Medical genetics and genomics
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course. This means that 80% of the seats are reserved to PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH and 20% of the seats are reserved to PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS).
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Understand the human genome structure and explain the effect of variants on protein function
2. Understand and use variant nomenclature
3. Apply ACMG guidelines for variant interpretation and classification (including use of public databases, programs and in silico analysis)
4. Evaluate ethical, legal and clinical considerations in genomic medicine (including data storage, biobank, informed consent, secondary findings and clinical implication of results)
Content
The course will cover a general description of the human genome including the structure of genes and how genetic variants may lead to abnormal RNA and protein. The course includes a brief description of inheritance patterns. The students will be introduced to and work with variant nomenclature, variant filtration and variant interpretation using different tools and software. Various sequencing methods are presented as well as ways to process e.g. genome sequencing data. The course will also cover functional analyses, genetic counselling in practice, genome-wide association studies, the use of biobank data and ethical application for genome research.
Participants
PhD students with a background in medical sciences, biology, biochemistry or similar.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
This is an on-site course based on lectures, case-based group work and expert presentations by invited specialists.
Course director
Elsebet Østergaard
Professor, consultant, PhD
Rigshospitalet
Department of Clinical Genetics
Blegdamsvej 9
2100 Copenhagen
Denmark
And
Department of Clinical Medicine
University of Copenhagen
Blegdamsvej 3
2200 Copenhagen
Mail: Elsebet.oestergaard.01@regionh.dk
Teachers
Zeynep Tumer, professor, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet and UCPH
Thomas van Overeem Hansen, professor, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet and UCPH
Karin Wadt, professor, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet and UCPH
Mette Bertelsen Vardrup, professor, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet and UCPH
Dates
1-3 September 2026
Course location
Rigshospitalet
Registration
Please register before 1 August 2026
Expected frequency
Annually
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.