Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics

Graduate Opportunities

Wellcome Trust Doctoral Programme in Genomic Medicine and Statistics

Aims of the four year graduate degrees in genomic medicine and statistics

Understanding the molecular basis of common, complex diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and depression is a major challenge for medical research in the 21st century. Despite an enormous investment in genomic resources, progress has been slow. It is now clear that tackling common disease requires the collection of large samples (because the genetic effects are subtle), the application of complex analytical techniques (because of the interaction between genes and between genes and environment), and an understanding of gene function (in order to interpret the findings of the genetic analyses and to bring them into the clinic). The aim of the doctoral course is to train the next generation of scientists to work at the cutting edge of genomic and statistical technologies.

Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Centre are almost unique in being able to teach the necessary quantitative skills and genomic technologies, and train students who will be in a position to realize the enormous potential of investments so far made in complex trait analysis. Provision of the necessary interdisciplinary training for the next generation of scientists is essential to reap the clinical and scientific benefits of genetic studies. Researchers with a background in genetics, bioinformatics, epidemiology and molecular biology will be required to spearhead developments in this burgeoning area and to make the new discoveries have an impact at the bedside.