Starting the conversation on including genes associated with non-syndromic hearing loss in reproductive genetic carrier screening, presented by Lucinda Freeman.
Reproductive genetic carrier screening is a new type of genetic testing available to prospective parents, to identify their chances of having a child with a serious childhood onset genetic condition. There is no consensus on whether deafness should be included in this type of screening, with couples holding very different views. This is problematic, as governments are considering implementation of population-wide reproductive genetic carrier screening. Lucinda's presentation will explore stakeholder views on the acceptability of including genes associated with non-syndromic deafness in population-wide reproductive genetic carrier screening in Australia.
Lucinda Freeman is the Head of Discipline, Genetic Counselling in the UTS Graduate School of Health. She has over 15 years' clinical experience as a genetic counsellor and has established leading multidisciplinary clinics for inherited adult-onset metabolic diseases. She has held leadership roles in NSW as the inaugural Chair of the NSW Genetic Counsellor Advisory Network Group and as Secretary for the Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors. Lucinda is a Churchill Fellow, using her award to study the evolving profession of Genetic Counselling in the US and the UK. She is currently undertaking a PhD at UNSW Sydney, investigating views on the inclusion of deafness in population-wide reproductive genetic carrier screening.