GINGER at the 2024 World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, Singapore – October 2024

The GINGER Program participated in the 2024 World Congress of Psychiatric
Genetics (WCPG) in Singapore, with team members, Fellows, and alumni contributing across multiple sessions and presentations.

Dr. Lori Chibnik and GINGER Director Kristianna Post led Education Day, a centerpiece of the congress that drew audiences of more than 180 participants per session. The program featured talks by Dr. Na Cai (Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Germany) on polygenic disorders; Dr. Lerato Majara (GINGER alum, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research) and Dr. Melek Chaouch (PGC Africa) on navigating public resources for psychiatric genetics research; and Dr. Raymond Odokonyero (GINGER Fellow) alongside Dr. Tao Li (Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China) and Dr. Ney Alley (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) on embracing heterogeneity in psychiatric disorders.

Beyond Education Day, GINGER Fellows and alumni shared their work through oral and poster presentations highlighting emerging research from African and global cohorts. Presenters included Dr. Anita Arinda, Megan Campbell, Patricia Kipkemoi, Dr. Lerato Majara, Dr. Allan Kalungi, Dr. Linnet Ongeri, Dr. Mary Mufford, and Dr. Raymond Odokonyero.

Dr. Megan Campbell (University of Cape Town, GINGER alum) received the Hugh Gurling Memorial Award for her oral presentation, and Dr. Lerato Majara was recognized with an Early Career Investigator Program (ECIP) Award for her work with the NeuroGAP-Psychosis study.

The contributions and recognition of GINGER researchers at WCPG 2024 underscore the program’s growing global footprint and its continued role in advancing psychiatric genetics research and leadership across regions.