TB-CAPT expands its popular Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for TB training

Members of the TB-CAPT consortium have developed a training package on the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies in the field of tuberculosis (TB). After a successful 4-day training event in March this year, a 1-day follow-up training session was held on July 20.

In March this year, TB-CAPT teamed up with the PanACEA and Seq&Treat projects to design and host a 4-day training titled “Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) next-generation sequencing (NGS) made easy: data analysis step-by-step.”

The NGS for TB training package consists of four core modules, which include pre-recorded webinars, other self-study material and live discussion and Q&A sessions. The first training had received great response, with close to 80 people registering for the event. Several people also expressed their interest in participating in potential future events on the same topic.

Based on this feedback, the organizing team arranged a follow-up 1-day training focusing on the first training module, “Overview of NGS technologies & TB specific solutions,” on July 20. Both this and the pilot event were hosted on Galaxy, an open, web-based platform for accessible, reproducible, and transparent computational biological research. All recorded webinars and hands-on training sessions remain publicly available on the platform.   

The 1-day training was initially dimensioned for 45 participants. However, when more than three times that amount registered for the event, the organizing team decided to expand the offering and to include a second live Q&A session in order to accommodate everyone.

Following this recent event, the organizing team will continue to explore ways to make the training package available to more TB researchers. They are currently discussing the possibility of hosting another week-long training this fall.