Permanent Education Course in Human Genetics

Announcement

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the start of the course has been postponed by one year.
The next edition will therefore take place in 2026 - 2027.

We will share the updated registration link and detailed enrollment instructions as soon as they become available.
This will probably go though a new registration tool on our website.

Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to welcome you to the course in 2026.

Course information

Continuing Education with University Certificate in Human Genetics

Rationale

Human genetics is a relatively young medical discipline which originated in the sixties with the demonstration of chromosomal anomalies in constitutional and acquired disorders. The discipline experienced a rapid growth with the development of DNA analytical methods which enabled the identification of several genetic, mainly monogenic, disorders. At present, human genetics experiences another growth spurt due to the development of genome-wide analysis tools, high-capacity mutation detection methods leading towards complete human genome sequencing. This evolution leads to an ever-increasing relevance within all medical disciplines. The current technologies not only enable to identify inherited Mendelian disorders, but also increase our understanding of complex diseases. Human genetics not only enables diagnosis, but is leading more and more to improved guidance and treatment.

From this ever-increasing importance and complexity, the Belgian Society of Human Genetics identified the need for a course which provides a theoretical basis for human genetics at a postdoctoral level. The members of the society represent the eight Belgian human genetics centers as well as scientists and professionals involved in human genetics.

The postgraduate course in human genetics intends to fulfill the need of a growing number of professions in which a full theoretical basis of all aspects of human genetics is useful or required. In the industry, health care, diagnostics as well as in certain areas of research, such knowledge is needed. Within the Belgian genetics centers, the course will provide a uniform and adequate theoretical basis for all those taking up responsibilities in human genetics-related activities.

Aims

This permanent education in human genetics aims to

Cover all aspects of human genetics

Clinical genetics

Molecular genetics

Cytogenetics

Biochemical genetics

Bring an up-to-date program embedded within the current practices

Deliver a certificate acknowledging a robust knowledge basis in human genetics

Target students

The course is aimed at

Everyone taking up a responsible function in a genetic center
Professionals in industry involved in or with human genetics
Pharmaceutical industry involved in human genetics
Postdocs/PhD students with interest in human genetics
MDs involved in human genetics

Prerequisites

Participants hold

A masters/licentiaats/license degree, or MD degree

Some knowledge of molecular biology

Organisation

The course outline is based on the book Genetics and Genomics in Medicine (Thompson & Thompson, Ninth edition). The course chapters will be tought by representatives of the 8 human genetic centers in Belgium, localized at or associated with 8 different universities. The courses will take place on a specified Friday of each month. A final examination will take place on a 9^th Friday. Each center for human genetics is responsible for the organization of the course and the exam at its university.

Evaluation and certificate

To obtain the certificate in human genetics the candidate will take an examination at the end of the course program. This written test will cover the different topics presented during the course. It will consist of 30-60 questions with multiple choices, no negative mark, but a correction for random errors (correct for 4/20 if randomly answering the 5 proposals of each question). Students obtaining 10/20 or more will pass. The jury is composed of the Program Organizing Committee (POC) which includes eight members, representing each Belgian Center of Human Genetics. The certificate will be approved by the BeSHG and will be delivered by the University at which the student registered.

Credit points (ECTS)

The course entails 60 contact hours + exercises in human genetics. The total course sums up to 10 ECTS (credit points)

REGISTRATION

The registration cost of the course is 300€ and 60€ BeSHG membership.

How to register?

Ask approval in your current center:

ULB : Damiano.Di.Stazio@ulb.ac.be, 02 555 6430

VUB : cmg@uzbrussel.be, 02 474 99 29

ULg : genetique.humaine@ulg.ac.be, 04-366 8145

KUL : lindsey.stevens@uzleuven.be

UCL : clovis.lessuise@uclouvain.be, 02-764 7490

IPG : valerie.zeebroek@ipg.be 071 447 118