Next Generation Sequencing

18-24 July 2010
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
Deadline for applications: 1 April 2010

Course summary
In recent years, nucleic acid sequencing using next generation methods has emerged as a major transformative tool in the genomics field. This laboratory-based course is directed at scientists who will be generating and interpreting sequence information in their research and wish to gain a better understanding of the techniques involved and their applications. This course is not meant to replace the manufacturers' training normally supplied with new instruments.

The course will consist of a mix of theoretical and practical elements focused on Solexa Sequencing on the Illumina platform. However, the course will familiarise participants with other technologies, allowing them to make informed decisions about which technology to apply to solve specific research questions they may face in the future.

Course programme
Overview: Motivation and fundamental concepts
Detailed description of Solexa sequencing technology
Hands-on laboratory work: Amplifying DNA clusters and performing a sequencing run
Lecture and practical work in analysis of data
Data QC: How to determine if a run has performed well
Alignment to a reference, de-novo assembly, SNP and structural variant-calling of next generation DNA and RNA data
IT, sample and project management, data storage and data sharing issues
Methods for interpretation of the enormous amounts of sequence generated in a typical experiment
Other technologies: Current and future.
Applications of next generation sequencing: Cancer genomics, human variation analysis, etc.

Accompanying the lecture and practical sessions will be a series of seminars by invited speakers, who will highlight their ground-breaking work in applications of next generation sequencing. Confirmed speakers will be announced shortly.

Course instructors
Harold Swerdlow, Head of Sequencing Technology, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
Carol Churcher, Head of Sequencing Operations, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
Anthony Cox, Head of Sequencing Informatics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK

Cost
This is a residential course, without exception. Course fees are subsidised by the Wellcome Trust for non-commercial applicants but there is a charge of £750 towards board and lodging.The fee for commercial applicants is £3500.

Bursaries
Limited bursaries are available for academics (50 per cent of fee) and are awarded on merit.

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.