Applications of Genomics in Infectious Disease - Short Course

Program Overview

This 5-day microcredential, led by experts in microbiology and genomics, explores the role of genomics in infectious disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. It covers topics such as infection transmission, microbial genomics, genomic diagnostics, and the impact of genomics on drug resistance. Designed for students with a background in life sciences or healthcare, this program enhances understanding of the genomic aspects of infectious diseases and their implications for public health and patient care.

Program Outline

Outline:

Microcredential Content

• Infection as a cause of national and global morbidity and mortality.
• Transmission of human infections: person to person, food and waterborne, sexually transmitted, and vector borne.
• Prokaryotes: their genome, replication and population genetics.
• Genomic comparisons of microbial strains in the context of outbreaks, and transmissions in hospitals and the community.
• Laboratory diagnosis, including current genomic techniques and technologies, and appropriate sample type; analysis and interpretation of genomic data, and the role of bioinformatics; and awareness of standardised nomenclature.
• Anti-infective drug action.
• Mutation rate and drug resistance.
• Genomic evidence of individual susceptibility to specific infection.
• Role of genomics in: infectious disease diagnosis, prognosis, drug selection, resistance, monitoring, epidemic control and drug research.

Other:

• The program is a 5-day course that will be held from 22-24 April and 2-3 May 2024.
• The cost of the program is £1000 for home students and £1830 for international students.
• The program is led by Dr Michael Cox (Assistant Professor in the Respiratory Microbiome) and Dr Andrew Bell (Lecturer in Cancer and Genomic Sciences).
• The program is open to students with a good honours degree in a life sciences subject, or with alternative qualifications and professional experience within the health service or other relevant background.
• Students should either take Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics and Omics Techniques and their Application to Genomic Medicine first, or be able to show they have equivalent knowledge and understanding to enable them to benefit from this microcredential.