Bioinformatics Course Success

Nowgen recently ran a two day course in Bioinformatics for Molecular Geneticists and Cytogeneticists. The course was run in partnership with the National Genetics Reference Laboratories in Manchester and Wessex, and The Sanger Institute.

The course addressed the expressed need for training in light of the increasing use of computer based applications in clinical laboratories. One delegate stated:
“Overall, the course has given me more confidence to use bioinformatics tools and understand the data output.”

The course covered core concepts and resources such as operating systems, current technologies, system architecture, standards for representing and storing genetic data and some of the major genetics databases and tools. Delegates then worked on relevant practical case studies, including missense analysis, array CGH and DECIPHER, allowing them to apply new skills and knowledge.

The course was over-subscribed and generally very well received by delegates. Evaluation gave useful pointers for improving the course which will be run again on 9 – 10 September 2008.