Welcome to ISNS
Welcome to the website of the International Society for Neonatal Screening (ISNS).
This society is aiming to advance screening for neonatal and infant sicknesses and disorders, worldwide. Please read its vision and mission, respectively.
ISNS has around 500 members in more than 70 different countries. Most members have a professional (para)medical background but a few are involved in parents or patients advocacy groups.
For more information about ISNS visit the ISNS-Info section (see here).
ISNS welcomes new members who have demonstrated an active interest in neonatal screening.
News for Members
If you do not receive the ISNS Newsletter please notify the ISNS Office.
If you change your email address please notify the ISNS Office.
On January 12 a new version of the ISNS membership website (https://membership.isns-neoscreening.org) has become active. Please find here the major differences between the old and the new version (January 13, 2022).
Archived news items for members can be found at https://membership.isns-neoscreening.org under "files". You have to log in as a member first.
If you did not pay your 2022 membership dues yet, please do so NOW
Corona - Covid19 statement
Several members have asked for guidance on handling DBS cards from infants from potentially infected mothers. There is evidence that in properly dried blood samples the virus does not survive (see https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30003-3/fulltext). Of course, as always, the usual precautions on handling biological materials should be taken.
Hot topics for members
Hot topics for members
We are pleased to announce the second Robert Guthrie Symposium on newborn screening and metabolic disorders, hosted in Buffalo, New York on June 28, 2022— the 106th birthday of Dr. Robert Guthrie, the “father of newborn screening.” Dr. Robert Guthrie began the field of newborn screening in Buffalo, where he developed the blood spot test to screen for a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU). Remarkably, this initial screen has now been expanded to cover more than 50 different health conditions. His legacy extends beyond Western New York, as about 4 million infants are born each year in the U.S. and, in 2020, 140 million babies were born in the world. Almost all newborns in the U.S. and the majority of babies in the world receive this screening. Through this screening, a life-threatening condition is identified at birth in about 1 in every 300 newborns, allowing these children to experience normal or near-normal lives despite their condition.
To honor Dr. Guthrie’s incredible legacy, the inaugural Guthrie Symposium on newborn screening and metabolic disorders was held on Dr. Guthrie’s 105th birthday last year. This virtual event was a huge success, focused on the past, present and future for the field. Over 700 people were registered, and the speakers included leaders who are world-renowned for their pioneering research and clinical practices in genetic and metabolic disorders.
This year, we are building off of last year’s success, and we are pleased to announce the expansion of the symposium to a hybrid event. The audience will include physicians, genetic counselors, laboratory personnel, PKU patients, and anyone else whose professional or personal lives are impacted by metabolic disorders and/or prenatal screening. The program highlights include presentations given by world renowned scientists, a PKU formula testing event, and a panel discussion that will provide patients with a chance to interact with the experts and ask their questions directly. You will appreciate how Dr. Guthrie’s work has impacted generations of children across the entire world. Additionally, 6.5 CME credits will be offered for in-person attendees at this year’s symposium. For the full program, please visit: Robert Guthrie Symposium 2022 - Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - University at Buffalo
This event will be free of registration fees. Save the date, and register here: https://www.ub-connect.com/s/
If you have any questions, please contact Miura Wiley, Assistant to the Chair and Planning Committee, via email at miurawil@buffalo.edu.
Sincerely,
Taosheng Huang, MD, Ph.D.
Professor & Division Chief of Human Genetics, University at Buffalo
Worldwide members
The location of members worldwide as of Jan. 1, 2022, is shown in the picture on the right. Countries/states with at least one member are shown in blue, others in grey.
How do I become a member?
Please read this and subsequently click on the button Member application.
Why should I join as a member?
As a member you are entitled to see the privileged pages containing specific news items, a monthly neonatal screening literature service and a discount to ISNS-related conferences. Under certain conditions you may apply for travel grants to such conferences. Having access to the on line membership directory you have easier access to other members sharing specific interests.
ISNS Journal
The ISNS supervises a journal, the International Journal of Neonatal Screening, published by MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
For information, please follow this link.
Members are stimulated to use this journal for their publications.
