GI) has grown in acceptance as a sustainable means to manage stormwater in urbanizing landscapes, while providing a multitude of additional benefits that range from improving community health to protecting local ecosystems. The mandated use of GI for the management of stormwater is arguably more prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, where GI is a required practice per municipal stormwater regulations in western Washington State, and the City of Portland OR. However, adoption in the region has faced several challenges. A regional summit to elucidate some of these successes and challenges was organized in Oregon and drew attendees from western Oregon and Washington. Six challenges that impact GI adoption, and six themes that emerged as possible strategies to overcome these challenges, were identified. The six challenges that were identified were: the lack of coordination, traditionalism, site-specific scales, environmental costs, a lack of expertise, and little consideration for maintenance. The six emergent themes identified were: the need for adaptive design and maintenance, the placement of GI for maximum impact, the concept of collective impact, valuation of GI, equity and GI, and the intersection of GI and community health.

SummerPalooza! Summits as a Strategy for Supporting Federal Summer Nutrition Programs (P04-027-19)

ObjectivesFederal Summer Nutrition Programs (SNP), including the Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option, are highly underutilized compared with programs such as the NSLP. The North Carolina (NC) Department of Public Instruction and No Kid Hungry NC host annual SummerPalooza! Summits to support organizations and community partners in successfully operating and expanding the SNP. Summits include engaging presentations/activities, peer learning, and program recognition/celebration. In the fall of 2018, four regional summits were held. Our objective was to assess whether attendance at a 2018 SummerPalooza! Summit influenced participants’ intentions to engage in recommended SNP strategies. MethodsWe administered a retrospective pre/post evaluation questionnaire at the end of each summit. The questionnaire asked for level of agreement (completely agree to completely disagree) with information learned during the summits. Change in likelihood of engaging in recommended strategies was measured using a four-point Likert scale that ranged from very likely to very unlikely. We calculated frequencies and means and used paired t tests to assess change from before to after the summits. ResultsA total of 232 individuals attended a SummerPalooza! Summit and 205 evaluation questionnaires were completed. Ninety-eight % of participants completely or somewhat agreed that they learned about new resources, gained ideas for potential new partners, and gained ideas for potential new strategies to implement in future summers. There was a significant increase (P < .0001) from before to after the summits in intention to use the recommended strategies next summer for all strategies assessed, including reaching out to a new potential partner, talking with an elected official, offering enrichment activities, encouraging others to support the SNP, promoting the SNP to children and families, using NC SNP marketing materials and resources, and referring to/sharing County Profiles with SNP data. ConclusionsThe SummerPalooza! Summits were successful at helping participants learn about new ideas and increasing the likelihood that they use recommended strategies for successfully operating and expanding the SNP. Other states should consider using the SummerPalooza! Summit model for supporting the SNP. Funding SourcesNone.

WE‐FI REGIONAL SUMMIT: Abidjan Meeting

Africa Research Bulletin: Economic, Financial and Technical SeriesVolume 56, Issue 4 p. 22528A-22529A Continental Developments WE-FI REGIONAL SUMMIT: Abidjan Meeting First published: 02 June 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6346.2019.08875.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume56, Issue4June 2019Pages 22528A-22529A RelatedInformation

LAKE CHAD BASIN COMMISSION: Regional Summit

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural SeriesVolume 55, Issue 12 p. 22105B-22106B Continental Alignments LAKE CHAD BASIN COMMISSION: Regional Summit First published: 16 January 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-825X.2019.08603.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume55, Issue12January 2019Pages 22105B-22106B RelatedInformation

The G20 Chair and the Case of the Global Economic Steering Committee

Global and regional summits occur regularly, yet we know little about the factors supporting an effective summit. This article reviews knowledge about the chair, agenda building and prenegotiation preparation within an institutionalised régime, and then turns to our venue, the G20, and our specific case, the 2014 G20 Australian presidency. Through case analysis, we develop a Prenegotiation Framework, identifying tasks and key issues that are usefully addressed during summit preparation. Furthermore, we identify a linked relationship between the chair, their management of prenegotiation planning, the agenda that is adopted and the way in which that agenda determines public perception of the fundamental nature or “identity” of a particular international organisation. Thus, the prenegotiation process can have significant consequences for our understanding of those institutions engaged in global governance. We conclude that data no longer support a characterisation of the G20 as a global crisis committee, as an analysis of G20 Summit agendas demonstrates that it has evolved into a global steering committee. With its identity established, the effectiveness of the G20 as a global steering committee is the key question, while régime continuity and change constitute the real long-term G20 challenge.

Fostering national bioethics committees: first regional summit in the Eastern Mediterranean Region/Arab States Region

Fostering national bioethics committees: first regional summit in the Eastern Mediterranean Region/Arab States Region

U.S.-Japan Relations in a Trump Administration

Donald Trump shocked many in Japan during his presidential campaign. Trump suggested in a New York Times interview that Japan and South Korea should develop their own nuclear weapons to contend with North Korea, stating that we're attacked, they do not have to come to our defense, if they're attacked, we have to come totally to their defense. And...that's a real problem.1 On the campaign trail, he repeatedly returned to the topic of Japan to note the lack of reciprocity in the security relationship. At a rally in Iowa on August 6, Trump claimed he was told that Japan pays 50% of the costs of basing U.S. troops there, but he then asked, Why don't they pay 100%?2These assertions, however, may have little to do with how the Trump administration manages the U.S. relationship with Japan. What may be most important is how it envisions U.S. interests in Asia and how it approaches the United States' relationship with Japan's neighbor, China.This essay will first discuss the likely changes in U.S. strategy toward Asia under Trump and the implications for U.S.-Japan relations. The next section will then offer several policy options for the Trump administration to consider, while the conclusion will assess the impact of Russia's relations with both the United States and Japan on the alliance.Changes in U.S. Strategy toward Asia and the Implications for JapanThe incoming Trump administration's approach will differ from the Obama administration's rebalance to Asia. Several broad areas of policy change seem likely. First, U.S. policy toward China will be more fraught, and the trade relationship is likely to be the first target of the new administration. Indeed, designating China as a currency manipulator was high on the list of what Trump stated he would do in the first hundred days of his presidency. But since the election, Trump has taken this idea of shaking up the relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC) a step further by suggesting that he would be willing to abandon the one-China policy that has guided Washington's relationship with Beijing since normalization in the 1970s. Accepting a phone call from Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen on December 2 was the first departure, but his statements that followed were even more explicit about his intention to recalibrate the U.S. relationship with the PRC.Second, the Trump administration seems interested in building up U.S. military capabilities, including in the Asia-Pacific. Trump's Asia advisers have used President Ronald Reagan's peace through strength concept to advocate for a demonstration of U.S. military power. At face value, this strategy may not be all that alarming for allies such as Japan, who prefer that the United States maintain a strong military presence in Asia. How the incoming president intends to use those forces, however, could be more worrisome in the context of a far more contentious U.S.-PRC relationship.Finally, it seems unlikely that the incoming administration will prioritize the Asia-Pacific's annual multilateral gatherings to the same degree as its predecessor. Support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its related regional meetings, such as the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, is likely to diminish. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Barack Obama have been strong supporters of ASEAN's efforts to institutionalize a regional summit meeting, and their administrations have supported the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus that seek to find common ground between regional security and military leaders.These broad changes in the U.S. approach to the Asia-Pacific will shape President Trump's relationship with Japan. First, Washington's relationship with Beijing will have a significant impact on bilateral ties between Tokyo and Beijing. Should tensions with Beijing rise, Tokyo will feel the impact. A trade war with China would of course be a disaster for most of the Asia-Pacific economies, and Japan's economy would be badly affected. …

Increasing human resource capacity in African countries: A nursing and midwifery Research Summit

BackgroundAs global efforts to increase the nursing and midwifery workforce intensify to improve access and quality of healthcare, clinical nursing and midwifery research must increase concomitantly to provide a solid evidence base for these clinicians. To maximize research resources in resource-poor regions, the research team collaborated with regional experts in southern and eastern African countries to convene a Research Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. Objectives were to: build a network of midwifery and nurse scientists, identify regional gaps in knowledge and priorities for their research, develop strategies that address these gaps, and initiate a mentorship plan. PurposeTo review methods leading up to organizing and convening as well as the evaluation of the aforementioned Research Summit. MethodsA two-day regional Summit was convened; appropriate experts from 12 countries participated. In a year-long collaborative process, regional experts and research priorities were identified; during the Summit, a fluid agenda incorporated findings from workgroups. Summative evaluations were completed by participants and planners. ResultsThrough the Summit, a network of regional research experts was established; peer mentoring was initiated; research priorities were confirmed; regional action plans to address clinical nursing and midwifery research priorities were developed; and technical task forces and a steering committee were formed. Evaluations from participants, planners and core collaborators were collected. Follow up reports have been submitted by technical working groups. ConclusionsEvaluations provided favorable feedback regarding the process leading up to as well as the content of the Research Summit. While further long-term evaluations will be needed to determine the sustainability of this initiative, the Summit format afforded the opportunity for regional experts to meet, examine research priorities, and develop strategic action and mentorship plans. This paper describes a replicable method that could be utilized in other regions using available resources to minimize costs and modest grant funding.

Affordable, sustainable local economic research for small urban areas: 22 years of evolution and refinement

This article details the evolution and refinement of a low-cost study of economic conditions in a small metropolitan area over the past 22 years. Annually, the chamber of commerce of the study area collaborates with faculty members at a local university to conduct the research, which is shared with business and community leaders at a regional economic summit. The study addresses the unique information needs for a local economy that are not filled by existing federal and state data. Specific measures include projected changes in employment and an “optimism scale” for local organizations. Over time, the study’s methodology has evolved from a paper survey to include an online survey option, as well as the addition of new measures to address changing community needs. The approach is technically and financially sustainable and within the reach of local organizations with modest research budgets. The study could be adopted easily in other small communities.

ETHNIC MOBILISATION AND KENYA’S FOREIGN POLICY IN THE FACE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

Until the issue of international criminal justice entered into Kenya's politics, following the violently disputed 2007 elections, Kenya's successive governments had never taken international diplomacy and foreign policy seriously or, at least, had never publicly appeared to do so. Never before had the two concepts been so ubiquitous in the country's political lexicon as when the Mwai Kibaki government mobilised locally, continentally and globally in an attempt to torpedo two cases facing prominent Kenyans, the highest profile being Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Kibaki, and later his successor Kenyatta, aggressively canvassed for support on the international stage against the ICC. Kenya featured prominently in regional summits, African Union summits, at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and within the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) of the Rome Statute as it tried to make a no-holds-barred onslaught against the ICC. This article considers whether this show of diplomatic force, which resulted in Kenya extracting concessions from the ICC, was consistent with a well thought out and coherent foreign policy or a cynical reaction meant to rescue indicted persons from the grip of the international criminal justice.

ETHNIC MOBILISATION AND KENYA’S FOREIGN POLICY IN THE FACE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

Until the issue of international criminal justice entered into Kenya’s politics, following the violently disputed 2007 elections, Kenya’s successive governments had never taken international diplomacy and foreign policy seriously or, at least, had never publicly appeared to do so. Never before had the two concepts been so ubiquitous in the country’s political lexicon as when the Mwai Kibaki government mobilised locally, continentally and globally in an attempt to torpedo two cases facing prominent Kenyans, the highest profile being Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Kibaki, and later his successor Kenyatta, aggressively canvassed for support on the international stage against the ICC. Kenya featured prominently in regional summits, African Union summits, at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and within the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) of the Rome Statute as it tried to make a no-holds-barred onslaught against the ICC. This article considers whether this show of diplomatic force, which resulted in Kenya extracting concessions from the ICC, was consistent with a well thought out and coherent foreign policy or a cynical reaction meant to rescue indicted persons from the grip of the international criminal justice.

Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual UT- KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit 2014.

The University of Tennessee (UT) and the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (KBRIN) have collaborated over the past fourteen years to share research and educational expertise in bioinformatics. One result is an annual regional summit for researchers, educators and students. The Fourteenth Annual UT- KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit was held at Paris Landing State Park in Buchanan, Tennessee from March 20-22, 2015. A total of 200 participants pre-registered, with 115 from Tennessee, 69 from Kentucky, and the remainder from various states and international locales. Among the registrants were 70 faculty, 65 students, 40 staff, and 23 postdocs. The conference program consisted of a workshop on R and three days of presentations broken into plenary sessions: Where are They Now, Medical Informatics, and Epigenetics. In addition, a poster session with 42 posters was held on Saturday evening.

UNESCO activities in Africa for the 2014 International Year of Crystallography (IYCr)

Following the United Nations General Assembly (Decision A/66/L.51) declaration of 2014 as the International Year of Crystallography (IYCr2014), UNESCO and IUCr received a strong mandate to coordinate the activities of the Year in order to tackle the global disaffection from science and scientific careers, namely in crystallography, that threatens scientific enterprise innovation and sustainability and, consequently, the prospects for using science for development, especially in Africa. In addition, the crystallography capacity-gap between the wealthiest and the poorest regions of the world is increasing due to brain drain, the weakness of local expertise, the absence of linkage between science policy and the regional community of crystallographers, as well as the lack of inclusion of Africa in international scientific cooperation. For developing countries in Africa, it is therefore vital to be in a position to exploit the opportunities that crystallography and the IYCr2014 offer in terms of building, nurturing and maintaining a critical mass of highly qualified, innovative scientists, students and engineers in crystallography-related fields. For all those reasons, UNESCO seizes the opportunities presented by the International Year to foster crystallography education, research and cooperation and its use and applications, which are providing solutions to some of the developmental challenges that Africa is facing today. Some of the UNESCO/IUCr flagships initiatives echoing to this strategy are both the IUCr-UNESCO OpenLabs (a network of operational crystallographic laboratories) in Africa and the Regional Summit meeting in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Medicare Steps Up Anti-Fraud Efforts

Medicare Steps Up Anti-Fraud Efforts

Enhancing early identification and coordination of intervention services for young children with autism spectrum disorders: Report from the Act Early Regional Summit Project

Background Increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the merits of early intervention support the importance of early identification and detection. The Act Early Initiative attempts to address the states' capacity to support this process of early identification and early intervention. Objective The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) collaborated with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) to develop strategies that will address state capacity for responding to the increasing demand for earlier identification, earlier diagnoses, and coordination of service systems for children with ASDs and other developmental disabilities (DD). Methods Act Early regional summits were held to engage stakeholders from the early detection and intervention community including parents, state agencies, provider groups, autism and related disability organizations, and academia. The stakeholders then used the Logic Model to facilitate the teams' planning process. The Logic Model enables teams to understand the strengths and gaps within their state resources and plan specific activities to achieve concrete outcomes. Results States identified opportunities and challenges in early identification of children with delay. One of the particular challenges identified were low income, rural and non-English speaking populations encountering more challenges than others in accessing diagnosis and early intervention services. Conclusions The Summits are a unique model that demonstrates the importance of developing comprehensive state plans to advance the collaboration and coordination of early detection and intervention service systems for children with ASDs and related DDs from all racial, ethnic, geographical, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Proceedings of the Tenth Annual UT-ORNL-KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit 2011

The University of Tennessee (UT), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (KBRIN), have collaborated over the past eleven years to share research and educational expertise in bioinformatics. One result of this collaboration is the joint sponsorship of an annual regional summit to bring together researchers, educators and students who are interested in bioinformatics from a variety of research and educational institutions. This summit provides unique opportunities for collaboration and forging links between members of the various institutions. This year, the Eleventh Annual UT-ORNL-KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit was held at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky from March 30-April 1, 2012. A total of 232 participants pre-registered for the summit, with 126 from various Kentucky institutions and 80 from various Tennessee institutions. A number of additional participants came from universities and research institutions from other states and countries, e.g. University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Michigan State University, University of Cincinnati, Iowa State University, etc. Eighty-four registrants were faculty, with an additional 68 students, 37 staff, and 32 postdoctoral participants (with 12 undeclared). The conference program consisted of three days of presentations. The first day included a pre-summit of talks by Kentucky researchers and a workshop on Next-Generation Sequencing technologies. The next two days were dedicated to scientific presentations divided into four plenary sessions on Next-Generation Sequencing, Medical Informatics, Metagenomics, and Behavioral and Comparative Genomics. The Medical Informatics session was followed by four short talks, selected from 47 submitted poster abstracts.

Proceedings of the ninth annual UT-ORNL-KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit 2010

The University of Tennessee (UT), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (KBRIN), have collaborated over the past eleven years to share research and educational expertise in bioinformatics. One result of this collaboration is the joint sponsorship of an annual regional summit to bring together researchers, educators and students who are interested in bioinformatics from a variety of research and educational institutions. This summit provides unique opportunities for collaboration and forging links between members of the various institutions. This year, the Eleventh Annual UT-ORNL-KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit was held at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky from March 30-April 1, 2012. A total of 232 participants pre-registered for the summit, with 126 from various Kentucky institutions and 80 from various Tennessee institutions. A number of additional participants came from universities and research institutions from other states and countries, e.g. University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Michigan State University, University of Cincinnati, Iowa State University, etc. Eighty-four registrants were faculty, with an additional 68 students, 37 staff, and 32 postdoctoral participants (with 12 undeclared). The conference program consisted of three days of presentations. The first day included a pre-summit of talks by Kentucky researchers and a workshop on Next-Generation Sequencing technologies. The next two days were dedicated to scientific presentations divided into four plenary sessions on Next-Generation Sequencing, Medical Informatics, Metagenomics, and Behavioral and Comparative Genomics. The Medical Informatics session was followed by four short talks, selected from 47 submitted poster abstracts.