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Mon, 09/05/2016 - 10:33

Reproductive genetic carrier screening - same test, new name

Our 'reproductive genetic carrier screen' (RGCS) has changed names and is now known as prepair^TM.

The prepair^TM genetic carrier screen gives individuals and couples information about their chance of having a child with cystic fibrosis (CF), fragile X syndrome (FXS) or spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Regardless of family history, couples should be offered information about carrier screening before pregnancy. Awareness of carrier status prior to conception gives couples greater reproductive choice.

Mon, 09/05/2016 - 10:33

VCGS first in Victoria to offer clinical exome sequencing

The Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) is one of only a few pathology providers in Australia to receive accreditation from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for its whole-exome sequencing service and the first in Victoria. This means VCGS can offer the latest in genetic sequencing technology to patients and providers across the country.

Mon, 09/05/2016 - 11:20

Celebrating 50 years of Newborn Bloodspot Screening in Victoria

In 2016, Victoria is celebrating 50 years of the newborn bloodspot screening program. Based at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, The Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) plays a vital role in this program. VCGS operates the screening laboratory for the State and has analysed nearly 80,000 newborn bloodspot samples in 2015.

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Car parking

Enter the car park via Entry 1 (left turn only) or Entry 2 (left and right turn), Flemington Road.

Car, disabled and motorbike parking is available on levels B1, B2 and B3.

Payment must be made at one of the payment machines at The Royal Children’s Hospital before you return to your car, located at:

Professor Ravi Savarirayan

Ravi is a consultant clinical geneticist at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, as well as Professor and Research Group Leader (Skeletal Biology and Disease) at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. Ravi received his MBBS from the University of Adelaide in 1990 and became a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1997. He was certified as a specialist in clinical genetics from the Human Genetics Society of Australasia in 1998 and received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne in 2004, for his thesis “Clinical and molecular studies in the osteochondrodysplasias.”Ravi is a founding member of the Skeletal Dysplasia Management Consortium and has been the Chair of the Specialist Advisory Committee in Clinical Genetics, Royal Australasian College of Physicians since 2009. He was president of the International Skeletal Dysplasia Society from 2009 to 2011 and has been an invited member of several International Working Committees on Constitutional Diseases of Bone. Ravi's primary research focus is on inherited disorders of the skeleton causing short stature, arthritis and osteoporosis. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles, collaborating with peers from over 30 countries, and is on the editorial board of Human Mutation, European Journal of Human Genetics, American Journal of Medical Genetics and Journal of Medical Genetics.

Dr Zornitza Stark

Zornitza completed her medical studies, including an intercalated science degree with first class honours, at the University of Oxford, UK. This was followed by basic paediatric training at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and advanced training in clinical genetics at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS). She was appointed as a consultant at VCGS in 2011. Her main areas of practice are reproductive and paediatric genetics, with a special interest in the clinical application of genomic testing technologies for the diagnosis of rare genetic conditions.

Dr George McGillivray

George is a clinical geneticist and leading prenatal geneticist from Melbourne, Australia. He has 15 years experience working at the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mercy Hospital. George runs a neurogenetics clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital and a fetal neurology clinic at the Mercy. His research collaborations include the genetics of brain disorders and accelerated gene identification programs at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.George provides clinical liaison for the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Pathology providing prenatal microarray and cell-free DNA testing. His publications cover prenatal diagnosis, ethics, gene discovery and neurogenetics. He is an author of guidelines for the Royal Australasian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Associate Professor Sue White

Sue is the Deputy Clinical Director of the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) and is a clinical geneticist with a clinical and research interest in syndromes of childhood. Sue works with families trying to reach answers for their child’s suspected genetic problems. Alongside the VCGS laboratory team, Sue has led the implementation of exome sequencing at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Associate Professor Tiong Tan

Tiong is a clinical geneticist with a PhD in developmental biology. He sees children and families affected by genetic conditions and has particular interests in craniofacial disorders, genodermatoses, and genomics for gene discovery research and clinical diagnostics. As a clinician-scientist, his research focuses on understanding the cause of rare conditions in order to help affected patients.

Dr Alison Yeung

Alison is a clinical geneticist at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services. She completed her combined training in paediatrics and clinical genetics in 2007, followed by a clinical genetics and metabolics fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto. She currently runs a number of prenatal and paediatric genetics clinics at the Royal Children's Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, as well as outreach genetics in regional Victoria. Dr Yeung's clinical interests include clinical dysmorphology, prenatal genetics, and ocular genetics. A more recent research focus has been the translation of new genetic testing technologies into clinical care.