Summer 2020 dates: Live-stream, online training August 3-4, 2020; 10:00am - 5:30pm EDT
This two-day intensive boot camp integrates motivation for Mendelian randomization studies, statistical concepts, genetic considerations, and practical examples to design, implement and interpret a Mendelian randomization analysis. Led by a scientist with several award winning papers on Mendelian randomization combined with extensive expertise in epidemiology, the workshop will integrate seminar lectures with hands-on computer sessions to put concepts into practice. Emphasis will be given to leveraging existing publicly available resources (data, tools and packages) as well as indicating the scope for new studies. The afternoon lab sessions will provide an opportunity to work hands-on with real data. Participants will learn and practice all the steps required for a successful Mendelian randomization analysis using publicly available data, including identifying suitable data sources, data extraction, data alignment, assumption checking and sensitivity analysis.
By the end of this Mendelian Randomization training, participants will be familiar with the following topics:
-Principles of Mendelian Randomization
-Implementation options
-Suitable publicly available data sources
-Data interpretation and handling
-Data analysis
-Sensitivity analysis
-Study design advantages and pitfalls
-Emerging Mendelian randomization techniques
-Use of MR-Base
Investigators at all career stages are welcome to attend, and we particularly encourage trainees and early-stage investigators to participate.
PREREQUISITES AND REQUIREMENTS
-Each participant is required to bring a personal laptop as all lab sessions will be done on your personal laptop. Your laptop must have the capability of reading a 900Mb file into R.
-The Boot Camp will use data sets in R, therefore it is required that each participant has previous experience using R. If you have any specific questions about R and R studio in the context of the Mendelian Randomization Boot Camp, please email us.
-Each participant must have the latest version of R and R studio downloaded and installed prior to attending the Boot Camp.
INSTRUCTOR
Mary Schooling, PhD, Department of Environmental, Occupational, and Geospatial Health Sciences at CUNY School of Public Health
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available for the Mendelian Randomization Boot Camp.