The Department of Biochemistry at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences organized an intensive one week-long workshop (25th -29th January 2026

) That featured expert-led lectures, hands-on workshops, and practical exercises to immerse participants in whole genome analysis focusing on microbiome profiling. 

 

 

 “MICROBIOME DATA ANALYSIS WORKSHOP”

 

Microbiome is involved in a variety of important physiological processes, including metabolite processes and immune system function. Disruption of microbiome has been associated with many diseases affecting a variety of organ systems.

 

The workshop aimed to harness skills and knowledge for microbiome analysis among postgraduate students of the COMHS, focusing on advancing genomic education and training.

 

 

Around 25 people attended the workshop, among them several international participants.

 

 

Workshop Objectives:

·         Understand microbiome composition and functions in health and disease.

·         Learn sample collection, DNA extraction, and sequencing approaches (16S rRNA, metagenomics).

·         Gain hands-on experience in bioinformatics tools for microbiome analysis.

·         Interpret microbiome data and explore clinical and therapeutic applications

 

Rationale

The microbiome significantly influences health and disease, making it a key focus in modern biomedical research. However, structured training in microbiome analysis and genomics remains limited. This workshop addresses that gap by providing participants with essential knowledge and hands-on skills in microbiome sampling, sequencing, and data analysis. It aims to strengthen genomic education and build capacity for clinical and research applications in microbiome science.