Keynote talk title
Bridging the Genomic Divide: Why integrating genetics/genomics into health care matters for Circumpolar Indigenous peoples
Short biography
Dr. Laura Arbour is a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia situated at the Island Medical Program in Victoria, BC. Her clinical practice and research focuses on northern and Indigenous health issues as they pertain to genetics. Trained as both pediatrician and clinical geneticist, her research integrates maternal child health issues and the understanding of the genetic component of Indigenous health of all ages including congenital heart defects in the Inuit of Nunavut; Long QT Syndrome in Northern British Columbia, and the potential risk of CPT1A P479L for infant mortality in northern populations. Her work in Northern BC led to the development of a multidisciplinary province wide program to address inherited arrhythmias in all British Columbians (The BC Inherited Arrhythmia Program).