2023 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting Digital Edition: Poster Gallery-DEVELOPMENT OF AN EDUCATIONAL FORUM FOR CLINICAL BIOINFORMATICIANS TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES

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The document describes the development of an educational forum for clinical bioinformaticians to share best practices. Bioinformaticians play a crucial role in managing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data and maintaining NGS pipelines. However, the field of clinical bioinformatics is different from traditional molecular genetics training, and there is a need for trainees to learn from experienced professionals. To address this, Illumina, Inc. hosted a virtual educational program with the objectives of creating a forum to share best practices, identifying education and career development gaps, and discussing the role of the industry in addressing these gaps.<br /><br />The results of the program showed a significant interest in the event globally, with attendees viewing the event positively. The development of communities of practice and expansion of the event to include more global representatives and emerging topics are being considered. Gaps in continuing education for clinical bioinformaticians were identified, emphasizing the need for educational opportunities through webinars, peer-reviewed journals, and industry-sponsored events. The complex career pathways in the field were also discussed, including nontraditional pathways and industry support for education and career development.<br /><br />The format and topics of the event evolved from the 2021 to 2022 programs, with the latter focusing on data sharing, COVID-19, polygenic risk scores (PRS), and multiomics. The promotion of the event relied on social media and previous year's registrants. The faculty comprised experts from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Overall, the program was well-received, with high ratings for course quality, critical thinking stimulation, absence of commercial bias, and likelihood of attending future events.<br /><br />In conclusion, the development of an educational forum for clinical bioinformaticians to share best practices is necessary as the field continues to evolve. Continued education, community building, and industry support are important for the growth and advancement of clinical bioinformatics.

Asset Subtitle

Presenting Author - Holly Snyder, MS, LCGC;

Meta Tag

Bioinformatics

Education

NextGen Sequencing

Presenting Author Holly Snyder, MS, LCGC

Keywords

educational forum

clinical bioinformaticians

best practices

NGS data

trainees

continuing education

career pathways

industry support

data sharing

multiomics