Training health professionals in bioinformatics. Experiences and lessons learned

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Informatics
• Genomics
• Public Health

Background:

• Genomic technologies and bioinformatics are transforming biomedical research and public health.
• There is a growing demand for healthcare professionals to be trained in these new areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a decade of experience teaching bioinformatics to health professionals.
• To analyze past training activities and share lessons learned for future initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Training methodologies (face-to-face, e-learning) were selected based on target audience, content, and course duration.
• Courses were evaluated to assess their effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Tailored national and international courses in bioinformatics, biomedical informatics, and genomics were developed for diverse health professional groups.
• Training equipped students with skills to effectively use bioinformatics tools and databases in healthcare.

Conclusions:

• The high demand for genomics and bioinformatics training presents an opportunity for developing specialized courses.
• Tailored training can bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, supporting healthcare professionals' daily work.