View source for GenAssocStatMeth2026


{{Note|The following information describes the "Genetic Association and Beyond" course scheduled for September 2026.}}

== Genetic Association and Beyond: Statistical Methods to Elucidate Complex Trait Etiology ==

'''September 14-18, 2026'''
'''Max Delbrück Center (MDC) for Molecular Medicine'''
'''Berlin, Germany'''

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This new course is being offered in 2026 at the MDC – '''''Genetic Association and Beyond: Statistical Methods to Elucidate Complex Trait Etiology''''' – that reflects advances in the field of statistical genetics which have occurred in recent years. The course will be held from September 14-18, 2026. The goal of the course is to teach course participants both the theory and application of statistical methods to provide insight into the etiology of human complex traits using a variety of statistical and bioinformatic methods.

=== Course Fees ===
The cost of the 5-day course is:
* '''Academic Researchers:''' 975 EUR
* '''Private (for-profit) Companies:''' 1,950 EUR

The fee covers tuition, the Monday course dinner, and all course-related materials. It does '''not''' cover room or board. Housing is available for participants at nearby hotels.

=== Topics Covered ===
The course curriculum includes:
* Association analysis of qualitative and quantitative traits (rare and common variants)
* Genotype arrays, imputation, exome, and whole genome sequence data
* Data quality control and linear mixed models (LMM/GLMM)
* Controlling for population admixture, substructure, and confounders
* Gene x gene and gene x environmental interactions
* Pleiotropy, mediation analysis, and Mendelian randomization (MR)
* Heritability estimation, genetic correlations, and polygenic scores (PGS)
* Power and sample size estimation
* Permutation, family-wise error rate (FWER), and false discovery rate (FDR)
* Meta-analysis and fine mapping
* Proteomic-wide association studies (PWAS)

=== Computer Exercises ===
Hands-on exercises will be conducted using the following programs:
* ANNOVAR, bcftools, Fast-LMM, GCTA, LD clumping, LDSC regression, mediation, PLINK, R, REGENIE, and TwoSampleMR.

=== Instructors ===
* '''Suzanne Leal''' (Columbia University)
* '''Michael Nothnagel''' (University of Cologne)

=== Contact and Registration ===
For additional information, please contact [mailto:suzannemleal@gmail.com Suzanne Leal].

* [https://statgen.us/files/2024/09/schedule_berlin_genetic_association_course_Sept_2024.pdf Course Schedule]
* [https://statgen.us/files/2024/09/Berlin_Genet_Association_Course_Application_2024.html Application Form]
* [https://statgen.us/files/2024/09/Berlin_genetic_association_flyer_2024.pdf Course Flyer]