Getting Started!

Welcome to the Wastewater Bioinformatics Training Course. This course represents a critical initiative within the broader framework of the Public Health Alliance for Genomic Epidemiology (PHA4GE).

The workshop is meticulously designed to achieve the goal of enhancing participants’ comprehensive understanding of Wastewater Surveillance, Bioinformatics, and related disciplines, including data standardisation and bioethics.

By delving into the various facets of Bioinformatics, you will gain insights into the methodologies and technologies used for analysing and interpreting complex biological data derived from wastewater samples. Additionally, the course addresses critical aspects of data management, ensuring you are well-versed in best practices for handling and utilising bioinformatics data.

The training program is carefully structured to promote progressive development of expertise in wastewater bioinformatics techniques within public health. It combines theoretical instruction with hands-on practicals to create a well-rounded learning experience. You will engage with a diverse range of bioinformatics tools and workflows, learning how to apply these resources effectively in the context of wastewater surveillance.

This workshop is designed for Public Health Professionals, Environmental Scientists, Bioinformaticians, and Researchers in Epidemiology. By the end of the workshop, you will be equipped with the expertise required to navigate and utilise bioinformatics tools and techniques, contributing to your proficiency in Wastewater Surveillance and enhancing your ability to address public health challenges effectively.

The course offers flexible delivery methods in Hybrid Format, including Hands-On Training, Theory Sessions (text, webinars, interactive modules).

Acknowledgements

This work was made possible through the generous support of The Gates Foundation (Grant INV-038071_2024). The Foundation’s investment played a pivotal role in the curation and development of the Wastewater Bioinformatics training materials and in the design and delivery of larger capacity-building programs. This support will prove instrumental in strengthening expertise, advancing practical skills and fostering sustainable training in genomic surveillance.

We would like to also extend our sincere gratitude to the following individuals whose collaboration and expertise have been crucial to the success of this work.

• Joshua Levy from the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
• Peter van Heusden from the South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
• Nosihle Msomi from Wastewater Genomics, Centre for Vaccines and Immunology, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa