Microbiome Research Design

Course overview

A growing body of evidence has shown that the human gut microbiome plays a vital role in a wide range of diseases and their treatments. An understanding of the role of the gut microbiome can unlock new possibilities in pharmaceuticals and medical research.

This four-week online course, designed by experts from the University of Cambridge, provides world-leading insights into this rapidly evolving field, enabling you to make informed decisions about its application in academic, clinical and industry settings.

You’ll explore key topics such as microbiome profiling, experimental design and data interpretation – developing the toolkit you need to integrate microbiome science confidently into your research, and to identify and advocate for new research opportunities.

With a strong focus on real-world applications, you’ll engage with case studies and practical examples and gain the confidence to integrate microbiome research into existing or future projects.

Whether you’re aiming to enhance your career, improve patient outcomes or expand your research capabilities, this transformative course will equip you with the essential tools and knowledge to stay at the forefront of this exciting scientific field.

What will I learn?

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• describe health and disease states that are modified by the microbiome
• design a study to test for microbiome differences and effects in a chosen context
• explain the differences between the different methods for characterising the microbiome
• evaluate different microbiome sequencing analysis options for achieving the desired outcomes of a study.

Who is this course for?

This course is aimed at:

• academic, clinical and pharmaceutical researchers who want to learn how microbiome research translates to their field and how to incorporate microbiome studies into their work
• diverse roles which may include postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers hoping to add microbiome studies to their projects, principal investigators and clinical research directors planning to lead studies that include a microbiome component, and researchers at any level seeking to write funding proposals for microbiome-based studies
• managerial roles within the industry and healthcare or research funding bodies who want to be better equipped to commission, manage or support microbiome research projects
• researchers in adjacent areas: food and nutrition research, veterinary science, agricultural science, wider health sciences.

Course delivery

Our certificated courses reflect the Cambridge experience and values, with low student to tutor ratios and academically rigorous standards. Our learning model is designed to help you advance your skills and specialise in emerging areas that address global challenges. We will help you build your network through an engaging and impactful learning journey that encourages collaboration. Courses are delivered in weekly modules, allowing you to plan your time effectively. The assessment criteria will be presented to you at the start of the course, so you can approach your studies with confidence and motivation, knowing what is expected of you and how to meet those expectations.

Throughout your online learning experience, you will have access to your course tutor, who will help facilitate your learning and provide you with support and guidance during your studies. You can interact with your tutor through a range of media, such as live sessions, discussion forums, email or canvas messaging.

Each course includes a balance of:

• interactive learning and real-world application so you can directly apply what you’re learning to your own context
• diverse teaching methods to enhance learning outcomes which will be delivered via learning activities such as University of Cambridge academic led videos, quizzes and group work
• optional live sessions (1 hour) with University of Cambridge academics and tutors to deepen your understanding of the week's material. These sessions may include an informal Q&A, a short lecture or a breakout activity that builds on the content introduced that week. All sessions are recorded and made available to stream so you can catch up whenever suits you
• guided critical thinking via our reflective workbook so you can collect, structure and summarise information and your thoughts as you progress through the course.

What will I get on completion?

Evidence your learning with a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Cambridge on successful completion