Program Overview

Program Overview

The Applications of Genomics in Infectious Disease program is a 15-credit microcredential offered by the University of Birmingham. This course provides an insight into the intersection of genomics and infectious disease, investigating diagnostic accuracy, treatment efficacy, and disease control.

Course Description

The program aims to equip students with the knowledge of how genomics can be used to improve diagnostic accuracy, predict which drugs are likely to be more effective in individual patients, and contribute to the monitoring, treatment, and control of infectious disease in individuals and populations. Modern high-throughput sequencing methodologies can provide unprecedented specificity for diagnosing infectious diseases and tracking the spread of an outbreak.

Course Content

The course covers the following topics:

• 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 characterisation of viruses: DNA and RNA genomes, single-stranded, double-stranded, and segmented
• 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

Course Delivery

The course is delivered in person over 5 days, with on-campus teaching taking place on specific dates in April and May 2025.

Teaching Staff

The program is taught by experienced staff, including:

• Dr. Michael J Cox, Assistant Professor Respiratory Microbiome
• Dr. Andrew Bell, Lecturer in Cancer and Genomic Sciences

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have a good honours degree in a life sciences subject, although those with alternative qualifications and professional experience within the health service or other relevant background may be considered. It is recommended that students take Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics and Omics Techniques and their Application to Genomic Medicine first, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and understanding.

Fees and Scholarships

The home microcredential fee is £1,000.

Application Process

Applicants eligible for Home fees should apply a minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date. Please note that once registered for the microcredential, it is not possible to swap for the non-credit short course version.