PROF SIDDHARTH BANKA
co-sponsored by AACG

Sid is a Professor of Genomic Medicine and Rare Diseases at the University of Manchester, a Consultant Clinical Geneticist at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine and Clinical Director of the Manchester Rare Conditions Centre. His current research programs focus on novel disease-gene discovery​; improving diagnosis through innovative data analysis and multi-omic approaches​; understanding mechanisms and natural history of developmental diseases; and performing therapeutic clinical trials. He co-leads the Rare Conditions theme of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, the EpiGenRare node of the MRC UK Rare Disease Research Platform, and NHSE Rare Disease Genomics Network of Excellence.

A/Prof Heather Zierhut
co-sponsored by ASGC

Dr. Heather Zierhut is the Immediate Past President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Board of Directors. She is the head of the University of Minnesota’s Genetic Counseling Graduate program and is a professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. Heather received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and earned her master’s degree in genetic counselling from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and doctorate in philosophy - focused in molecular, cellular, developmental biology and genetics - with an epidemiology minor.