Newborn Genomic Screening (gNBS): A public health necessity in the 21st century
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When: Thursday, 19 February 2026, 14:00–21:00
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Where: Hellenic American Union Amphitheater, Massalias 22, Athens
Newborn Genomic Screening (gNBS)
A future where genomic sequencing (gNBS) is seamlessly integrated into newborn care, providing families and healthcare professionals with the necessary tools to make informed decisions about a child's health is not a distant reality. gNBS integrated in public health could be the tool for life-long personalized medicine.
The conference will focus on public health ethics, data governance, handling of personal data, data storage and data utilization for innovation and drug development.
The conference is organized by FirstSteps, the genomic screening initiative of Greece.
Program
14:00-14:45: Registration
14:45-15:00: Welcome and Introduction
Petros Tsipouras
15:00-16:30: Session I: Precision Medicine
Chairs: Paul R. Billings, Dimitrios Thanos
15:00-15:15: Building Greece’s Genomic Future: From Newborn Screening to Precision Medicine for all
Dimitris Thanos
15:15-15:30: Setting the Stage for gNBS with public health ethics
Bartha Maria Knoppers
15:30-16:30: Panel: Newborn genomic screening as a gateway to life-long precision medicine.
Moderator: Paul R. Billings
Panelists: David Bick*, Ali Gharavi*, Manolis Papasavas, Martin Reese, Kyriakos Souliotis
16:30-17:30: Session II: Data Governance
Chairs: Silvia Salardi, Takis Vidalis
16:30-16:40: Ethical principles for data governance
Silvia Salardi
16:40-16:50: Emerging EU data governance
Fruzsina Molnar-Gabor
16:50-17:30: Panel: Data governance
Moderator: Takis Vidalis
Panelists: David Bick*, Eftychia Oikonomou, Fruzsina Molnar-Gabor, Silvia Salardi
17:30-18:00: Coffee Break
18:00-18:30: Official Opening
18:30-19:30: Session III: Innovation
Chairs: Maria Chatzou*, Mimi Lee
18:30-18:40: Breaking borders in Biomedical Research: How Datα Federation is accelerating cures
Maria Chatzou*
18:40-19:30: Panel: How innovation can drive population screening programs
Moderator: Mimi Lee
Panelists: Maria Chatzou*, Kevin Hall, John Bouros, Terry Pirovolakis*, Winston Yan*
18:30-19:30: Session III: Innovation
Chairs: Maria Chatzou*, Mimi Lee
18:30-18:40: Breaking borders in Biomedical Research: How Datα Federation is accelerating cures
Maria Chatzou*
18:40-19:30: Panel: How innovation can drive population screening programs
Moderator: Mimi Lee
Panelists: Maria Chatzou*, Kevin Hall, John Bouros, Terry Pirovolakis*, Winston Yan*
19:30-20:50: Session IV: Ethics and Public health Screening Programs
Chairs: Metropolitan Konstantinos, Bartha Maria Knoppers
19:30-19:45: Genomic sequencing in Newborn Screening: What it is-and is Not
Mei Baker*
19:45-19:55: Demographic changes in Greece: Are there any solutions?
Aristeidis Antsaklis
19:55-20:50: Panel: Ethics and Public Health Screening Programs
Moderator: Metropolitan Konstantinos
Panelists: Dimitris Athanasiou, Mei Baker, Bartha Maria Knoppers
20:50-21:00: Concluding Remarks
Petros Tsipouras
FirstSteps is the first Greek initiative dedicated to the implementation of newborn genomic screening, aiming to integrate responsible genomic medicine into public health through scientific rigor, ethical governance, and institutional collaboration.
Innovation in genomic medicine requires more than technology.
It requires collaboration, governance, and trust.