This intensive full time 5-day course (with a weekend in-between) will be online and consist of 17 lectures (synchronous and asynchronous), small group work discussions, one individual task (reading a paper), and 13 computer practicals. Participants will be split into breakout rooms during the computer practicals and/or for small group discussions. Level of support and guidance from tutors in breakout rooms will be tailored to prior experience.

By the end of the course participants should be able to:

1. understand the major sources of genetic variation in the genome;
2. infer the genetic architecture of a trait using results from family studies, association studies and whole genome approaches;
3. carry-out a genetic association analysis for a single nucleotide polymorphism;
4. design and analyse a basic genome-wide association study using appropriate software;
5. consider population structure and its application to genetic association studies;
6. work with a range of genetic data types: e.g. genotyped, imputed, sequenced, polygenic risk scores;
7. utilise online bioinformatic resources to explore the functional properties of genetic variation;
8. interpret results from studies of molecular gene regulation (e.g. expression and methylation); and
9. utilise results from genetic association studies to investigate genetic correlation and causality in epidemiological associations.

This course is intended for Epidemiologists, Statisticians, Molecular biologists, Clinicians and Psychologists.

This course will cover:

Introduction to genetics (optional pre-course videos):

• molecular structure; and
• variation & population structure.

Introduction to data types and formats:

• genotyping;
• imputed genetic data;
• sequence data;
• other ‘omics (e.g. expression, methylation); and
• use of summary statistics.

Heritability and genetic architecture of complex traits:

• twin studies; and
• whole genome approaches.

Genetic association of complex traits:

• statistical tests for association;
• genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis, multi-ancestry GWAS;
• study design, confounding, statistical power;
• construction & use of polygenic risk scores;
• Next Generation Sequence analysis; and
• bioinformatic follow-up of results to explore functional mechanisms.

Related study designs:

• other ‘omics (e.g. expression, methylation);
• Mendelian randomization for causal inference in epidemiology; and
• recall by genotype studies.

Dr Josine Min, Dr Lavinia Paternoster, Dr Michel Nivard  and Dr Philip Haycock are experienced genetic epidemiologists and are passionate about teaching this topic to the next generation of genetic epidemiologists.

To make sure the course is suitable for you and you will benefit from attending, please ensure you meet the following prerequisites before booking:

Before booking this course, please make sure you read the information provided above about the target audience and prerequisites. It is important that you have access to the relevant IT resources needed for the course and meet the knowledge prerequisites to ensure you can get the most from the course.

Bookings are taken via our online booking system, for which you must register an account. To check if you are eligible for free or discounted courses please see our fees and voucher packs page. All bookings are subject to our terms & conditions, which can be read in full here.

For help and support with booking a course refer to our booking information page, FAQs or feel free to contact us directly. For available payment options please see: How to pay your short course fees.

Participants are granted access to our virtual learning platform (Blackboard) 1 to 2 weeks in advance of the course. This allows time for any pre-course work to be completed and to familiarise with the platform.

To gain the most from the course, we recommend that you attend in full and participate in all interactive components. We endeavour to record all live lecture sessions and upload these to the online learning environment within 24 hours. This allows course participants to review these sessions at leisure and revisit them multiple times. Please note that we do not record breakout sessions.

All course participants retain access to the online learning materials and recordings for 3 months after the course. 

University of Bristol staff and postgraduate students who do not wish to attend the full course may instead register for access to the 'Materials & Recordings' version of this course: Further information and bookings.

100% of attendees recommend this course*.
*Attendee feedback from November 2023.

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