The 22q11.2 Society

Vision: To be the international leader in promoting research related to the chromosome 22q11.2 region.

Latest News

• Please wear a mask
  Wearing masks in indoor public places helps reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep each other safe. Some cities and regions have now enacted mandatory mask bylaws. For more information on the use of masks, please see the World Health Organization's video on masks and the International 22q11.2 Foundation's info sheet: Masks: Why, When, and How.
  
  Check out this video by Bill Nye to see how effectively face masks work. When Bill wears a mask and blows on the candle, the candle stays lit no matter how hard he blows. The air flow from his mouth mostly cannot reach the candle. Similarly, when we wear masks, it is much harder for viruses from our mouths and noses to get into the air and infect someone else. So please wear a mask. Thank you.
  
  
  

• Profs. Bruno Marino and Nicole Philip-Sarles honored with 2020 DiGeorge Medal
  It is with enormous pleasure that the Trustees of the 22q11.2 Society announce Professors Bruno Marino and Nicole Philip-Sarles as joint recipients of the 2020 Angelo DiGeorge Memorial Medal of Honor. Drs. Marino and Philip-Sarles were selected in recognition of:

  1. Their seminal contributions to the study of genotype-phenotype correlations in 22q11.2DS;
  
  
  2. Their pivotal roles in establishing world renowned subspecialty clinics at Sapienza University and Ospedale Bambino Gesu in Rome, and the Centre of Expertise for Developmental Anomalies of South France in Marseilles, respectively;
  
  
  3. Their unwavering commitment and service to individuals and families affected by chromosome 22q11.2 differences through their work with AIDEL22 in Italy and Generation 22 in France, as well as throughout the region and across the world, including as Medical Advisory Board Members for the International 22q11.2 Foundation; and
  
  
  4. Their longstanding efforts to support collaborative work globally through innumerable basic science, clinical and educational initiatives as members of the International 22q11.2 Modifier Consortium and the International 22q11.2 Brain and Behavior Consortium, in hosting biennial international 22q11.2 conferences in Rome '00 and Marseilles '06, and as founding Trustees of the 22q11.2 Society.
  Without question, Profs. Marino and Philip-Sarles are recognized as experts on chromosome 22q11.2 CNVs nationally and internationally, but in addition they are acknowledged as world authorities in Pediatrics, Cardiology, Genetics, and Fetal Medicine. It is with inordinate pride that we consider Profs. Marino and Philip-Sarles as members of the 22q11.2 family, as we celebrate their individual and collective achievements conjointly with this award, the highest honor presented by the Society.
  
  Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Profs Marino and Philip-Sarles will be recognized in person as recipients of the DiGeorge Medal at the 12^th Biennial International 22q11.2 Meeting in Split, Croatia.
  
  
  

• Our COVID-19 information webpage
  

  We invite you to visit our COVID-19 information page, where you will find: How to reduce the spread of COVID-19 The International 22q11.2 Foundation's infosheets: COVID-19 Series for Individuals with 22q11.2 Differences The Immune Deficiency Foundation's COVID-19 videos for individuals with immunodeficiencies Invitation to participate in studies

  
  
  

• Survey for families affected by chromosome differences
  G2MH, an international group of scientists and healthcare providers, many of whom are members of the 22q11.2 Society and supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), is interested in learning about why families and persons affected by chromosome differences may or may not participate in research studies. In addition, given the current COVID-19 pandemic, G2MH is also hoping to learn about how families are coping during this difficult time. We therefore invite you to share the following short anonymous survey with your patients:
  
  https://redcap.chop.edu/surveys/?s=NK7DMDX3CM
  
  Many thanks in advance.
  
  
  

• 22q and ZooM - a big Thank You!
  What an AMAZING Day at the ZooM for 22q! Thank You for Joining Us and Raising Awareness!
  
  The International 22q11.2 Foundation would like to thank all the event coordinators, co-hosts, foundations, 22q clinics and families around the world that continue to collaborate and work tirelessly to bring 22q to the forefront every day! The celebration happened because of YOU! Here are some photos. More to come, so please stay tuned. Thank you!
  
  
  

• COVID-19 videos for individuals with immunodeficiencies
  Please visit the website of the Immune Deficiency Foundation for important video presentations for the 22q11.2 Community concerning the COVID-19 ("coronavirus") situation. To find out how individuals with immunodeficiencies have been doing when they contract COVID-19, please see the April 10 video (7 min 55 sec) and the May 8 video (9 min 11 sec)
  
  These videos are made by 22q11.2 Society Advisor, Chair of Allergy and Immunology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD.
  
  If you have any concerns about COVID-19 or any aspects of your health, please check with your healthcare provider. Thank you.
  
  
  
  

• 22q and ZooM – Virtual Worldwide Awareness Day
  The 2020 event of 22q at the Zoo is morphing into 22q and ZooM with a live virtual feed that goes around the world for 24 hours!
  
  Start time:
  7:00 PM on Saturday May 16^th Eastern Daylight time
  which corresponds to 11 am in New Zealand on Sunday May 17^th
  
  End time:
  7:00 PM on Sunday May 17^th Eastern Daylight Time
  which corresponds to 1:00 pm in Hawaii
  
  Please visit the Events page for details and the ZooM link.
  
  

• Passing of Dr. Clodagh Murphy
  We are very sad to announce the passing of Dr. Clodagh Murphy, our close friend and colleague. Please see the tribute from the 22q11.2 Society Trustees.
  
  

• Video message from the 22q Society
  Dear Members of the 22q11.2 Community,
  
  During this difficult time, the 22q11.2 Society would like to send you the following video message:
  
  https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=6aIIxAb8BUA
  
  It is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but please know that we certainly recognize how serious this pandemic is and we are thinking about each and every one of you. Please also know that COVID-19 cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, destroy peace, kill friendship, suppress memories, invade the soul, or conquer the spirit – because we are all in this together...
  
  Stay healthy friends,
  
  Donna
  
  
  
  

• Let's help reduce the spread of COVID-19
  The COVID-19 pandemic is happening around the world. Let's reduce the spread:

  Stay home (Why staying home helps) Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds OR use alcohol-based hand sanitizers Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth Cough and sneeze into your sleeves and not your hands Stay at least 2 metres (6 feet, or 3 big steps) away from one another

  Here is a tip-sheet from the Dalglish Family 22q Clinic about COVID-19. The International 22q Foundation offers a resources page on COVID-19 as well.
  
  Please stay home and stay healthy!
  
  

• Postponed: 12th Biennial International 22q11.2 Meeting
  As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and associated travel restrictions, the leadership of the 22q11.2 Society has made the difficult and unprecedented decision to postpone the upcoming 12^th Biennial International 22q11.2 meeting scheduled for June, 2020 at Le Meridien Lav Hotel in Split, Croatia until 2021.
  
  Please visit our Meetings page for more information. Thank you for your understanding.
  
  

• Important videos about COVID-19
  Please visit the website of the Immune Deficiency Foundation and click on the "link to video" next to "March 10, 2020 video update" and March 4, 2020 video update for important video presentations for the 22q11.2 Community concerning the COVID-19 ("coronavirus") situation.
  
  These two videos are made by 22q11.2 Society Advisor, Chair of Allergy and Immunology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD.
  
  If you have any concerns about COVID-19 or any aspects of your health, please check with your healthcare provider. Thank you.
  
  
  
  

• Professor Ann Swillen receives the Edelweiss Award
  Professor Ann Swillen, the Secretary of the 22q Society and a clinical educational psychologist in the Centre of Human Genetics in UZ Leuven, received the Edelweiss Award in the category "healthcare professional" on Saturday, February 29^th, 2020.
  
  The Edelweiss Awards are presented annually by RaDiOrg, the Belgian umbrella association for people with rare diseases, to individuals and organizations that provide special merit for rare diseases in Belgium. The jury chose Professor Swillen because of her "incredible commitment to the care of patients with rare diseases and, in particular, patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11 DS)". She is the initiator of numerous research projects on 22q11 DS and leads national and international research projects.
  
  In addition, the jury appreciates her open and clear communication with patients and parents. A concrete example of this is the information and activity package 'Together we lay the puzzle' that she recently developed. Professor Swillen also organizes Dale & Do Sessions for teenagers with a 22q11 DS to talk about their thoughts and feelings and increase their self-confidence.
  
  Congratulations, Professor Swillen!
  
  
  
  

• Invitation to contribute to the website
  The website editor of the 22q Society website is looking for more:
  
  - Translations of existing reviews and guidelines
  
  - Research commentaries
  
  - Graduate theses
  
  Please send your contributions to: website_editor(at)22qsociety.org
  
  Thank you!
  
  
  
  
  

• More News

• Disclaimer: Please note the 22q11.2 society is primarily an academic organization and not a forum providing discussion or individual advice concerning care.