Content and aim

Next-generation generation sequencing (NGS) has entered the research laboratories, where the methods potentially provide a massive amount of data for interpretation. Furthermore, targeted panel sequencing, whole-exome, or whole-genome sequencing have matured to become diagnostic and prognostic tools for the clinic. 
 
The final sequencing output is often accompanied by a varying degree of uncertainty, either concerning clinical significance or how to interpret the output and the quality of the observations. Moreover, the end-user is, in many cases, trained in medicine or molecular biology, not bioinformatics. Thus, there is an urgent need to equip future clinicians and researchers with a fundamental and critical understanding of the important processes underlying NGS and applied bioinformatics, whether the modality is DNA or RNA sequencing using short or long-read sequencing.
 
This 2-day course introduces practical and critical thinking concerning analyses, general statistics, and interpretation of genomic data. Presenters across the Regions of Denmark will demonstrate possibilities and potential pitfalls. The focus is NGS based on the Illumina platform, but single-cell sequencing and long-read sequencing will be included in the topics. The course is primarily intended for Ph.D. students involved in research within the field of oncology and hematology. No prior knowledge of NGS or third-generation sequencing is required, but interest in the area is expected. 

This course aims to contribute to the participant's understanding and critical thinking in planning research or evaluating existing data involving next-generation or third-generation sequencing.

The format is a 2-day residential course (internatkursus, March 9–10, 2023). The Ph.D. course venue in 2023 is HUSET located in Middelfart. The participants are expected to participate actively in the formal contents and the more informal activities, dinner, and evening discussions to gain as much as possible from the course. It will be possible to spend the night at the venue as part of the program. The course will end before the annual meeting of Dansk Hæmatologisk Selskab takes place at Hindsgavl.