Genomics and Clinical Microbiology

24-29 January 2010

Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge
Now closed for applications

Course summary

The overall aim of this course is to provide practical, laboratory-based training for clinical scientists, specialist registrars and consultants in medical microbiology (including joint medical microbiology and infectious diseases) in the application of current genetic techniques to the general medical microbiology laboratory.

The course will be planned around a theme of using genetic techniques to identify the source of an outbreak. Bacteriology (rather than virology) will be the focus. The course programme will consist of hands-on laboratory training complemented by lectures and guest-speaker seminars.

PLEASE NOTE: bursaries are available for clinical and academic applicants from anywhere in the world to attend this course, see below for details. This includes bursaries for UK registrars. In addition, CPD accreditation (41 credits) was approved by the Royal College of Pathologists in 2009. A similar application will be submitted for the 2010 course.

Programme

1. Isolate characterisation at the molecular level
(lead: Professor Martin Maiden)

  • Sequence based methods/MLST
  • Databases and data analysis.

2. VNTR
(lead: Dr Cath Arnold)

  • Choosing the correct method
  • Molecular techniques used, including VNTR analysis
  • SNPs
  • Real-time PCR
  • Data analysis/interpretation.

3. 16sRNA
(lead: Professor Stephen Gillespie)

  • Choosing the correct specimen
  • PCR and primers
  • Cloning
  • Assigning a species identification
  • Interpretation of the result to the clinician.

4. Real-time PCR

  • Sample extraction
  • Molecular techniques used
  • Real-time PCR platform choice
  • Multiplex assay development
  • Data analysis/interpretation

5. Bioinformatics

  • Sequence search and comparison programs
  • Interpretation of results.

Areas/issues that will be addressed in practicals, demonstrations or lectures:

  • specimen collection and contamination problems
  • technique discrimination – demonstrate how to choose the appropriate technique
  • case studies demonstrating the benefits of 'genetics' over 'culture'.

Course instructors

  • Professor Martin Maiden (University of Oxford)
  • Professor Stephen Gillespie (University College London)
  • Dr Cath Arnold (Health Protection Agency)

Guest speakers

  • Professor Julian Parkhill (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, UK)
  • Dr Xavier Nassif (Unité de Pathogénie des Infections Systématiques, France)
  • Professor Helen Lee (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Dr Ulrich Vogel (Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Germany)
  • Dr John Wain (Health protection Agency, UK)
  • Dr Paul Keim (The Translational Genomics Research Institute, AZ, USA)
  • Professor Mark Nicol (University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa)

CPD Accreditation

CPD accreditation (41 credits) was approved by the Royal College of Pathologists in 2009. A similar application will be submitted for the 2010 course.

How to apply

Prerequisites
Applicants should be clinical scientists, specialist registrars or consultants in medical microbiology.

Cost
The course is subsidised by the Wellcome Trust. This is a residential course, without exception, and there is a fee of £675 towards board and lodging for clinical and academic applicants. The fee for commercial (non-academic) applicants is £3050.

Bursaries
Bursaries are available for clinical and academic applicants (50 per cent of fee) and are subject to open competition.
Bursary application information, plus terms and conditions

Applications
Applicants must complete an application form containing a detailed outline of the relevance of the course to their clinical work. Please note that documentation supporting their application will be required from the applicant's supervisor/head of department.

To submit an application, please either:

Applications can be accepted by post or email. Sponsors' supporting letters must be returned, signed, by fax or post under separate cover. Please note: Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Applications and letters of support should be sent to:

Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus
Hinxton
Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA
UK

F +44 (0) 1223 495130
E advancedcourses@hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk

Deadlines
Now closed for applications

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