Design and Analysis of Genetic-based Association Studies

Programme
Introduction to genetic association studies
Overview and history of genetic association studies leading up to and including the HapMap project.Population genetics of correlation structure of the human genome.Visualization of the LD structure of the genome.

Study design
Study design for genome-wide association studies (commercially available chips, pros and cons). Design of candidate gene studies via tagging and description of different genotyping technologies.Designing tag SNP sets for candidate gene studies.

Basic association analysis
Single marker association tests.Chi-squared tests and logistic regression.Models of association and power calculations. Gene-environment and gene-gene interaction.

Population structure and association studies
The confounding effects of population structure on association studies and methods for protecting against these effects.Practical will use both structured association and genomic control methods.

Haplotype estimation and analysis
Inferring haplotypes from genotype data using Bayesian and frequentist methods of haplotype inference. The use of haplotypes in genetic association studies for detection of disease variants.

Copy number variation
Methods for inferring copy number variation. Use of such data in the detection and fine mapping of disease variants.

Family-based association studies
Testing for association using family-based study designs. Comparison with designs that use unrelated individuals.

Course instructors
Dr Heather Cordell (Institute of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Dr Andrew Morris (Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, UK)
Dr Jonathan Marchini (Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, UK)
Guest Speaker
Professor Gil Mcvean (University of Oxford). Topic: The 1000 genomes project

Cost
The course tuition fees are subsidised by the Wellcome Trust for scientists based in academic institutions anywhere in the world. This is a residential course, without exception, and there is a registration fee of £660 towards board and lodging for academic applicants. The fee for commercial (non-academic) applicants is £1700.

Bursaries
Limited bursaries are available for academics (50 per cent of fee) and are subject to open competition.

Applications
Applicants will be required to complete an application form containing a 300-word outline of the relevance of the course to their research. Please note that documentation supporting their application will be required from the applicant's supervisor/head of department.

Bursaries for Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses
The Wellcome Trust subsidises all courses and workshops, so there are no tuition fees. The ‘course fee' for the UK courses (held at Hinxton) covers on-site accommodation and food for the duration of the course. Bursaries are available to assist with UK course fees, but not travel costs. We are committed to building scientific capacity in developing countries and are expanding the number of courses and workshops run outside of the UK (‘overseas' courses). There is no fee for these courses and bursaries are available for travel, sustenance and accommodation. Please see below for full details.

UK Courses (held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton)
A limited number of bursaries are available for each course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. The bursary usually covers 50 per cent of the course fee, though in exceptional circumstances an application for the total course fee may be considered. Where there are many bursary applications, the selection committee may issue smaller amounts. We cannot assist with travel costs. All bursary requests to attend UK courses must be accompanied by a bursary application form. This must be completed and signed by your scientific sponsor (supervisor or head of department) and include justification for the bursary. Applicants will be notified of a bursary award along with their place on the course, usually within one month of the application deadline. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Overseas courses (held outside the UK)
A number of bursaries are available for each overseas course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. There is no course fee.The bursary will cover travel, accommodation and sustenance. The maximum award for travel (in economy/second class) will be £750. All likely travel costs must be detailed in the overseas bursary application form, which must accompany all bursary requests for courses held outside of the UK. We will notify you of the chosen hotel and sustenance award if successful. The selection committee may judge that a partial award should be granted. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline.