Demystifying Genetics
This is a podcast series called Demystifying Genetics where I, Dr Matt Burgess, Genetic Counsellor interview other genetic counsellors, people working in genetics or people affected by genetic conditions. We chat about human clinical genetics, genetic counselling, ethics, pyschosocial issues and more. To contact me, please reach out at matt at insightgenomica dot au. Sponsored by TrakGene www.trakgene.com
Episodes

Friday Aug 14, 2020
Friday Aug 14, 2020
Send us a textHello! I've returned with my podcast Demystifying Genetics. In this return pod I talk to senior genetic counsellor Elly Lynch. Elly and I discuss genetic counselling in the current climate in Melbourne, Australia. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elly-lynch-9089192a/?originalSubdomain=auSupport the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Send us a textThis week is Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Awareness and I was lucky enough to have three fabulous guests on Demystifying Genetics. First Guest – Ellen Matlof, Genetic Counselor & Director, My Gene Counsel Ellen is a genetic counsellor extraordinaire in Connecticut, USA, with many years experience working in the familial cancer setting. We discuss: • The role of the Genetic Counselor and their role in the ordering and interpretation of genetic results • What a gene is and what variants in a gene means • The My Gene Counsel Living Lab Report • Hereditary cancer testing including BRCA1 & BRCA2 • APOE testing and dementia • Gene patenting • Case studies of misinterpretation of genetic results due to no genetic counsellor being involved Second Guest- Nicole I go on to speak to Nicole. She has recently found out she has a BRCA2 mutation and was lovely enough to come on the podcast to share her story. We talk about how she came to have genetic testing, the impact it has had on her life and that of her family. Third Guest – Krystal Barter – Founder of Pink Hope Krystal has a very strong family history of breast cancer and she found out she had a BRCA1 mutation at 21. After having a preventative double mastectomy, Krystal founded an online support organisation called Pink Hope. Pink Hope is a fabulous resource. https://www.mygenecounsel.com/about-us/https://www.krystalbarter.com/home-mobileSupport the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Thursday Sep 20, 2018
Thursday Sep 20, 2018
Send us a textIn this ninth Demystifying Genetics podcast I discuss Fragile X and other conditions of learning disability with Dr Mike Field, Consultant Clinical Geneticist. Mike has a lovely way of taking complex concepts and issues and explaining in a way that is easy and straightforward to understand. Mike has been involved with many research projects to do with the genetics of learning disability and we spent some time talking about this. We also covered Invitro Fertilisation (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which are techniques that an individual or couples may choose to achieve a pregnancy and by eliminating the risk of passing a certain condition on to the next generation. We end our podcast together by discussing bioinformatics and it’s relationship with clinical genetics and the future of genetics. https://geneticfield.com.au/learn-more/the-team/Support the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Friday Aug 31, 2018
Friday Aug 31, 2018
Send us a textWelcome to a podcast all about Huntington disease (HD). Joining me in this podcast is Senior Social Worker John Conaghan. I love all my guests and love all of my conversations about demystifying genetics, however this podcast feels special. John is such a caring and empathic worker and his kindness shines through in this conversation. We discuss what Huntington disease is and how it affects people with the condition and also the affect it has on their families. John has a long history of working with people and families affected with HD. John was working before the gene for HD was discovered. We talk about what it was like when genetic testing for the HD gene became available. Before direct genetic testing was available, a less sophisticated test called “linkage” was available and John discusses the issues with this type of testing and the hope that came with direct genetic testing. The new hope is that of genetic therapies that may come. https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/counsellors/john-conaghan/https://www.jodieharrison.com/news/speeches/king-s-birthday-honour-for-john-conaghan-oam/Support the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Monday Jul 30, 2018
Monday Jul 30, 2018
Send us a textProf Martin Delatycki joins me for this podcast. Martin is a clinical geneticist in Melbourne, Australia. He works clinically, but also has a strong research interest. We speak about the following genetic conditions: • Friedreich’s ataxia • Hereditary Haemochromatosis • Tay Sachs disease • Spinal Muscular atrophy • Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 More information about these conditions can be found at rarediseases.org We also talk about the genetic research and clinical trials that Martin is involved with including ones regarding resveratrol, rehabilitation and community screening. https://www.mcri.edu.au/researcher-details/martin-delatyckihttps://www.vcgs.org.au/news/order-of-australia-martin-delatycki/Support the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Sunday Jul 15, 2018
Sunday Jul 15, 2018
Send us a textIn this podcast I was lucky enough to speak to Kristine Barlow – Stewart. Kris has been a genetic counsellor in Australia for many years. Kris is highly involved with genetics education and this is what we have a good chat about. We explore issues such as genetics education, evidence based genetic counselling research and the diagnostic odyssey. We also discuss the management of uncertainty in genetic counselling and the future of this profession. https://api.profiles.sydney.edu.au/AcademicProfiles/profile/resource?urlid=kristine.barlowstewart&type=cvSupport the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Sunday Jul 01, 2018
Sunday Jul 01, 2018
Send us a textLucinda is a fabulous genetic counsellor who I was lucky enough to study with back in 2004. We attended a conference last year in Cambridge, UK and before the start of the conference we spent a few days in Paris together where this photo was taken. Lucinda was granted a Churchill Fellowship in 2016. She spent a number of weeks visiting clinical genetics services in the USA and UK in 2017 and the report, which Lucinda authored is entitled “To gain a strong evidence base for counselling patients about whole genome testing - USA, UK”. https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Lucinda.FreemanSupport the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Sunday Jun 17, 2018
Sunday Jun 17, 2018
Send us a textDemystifying Genetics with Jane Tiller This podcast can be accessed via Apple iTunes Podcasts at https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/demystifying-genetics/id1387090904 or on Buzzsprout at http://demystifying-genetics.buzzsprout.com/ I was lucky enough to record this podcast with Jane Tiller in the studio in Melbourne. The photo is a selfie of us outside the studio. Jane and I discussed direct to consumer testing, life insurance and genetics and the tristate killer. Listen in for an interesting conversation about genetics and ethics. One of the topics we discussed was genetic sexual attraction. Wikipedia has an interesting page on this topic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_sexual_attraction https://lens.monash.edu/@jane-tillerSupport the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Sunday Jun 03, 2018
Sunday Jun 03, 2018
Send us a textI had the pleasure of catching up with Genetic Counsellor Yasmin in this latest podcast. Yasmin discussed many issues related to genetic counselling including pharmacogenomics and genetic conditions hypercholesterolemia and cardiac genetics. https://www.npm.sg/news-and-events/editorial-features/genetic-counselling-job-passion-and-calling/Support the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/

Monday May 21, 2018
Monday May 21, 2018
Send us a textIt was a pleasure having Ron as my first guest on my podcast. We covered many topics including Ron's private genetic counselling practice in Sydney, Australia, what genetic counselling actually is, prenatal genetic counselling, expanded carrier testing and the professional body for clinical genetics in Australia; the Human Genetics Society of Australasia. https://thegeneticclinic.com.au/about-us/Support the showDemystifying Genetics is sponsored by TrakGenehttps://www.trakgene.com/