To coincide with the ACNEM training event in Adelaide in May 2009, ACNEM proudly presented an evening with Dr Michael Fenech, PhD, a free lecture for doctors and health professionals on:

The Impact of Diet on Gene Expression, Genome Damage and Risk of Diseases Associated with Metabolic Syndrome.

Click here to watch the lecture (you will need a good broadband connection).

With more than 20 years of experience in the field of nutrition and genetic toxicology, Dr Michael Fenech is renowned internationally for developing the cytokenesis block micronuclei (CBMN) assay, which is a quick and reliable technique for detecting abnormalities in chromosomes.

The CBMN assay is now a standard technique used by the major pharmaceutical companies and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for determining the safety of pharmaceuticals, food ingredients and radiation-emitting devices. It is endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency for measuring dosages received by indificuals following exposure in radiation accidents.

In 2001, at the 17th International Congress of Nutrition in Vienna, Austria, Dr Fenech proposed the novel concept that dietary recommendations should be based on genomic stability because damage to DNA is a fundamental cause of developmental and degenerative disease.

In 2003-05, Dr Fenech proposed a novel disease prevention strategy based on the diagnosis of DNA damage and its reduction by appropriate dietary treatment which has led to the concept of The Genome Health Clinic.

In 2006-07, he proposed that CBMN assay should be considered as a 'cytome' assay because it allows simultaneous measurement of general biomarkers of DNA damage, cell death & cell division.

You can read more about Michael and his work at http://csiro.au/people/Michael.Fenech.html

Click here to watch the lecture (you will need a good broadband connection).