Registration is now available for the Genomics Training Academy (GTAC)
NHS specialist genomics professionals can now sign up to the hybrid learning academy
The Genomics Training Academy (GTAC), a national initiative led by NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme, is now open for registration. NHS professionals working or training within genomic medicine services are invited to sign up for an e-learning account by requesting a registration pack from the education and/or training lead for their NHS genomic laboratory or clinical genetics unit.
Several GTAC resources have already been launched in recent months, such as Collaborate, a recurring CPD webinar series. Previous recordings of Collaborate are now available on the GTAC’s virtual learning environment (VLE), and all the GTAC’s professional groups are invited to enrol in upcoming Collaborate sessions through the VLE once they’ve activated their learner accounts.
To date, the GTAC has delivered several cohort-specific training packages for particular year groups of the Scientist Training Programme and for clinical genetics trainees. The GTAC also rolled out a groundbreaking virtual reality (VR) programme across all Genomic Laboratory Hubs in September 2024. Now, the GTAC is accepting registrations for its VLE, where resources will be added in phases.
Who is the GTAC designed for?
Learning has been designed for NHS professionals who:
- are formally embedded within a clinical genetics unit or genomics laboratory;
- have direct responsibility for seeing patients within a clinical genetics service;
- have direct responsibility in the processing, analysis and/or interpretation of genomic test results; and/or
- are part of an external rotation into a genomics service as part of a formal NHS training programme.
If one or more of the following describes you (if you are among one of the GTAC’s professional groups), we invite you to speak to your education and/or training lead to request the GTAC registration pack for an e-learning account.
Once learners have completed the registration form, their information will be reviewed, and they will receive a confirmation email from the GTAC team within one week. Learner FAQs, contact details and information about GTAC access are available on the website. Additional questions about registration or access can be directed to local education/training leads or the GTAC administration team.
How is training delivered?
The GTAC follows a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model where the central, virtual education hub supports in-person training at regional spokes – currently in genomic laboratory hubs and in clinical genetics units.
Online learning takes place primarily in the GTAC virtual learning environment (PGVLE), where resources will continue to be added over the upcoming months. Training packages will include courses, lectures, webinars, workshops and more.
What is the GTAC’s purpose?
The GTAC provides high-quality pre- and post-registration training and education to NHS professionals working in specialist genomics medicine services throughout the UK, using a standardised approach to training and assessment. The GTAC is named in the Long Term Workforce Plan as part of the strategy to enhance genomics skills and increase capacity in the existing and future NHS workforce. View the GTAC’s aims and objectives.
To read more about the GTAC, including a list of faculty and FAQs, visit the GTAC webpage.
