Date: 30 November to 11 December 2025
Venue: Faculty of Health Sciences campus
Time: 08h30 to 18h00
Duration: 72 hours (70 contact hours + 2 hours self-study)
Course fee R 800 (approximately $50)
Genomics is rapidly transforming biomedical research, healthcare, and innovation worldwide. In Africa, growing investment in infrastructure, data, and networks is creating momentum to harness genomics for addressing health, biodiversity, and development challenges. Realizing this potential requires coordinated efforts to build research capacity, promote equitable data access, and strengthen African leadership in the genomics ecosystem.
This inaugural 10-day residential short course: a collaboration between the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG), the University of Cape Town (UCT), Wellcome Connecting Science, The Jackson Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, and African university partners; aims to empower early- and mid-career researchers across the continent.
Participants will explore foundational and emerging topics in genomics, engage in hands-on data analysis, and examine African-led research case studies. The course emphasizes ethical and equitable research practices and provides a platform for collaboration, peer learning, and leadership development.
Programme Highlights:
• Seminars on genomics fundamentals and African genomic diversity
• Hands-on training using open-source tools
• African genomics case studies
• Leadership, collaboration, and sustainability sessions
Who Should Attend?
Advanced PhD students, early postdocs, with potential inclusion of final year medical students and clinicians
Entry requirements: Graduate degree (with exception of the medical students) in relevant field e.g. human genetics/genomics, infectious disease, public health, evolutionary biology
Course Objectives
Critically evaluate foundational concepts in genomics and bioinformatics in relation to African research priorities.
Apply advanced practical skills to generate, analyse, and interpret genomic data using accessible tools and workflows.
Assess and integrate ethical, equitable, and context-specific considerations into genomics research.
Analyse the potential and limitations of genomics technologies to advance health and scientific discovery.
Demonstrate leadership, collaboration, and professional reflective practice to support African genomics capacity.
Specific Learning Outcomes:
Run and document a reproducible pipeline (QC → align → call → annotate) using a workflow manager + environment control, with
IGV evidence and a README.
Construct pedigrees, integrate clinical data with variant databases,and produce a concise interpretation report.
Draft a mini genomics protocol including consent, data-governance/sharing,DMP, phenotype tools, and a risk/mitigation register.
Design a translational pathway (e.g., cancer, infectious disease,PGx) with validation steps, system enablers, resources, and 3–5 adoption/impact indicators
A digital certificate of completion will be issued to participants who successfully complete the course and pass the exam.