Summer School
Our annual Summer School in Brain Disorders Research is held at one of the world's leading centres on neuropsychiatric genetics and genomics.
This year's five-day course will take place online, run by the team who are usually based in the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University.
The aim of the summer school is to provide trainees and scientists with a grounding in brain disorders research and to inspire and inform the researchers of tomorrow.
The summer school includes talks on a range of topics in psychiatry, neurology and neuroscience including:
- neuroimaging
- psychiatric epidemiology
- genetics and epigenetics
- high-throughput sequencing
- manipulation of stem cells
- phenotypic assessments
- ethics in genetic research.
The summer school also includes workshops on scientific careers and academic fellowships.
Programme
Our online programme for July 2021, which is subject to change:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 08:45 | Welcome and introduction Professor James Walter and Professor George Kirov |
| 09:00 | Principles of high-throughput sequencing: sample-preparation, equipment Professor Nigel Williams |
| 10:00 | Analysis and interpretation of sequencing data Dr Elliott Rees |
| 11:00 | Copy Number Variants (CNVs) in neurodevelopmental disorders Professor George Kirov |
| 12:00 | Using MRI to understand mental disorders Dr Xavier Caseras |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Neuroimaging tour of CUBRIC Professor Neil Harrison |
| 10:00 | Bipolar Disorder, Postpartum Psychosis and the Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN) Professor Ian Jones and Dr Arianna Di Florio |
| 11:00 | Movement disorder phenotypes and genetics Dr Kathryn Peall |
| 12:00 | Genetics of epilepsy Dr Rhys Thomas (Newcastle University) |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Emerging technologies (CRISPR-Cas9; single-cell sequencing and others) Professor Adrian Harwood |
| 10:00 | Making neurons from stem cells: video tour of the lab Professor Adrian Harwood |
| 11:00 | Epigenetics and the brain Professor Anthony Isles |
| 12:00 | Neural stem cells manipulation to repair brain injury Dr Malik Zaben |
Students split into two groups: medics and non-medics
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | Workshop: Research careers in medicine Dr Kimberley Kendall |
| 14:00 | Workshop: Careers for non-medical scientists Dr William Davies |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Neuroimaging the impact of drugs of abuse Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes (Imperial College London) |
| 10:00 | Big Data and GWAS Professor James Walters |
| 11:00 | A developmental approach to understanding child and adolescent mental health Professor Stephan Collishaw |
| 12:00 | Why is this the best time for neuroscience in psychiatry Professor Jeremy Hall |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Measuring risk for Alzheimer's Disease Professor Valentina Escott-Price |
| 10:00 | Workshop: Social and ethical aspects of genetic testing Dr Michael Arribas-Ayllon |
| 11:00 | Huntington's disease: translating genetics into therapies Dr Tom Massey |
| 12:00 | Major breakthroughs in the genetics of neuropsychiatric disorders and the future of this research in Cardiff Professor Sir Michael Owen |
Speakers
The programme is delivered by experts in their respective fields.
- Professor Sir Michael Owen
- Professor James Walters
- Professor Nigel Williams
- Professor Ian Jones
- Dr Will Davies
- Professor Valentina Escott-Price
- Dr Elliot Rees
- Dr Xavier Caseras
- Professor Jeremy Hall
- Professor Lawrence Wilkinson
- Professor Adrian Harwood
- Professor George Kirov
- Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes
- Professor Stephan Collishaw
- Professor Stanley Zammit
- Dr Kathryn Peall
- Dr Malik Zaben
Who can apply?
The summer school is aimed at clinical trainees (Foundation/Core/Specialty Training) and non-clinical scientists (MSc, PhD, Post Doc) who are interested in moving into the field of neuropsychiatric genetics and genomics, or those who want an introduction to brain disorders research.
We run a similar programme every year as an introduction to the research taking place at the MRC CNGG. Applications will not be accepted for those who have previously attended.
How to apply
To apply, please send us a short CV and cover letter, 750 words maximum, stating why you want to attend the summer school and how you think it will benefit you.
The deadline for applications is 4 June 2021.
Our summer school is free to attend.
Contact
For more information, please contact us:
