Wellcome Connecting Science, which is linked to the Wellcome Sanger Institute, offers a free online course on "Interpreting Genomic Variation: Overcoming Challenges in Diverse Populations". The course will guide you through the process of variant classification and interpretation using a range of real-world case studies, including the complicating factors and sources of uncertainty you are likely to encounter in research or clinical practice. You will also have the opportunity to interact and exchange experiences with experts in the field.

The course is for researchers, clinicians and other healthcare professionals, and is particularly relevant to people who are new to this area and want to improve their knowledge in classifying and interpreting genomic variants.

The course starts on 29 Jul 2024 and lasts 3 weeks, with the educators leading the course will be joining the discussions until 18 Aug 2024. You can also access the course materials afterwards. The course is delivered over the FutureLearn platform.

Course overview

• Use of genome browser tools, such as DECIPHER to classify and interpret genomic variants in their biological and clinical contexts
• Applying guidelines for variant classification and interpretation and dealing with uncertainty
• Real-world case studies illustrating challenges in variant classification and interpretation
• Variant classification and interpretation in underserved and diverse populations and resource-limited settings
• Exploring different types of genomic variation
• Recognising the role of multidisciplinary teams for variant classification and interpretation

Educators

Katta Girisha
Professor Katta Girisha is a clinical geneticist and directs the molecular genetics laboratory in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Sultan Qaboos University.

Julia Foreman
DECIPHER Project Leader at EMBL-EBI. DECIPHER is an international web platform that shares rare disease phenotype-linked variant data and provides dynamic variant interpretation interfaces.

Zané Lombard
Medical Research Scientist and Associate Professor in the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Amanda Krause
Associate Professor Amanda Krause is a Medical Geneticist and currently Head of the Division of Human Genetics, NHLS, and School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand.

More on Wellcome Connecting Science learning and training events

If you want more information on training courses, conferences and other events organized by Wellcome Connecting Science, visit their learning and training website, which has details of their full programme of events, and how to access support such as bursaries, etc. Additionally, their LinkedIn newsletter ‘Beyond the Science’ and their bi-monthly email newsletter both provide updates on everything they have available for prospective learners, as well as news from their own global communities.

All images from Wellcome Connecting Science.