Remit of the Group

Date: 04/09/2013

Remit of the group

The Scientific Subcommittee will hold professional responsibility and provide professional direction on behalf of the Association for Clinical Genetic Science (ACGS) for scientific matters. Specifically:

·  Conferences

o  ACGS conferences, single-day themed events / working parties

§  Providing abstract review and a steer on content

o  BSGM ACGS symposia organisation and contribution to wider programme

·  Research and Collaboration

o  Promotion and development of national and international research and development collaboration

o  Promotion and enabling of data-sharing

o  Promotion of ACGS / commercial sector collaboration and innovation projects

·  Publications

o  Co-ordination and promotion of ACGS network publications and/or co-ordination of submission of data for external collaboration

·  Special Interest Groups (SIG)

o  To provide specialist scientific input into SIGs to steer input into the above and into the other ACGS subcommittees (ie Quality, Workforce and Development and Communication)

o  To engage with relevant initiatives in the wider community

Membership

·  Open to current members of the ACGS

·  Membership by invitation from elected Chair

·  The Chair is elected by the ACGS membership for a period of three years and can serve two consecutive terms following re-election

·  Invited members as required by work of Subcommittee e.g. specific named advisors

·  Once fully established, members will be expected to serve a term of three years and can serve two consecutive terms

·  Membership duration can be staggered to ensure degree of continuity

·  Members can be co-opted on to the committee for an agreed duration in order to complete a specified project

·  A Secretary will be appointed from the Subcommittee membership

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Accountability

·  The Chair shall represent the views of the membership and report to the Executive Committee of the ACGS

·  Subcommittee members are responsible for reporting back on actions and activity for collation into overall Subcommittee reports

Review

·  The terms of reference of the Subcommittee and the aims of the group shall be reviewed annually and reported to the ACGS Executive Committee

·  An annual report of the activity of the Subcommittee shall be submitted to the ACGS Chair for the ACGS Annual General Meeting

Working methods

·  The Scientific Subcommittee will meet a minimum of three times per year. One will be a full meeting with location to be confirmed annually and the other two meetings will be arranged to coincide with scientific conferences/meetings or facilitated via teleconferencing.

·  The Scientific Subcommittee meetings will be chaired by the individual elected by the AGCS membership

·  The meetings will be organised and minuted by the nominated Secretary

·  Sub groups may be convened if deemed appropriate by the Chair to meet the aims of the subcommittee and these sub groups will primarily communicate via email discussion and teleconferencing

·  Agendas and finalised minutes of Subcommittee meetings will be available on the ACGS website

·  All documentation relating to the activities of the subcommittee shall be treated as confidential by the members until authorised for circulation by the Chair

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Terms of Reference –ACGS Scientific Subcommittee v2

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