BOULDERFBATPBAT

FBAT/PBAT Short Course in Boulder, Colorado on June 11th and 12th, 2009

Course Date
June 11th and 12th, 2009

Location
Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado; Boulder, CO

Application Dates
Completed Application Due by May 1, 2009

Course Organizers and Faculty
Matt McQueen (Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado)
Nan Laird (Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health)
Christoph Lange (Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health)

Topics
-Family-based association tests (FBATs)
-Multi-marker, haplotype tests
-Analysis of complex phenotypes: repeated measures, time-to-onset and multivariate phenotypes
-Testing strategies and genome-wide association analysis
-Copy Number Variation (CNV) analysis
-Integrative Genomics
-Power and study design considerations

Description
The increasing availability of genetic marker data, especially SNPs, has made investigations of genetic associations between marker data and disease commonplace. This course will focus on family based designs for association studies; these designs use information on affected individuals and their relatives, most commonly parents and/or siblings. Family based designs are attractive in that they test for both association and linkage thus avoiding difficulties with population stratification and admixture. In addition, the population information in the data can be used for model building and screening. This course will give a very brief introduction to the basic concepts of genetic association in general, and family based designs in particular. The focus of the course is on the FBAT/PBAT methodology and how to use the packages. An overview of the topics discussed can be found in Laird NM and Lange C “Family Based Designs in the Age of Large-Scale Gene-Association Studies,” Nature Reviews Genetics, 2006, 7:385-394.

The orientation of the course is practical rather than theoretical. It combines lectures and computer tutorials with hands on data analysis using the FBAT and PBAT packages. Both packages can be accessed from the FBAT/PBAT web pages: http://www.biostat.harvard.edu/~clange/default.htm and http://www.biostat.harvard.edu/~fbat/default.html

P2BAT is available as an R-package that can be downloaded at: http://www.r-project.org

The GoldenHelix PBAT version will be posted on the course web-page 2 weeks before to the course. A special website will be created for the course so that all course materials will be available there. Note: Both GoldenHelix PBAT and P2BAT will be taught in this course.

Intended audience
This course is intended for clinicians, epidemiologists, data analysts, geneticists, and statisticians involved in the analysis of genetic data. Familiarity with genetic concepts as well as background in basic statistics at the level of linear/logistic regression is highly desirable. Participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets; check the FBAT web page for details on file format. We also strongly recommend that participants read the manuals before attending the course. There will be no computers provided - PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN LAPTOP. Internet access and power supply will be provided.

Application, Registration and Fees
The course fee is $500; this covers course materials, coffee breaks, two lunches and a reception. Applicants will be accepted on a first come first serve basis; the course is limited to 40 participants. Full time doctoral students and postdocs may obtain a reduced fee of $150 and $200 respectively with a letter certifying student status from your institution. Please fill out the Registration Form (see below) and return via email to Matt McQueen (matt.mcqueen@colorado.edu).

Registration Form
Click Here to Download Application in MS Word Format

Preliminary Schedule

Thursday 06/11
08.00 - 08.30 Registration
08.30 - 10.00 Lecture I: Introduction to FBATs
10.00 - 10.15 Break
10.15 - 10.45 Getting Started
10.45 - 12.00 Tutorial 1: Introduction to FBAT
12.00 - 13.00 Lunch
13.00 - 14.00 Lecture II: Advanced FBAT Topics
14:00 - 14.45 Special Topic: GxE Interaction for Dichotomous Outcomes
14.45 - 15.00 Break
15.00 - 17.00 Tutorial 2: Multi-Marker and Haplotypes in FBAT
Tutorial 3: Introduction to P2BAT
Tutorial 4: Introduction to Golden Helix PBAT
17.00 - Course Reception (at IBG)

Friday 06/12
08.00 - 09.30 Lecture III: Introduction to PBAT
09.30 - 09.45 Break
09.45 - 11.00 Tutorial 5: Multivariate Phenotypes, Time-to-Onset and GxE Interaction
11.00 - 12.00 Special Topic: Copy Number Variation
12.00 - 13.00 Lunch
13.00 - 14.30 Lecture IV: Advanced PBAT Topics
14.30 - 14.45 Break
14.45 - 16.30 Tutorial 6: Large Scale Association in PBAT
Tutorial 7: Power Calculations in PBAT