Centre for Research Informatics Training
Extracting biological information from gene lists
Event details
Sessions
- 6 November 2026 — 09:30 to 17:30 — Zoom
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About the course
Many experimental studies produce lists of genes or transcripts associated with a biological condition or phenotype. While small lists can often be examined individually, larger datasets usually require structured approaches to identify common biological themes and functional relationships.
This course provides a practical introduction to extracting biological information from gene lists using gene set enrichment approaches. Participants will learn about the software packages, databases, and statistical methods used to perform functional analyses and interpret their results.
The course covers the theory of gene set enrichment, different types of enrichment tests, and the sources of gene sets available for analysis. Participants will gain practical experience using both web-based tools and programmatic approaches in R. The course also discusses artefacts and sources of bias that can lead to misleading conclusions and considers appropriate ways to perform analyses and present results.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to perform and critically evaluate gene set enrichment analyses and effectively communicate their findings.
Teaching is primarily hands-on, with short presentations and demonstrations introducing the concepts and methods needed to analyse and interpret gene lists.
Intended audience
This course is suitable for:
- researchers and students who work with gene or transcript lists generated from experimental studies
- participants who want practical experience with gene set enrichment and functional analysis approaches
- researchers interested in extracting biological meaning from high-throughput datasets
- participants with a working knowledge of R
Prerequisites
Participants should have:
- a working knowledge of R
Course fees
All fees are per full training day.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Industry full charge | £130.00 |
| Academic / Government / charity concessionary | £65.00 |
| Cambridge University staff members / postdocs / visitors | £65.00 |
| Cambridge University registered students | Free |
| Cambridge University registered students non-attendance | £22.00 |
| Special events | Per event |
Payment options will be provided in booking confirmation emails sent after registration.
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