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Introduction: Variant scientists (VS) are integral to clinical genomics by evaluating evidence to provide accurate interpretation and variant classification.While professional organizations provide guidelines and career-specific support for laboratory/medical directors and genetic counselors, there is limited structured support for the education, networking, and career development of VS.A recent study of this workforce found that 78% of VS received relevant training on the job and are satisfied with their career path (70%) and support from employers; however, they perceive a lack of resources and recognition from professional organizations.To address this gap, the Variant Scientist Network (VSN) was created as a community-driven initiative aimed at fostering professional connections, providing a platform for collaborative problem-solving, and increasing VS visibility in the professional community.The 1-year goals of the VSN include developing monthly educational events and resources tailored to VS, creating virtual networking opportunities, and establishing discussion boards designed to facilitate the resolution of challenging variants.Methods: VS led well-attended sessions at the annual ACMG meetings in both 2024 and 2025.A subsequent survey of VS revealed a perceived lack of resources and recognition from professional organizations.The VSN was established to help address some of the gaps typically filled by a professional society.To guide the future directions of the VSN, advisory board applications were solicited via social media and direct email to individuals that subscribed to receive updates.The advisory board was selected and has developed a multi-pronged approach to offer education and engagement opportunities.A monthly webinar series has been created to provide both educational and networking opportunities.Planned educational programming will include regular case presentations focused on real-world variant interpretation challenges, curated links to established genetics and genomics resources, and discussions on emerging areas of variant science.To encourage interactive learning, VSN has created a moderated online discussion board where members can ask questions, share experiences, and provide peer-to-peer support.The advisory board will also identify and address gaps in education that might otherwise be filled by a formal professional society, such as training on the advanced variant curation, exposure to atypical variant interpretation scenarios, and mentorship opportunities for early-career scientists.Results: Applications were solicited for the inaugural advisory board to guide the activities of the VSN.Of the 29 applicants, 19 individuals were selected, representing diverse educational backgrounds, career stages, work environments, and perspectives.The advisory board has overseen the launch of the initial programs for the VSN.Since its launch, VSN has rapidly grown into an active community of variant scientists across a wide range of institutions and career levels.A social media group established to promote engagement reached 298 individuals within 24 hours of launch, with 13 individuals sharing the announcement to broaden outreach.Among these members, the majority (72.4%) held diverse professional titles with "Clinical Scientist" being the most common (15.0%).