For some time, advances in computer science and high performance computing have led to ground-breaking developments in systems biology model inference. However, only now has there been sufficient large-scale data available to parameterise these models and use them usefully. Similarly, machine learning approaches have recently started having a significant impact in our analysis of large omics datasets and extraction of useful biological knowledge.

Therefore this course, run in collaboration with the Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences Team, will provide timely advanced-level training in using large-scale multi-omics data and machine learning to infer biological models.

Who is this course for?

Applicants should be researchers who are using large multi-omics datasets to infer systems biology models. This is an advanced-level course, and so we will select applicants who already have some experience (ideally 1-2 years) of working with systems biology modelling or related large-scale multi-omics data analysis. Additionally, applicants will be expected to have a working knowledge of using Linux commands, and experience of using a programming language (e.g. Python or Perl).

What will I learn?

Learning outcomes

After the course the participants should be able to:

• Discuss and apply a range of data integration and reduction approaches for large scale omics data
• Describe principles behind different machine learning methods and apply them on omics datasets to extract biological knowledge
• Infer biological models using machine learning and statistical methods
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of different inference approaches
• Compare signal propagation through logic modelling vs diffusion-based approaches
• Access, query and retrieve models from public repositories for systems biology

Course content

The programme will include, lectures, discussions and practical computational exercises covering the following topics:

• Introductory session
• Omics data integration / reduction and interpretation
• Protein-protein interaction, gene regulatory and signalling network inference
• Logic modelling
• Machine learning / deep learning for model inference

Trainers

Registration is handled through the Wellcome Genome Campus Connecting Science Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences website.