GEP announces new course launching in September
Whole Genome Sequencing: Decoding the Language of Life and Health will explore behind the scenes of emerging healthcare technology
Whole genome sequencing is a relatively new technology that allows us to ‘read’ a person’s or organism’s entire genetic code. But how does it work and what does it mean for all of us?
This September, the Genomics Education Programme will be exploring the ins and outs of whole genome sequencing in the first of Health Education England’s courses in partnership with the international online course platform Futurelearn. The course is set to launch on Monday 19th September, and features interviews with leading scientists and medics working at the forefront of this new technology.
Led by Dr Anneke Seller, Director of Oxford Medical Genetics Laboratories, the course has been developed to give learners an insight into how whole genome sequencing works as well as its varied uses within healthcare – from personalised treatment of cancer to cutting edge ‘walking labs’ tackling Ebola and Zika. Participants in the course will learn more about the processes of sequencing the genome and interpreting results for patients through real life case studies in cancer, rare disease and infectious disease – including stories of participants taking part in the government’s pioneering 100,000 Genomes Project.
The course will run across three weeks, broadly separated into ‘The Fundamentals of Genomics’, ‘Sequencing the Genome’ and ‘Application in Healthcare’. As with all Futurelearn courses, learning is through a range of articles, videos, animations and discussion forums, and there will be the opportunity to engage with experts at various points throughout the course. It will also be possible to download a completion certificate as evidence of participation.
This new MOOC (massive open online course) joins the growing list of free courses available to healthcare professionals offered respectively by the GEP and Futurelearn. Enrolment is free and the course is open to anyone with an interest in genomic medicine who would like to learn more about how the technology works and its potential to benefit patients.
For more information or to enrol, please visit our course page here.
