Program Overview

Introduction to the Programme for Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean

The United Nations University offers a programme focused on biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the aim of providing tools to overcome the hurdles in integrative analysis strategies for omic data.

Next Course: Analysis of Genomes, Transcriptomes, and Proteomes

The next course, titled "Analysis of genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes from parasites for the development of tools to control neglected diseases," is scheduled to take place in February 2025. The course will be coordinated by Dr. Laura Kamenetzky at Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA), Argentina.

Course Objectives

The main objective of the course is to provide postgraduate students with the tools to study pathogens using whole genome data. The course will focus on theoretical concepts of the study of genomes and transcripts of organisms of different taxonomic groups and the search for biomolecules of biotechnological interest.

Course Description

The course will cover the following topics:

• Strategies for generating and analyzing x-omic data
• Assembly and genome annotation: available tools and current limitations
• Structural and functional characteristics of the genomes of different taxonomic groups
• Data integration and information extraction of biotechnological application
• Development and use of tools for discovering small RNAs from genomic data
• Search and analysis of small RNAs as biomarkers in diseases

Activity Description

The course will include both theoretical and practical activities, such as:

• Theoretical sessions on strategies for generating and analyzing x-omic data
• Wet-lab activities, including gDNA sequencing library construction and loaded to MinION Nanopore Sequencing Platform
• Dry-lab activities, including hands-on bioinformatics tools for genome assembly of Nanopore data and transcriptomic analysis of published data

Target Audience

The target audience for the course is graduates or masters or doctorates in careers related to life sciences, such as biotechnology, biology, biochemistry, genetics, veterinary medicine, medicine, and related fields.

Application Procedure

Applications will be managed via email, and applicants must submit their CV and cover letter.

Deadline

The deadline for applications is November 1st, 2024.

Research Areas

The programme focuses on biotechnology, with an emphasis on the analysis of genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes from parasites for the development of tools to control neglected diseases.

Institute

The programme is offered by the United Nations University, specifically by the UNU-BIOLAC institute.