Molecular Approaches to Clinical Microbiology in Africa (Nairobi, Kenya)

The wind of change is blowing through clinical microbiology, not just in
Africa but across the globe.Molecular techniques are revolutionising the
routine practice of the identification and characterisation of pathogens,
opening many new opportunities and challenges in all areas of clinical
microbiology from routine diagnosis to basic research.This course will
examine the impact of molecular approaches in the African context by a
combination of lectures and tutorials with laboratory and computer
practical sessions.

The course will provide clinical microbiologists and laboratory
scientists working in Africa a concise yet comprehensive overview of the
latest research and practice in this essential area, with an emphasis on
how these techniques can be applied day-to-day in the African setting,
especially when resources are limited.There will be an emphasis on
approaches that are: (i) currently applicable in African laboratories;
(ii) likely to be applicable in Africa in the foreseeable future; or
(iii) of value to participants in interpreting the literature and
assessing the likely utility of new technologies as they are developed.

The course philosophy combines an understanding of the latest research
techniques and theoretical approaches with practical methods to provide a
foundation-level of understanding of the philosophy, methods, and
vocabulary of molecular techniques for those primarily trained in
culture-based microbiology.

The course will be based around three themes, chosen to represent three of the most pressing clinical imperatives in clinical bacteriology throughout the continent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; enteric bacteria and antimicrobial resistance; and encapsulated bacteria.For each of these themes the following approaches will be covered:

1. Basic molecular biology techniques including preparing, handling, and
storing DNA.
2. PCR, including real-time PCR, methods and applications.
3. Determining sequence variation, its visualisation and interpretation,
concentrating on conventional approaches.
4. Bioinformatic analysis of molecular and genomic data, particularly the
exploitation of web-based tools.
5. Future technologies, overview and potential for clinical microbiology.

These techniques will be explored in the lectures and tutorials and employed during the course practical sessions in the cross-cutting themes of pathogen detection and characterisation, including antimicrobial resistance and the evolution of pathogens, and the application of the data in the improvement of interventions to reduce disease burden.

The course is taught by an international and highly distinguished team of
instructors

Course instructors
Martin Antonio Medical Research Council Unit, The
Gambia
Cath Arnold Public Health England, UK
Keith Jolley University of Oxford, UK
Sam Kariuki Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi,
Kenya
Martin Maiden University of Oxford, UK
Chisomo Msefula Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme
Mark Nicol University of Cape Town, South Africa

Prerequisites
Applicants should have demonstrable experience in a relevant field and
be: clinical trainees or specialists in medical microbiology;
postdoctoral scientists; senior technicians; or research assistants with
a Master’s degree.Clinically qualified applicants are especially
encouraged to apply.

Cost
Overseas courses are free to attend for non-commercial applicants. Please
contact us for the commercial fee.

Applications
Applications for this course can be completed online. If you have any
problems with the online application process, please contact us.

Please note: Applications
must be supported by a
recommendation from a scientific or clinical sponsor (e.g. supervisor or
head of department). A request for a supporting
statement will be sent
to your nominated sponsor automatically during
the application process.
Applicants must ensure that their sponsor
provides this supporting
statement by the application deadline. Applications without a supporting
statement cannot be considered.

Deadlines
Deadline for Applications: Closed

Bursaries
Overseas courses are free to attend for non-commercial applicants.
Limited bursaries to cover travel, accommodation and sustenance costs are
available and are awarded on merit. If you would like to apply for a
bursary, please complete the bursary section of the online application
form.

Please note that both the applicant
and sponsor are required to provide
a justification for the
bursary as part of the application

Bursary terms and conditions

UK Courses (held at the Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton,
Cambridge)
A
limited number of bursaries are available for each course. These are
awarded by the selection committee according to merit. The bursary
covers a maximum of 50% of the course fee, though in exceptional
circumstances an application for the total course fee may be considered.
Where there are many bursary applications, the selection committee may
issue smaller amounts. We cannot assist with travel costs to attend UK
courses.

Overseas Courses (held outside of the UK)
A
limited number of bursaries are available for each course. These are
awarded on merit to cover travel, accommodation and sustenance. The
maximum award for travel (economy class) will be £750.

Bursaries can be applied for as part of the course application form.
Applicants
will be notified of a bursary award along with their place on
the
course, usually within one month of the application deadline. The
decision of the selection committee is
final.