Biomedical science is increasingly data driven and a wide range of state-of-the-art techniques in cancer genomics and data science is required to analyse multi-layer large scale cancer datasets and derive meaningful interpretable results. However, there is a serious shortage of well-trained people who have the relevant skillset and hands-on experience in real world biomedical and cancer data.

• Join a programme designed and delivered by world-class experts in genomics and data science, who actively develop and apply computational tools to answer research questions
• Gain hands-on experience using real world patient and experimental data
• Learn up-to-date analytic techniques and bioinformatics/computational tools in biomedical and cancer research
• Complete a substantial individual research project to expand your analytic skills and research experience
• Study online so you can fit your studies around your other commitments. You can also choose to study in person with our on campus programme.

What you'll study

Biomedical science is increasingly data driven, as new bioanalytical techniques deliver ever more data about DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites and the interactions between them in the whole tissue and single-cell levels. A wide range of state-of-the-art techniques in the field of cancer genomics and data science for example modelling, data integration, machine learning and AI is required to analyse multi-layer large scale cancer datasets and derive meaningful interpretable results.

However there is a serious shortage of well-trained bioinformaticians, computational biologists and data analysts who have the relevant skillset and experience in real world biomedical and cancer data. This programme is designed to fill the gap between research and employment demands and student training, offering up-to-date modules focusing on “big-data” analyses and enabling these through use of high-performance computing, together with cutting edge research projects and practical training using real world cohort data.

You’ll be taught by academics who are actively engaged in developing bioinformatics and computational tools, and applying them in cancer and medical research areas such as genomics, proteomics, evolution, modelling and biomarker discovery. We have an extensive network of academic and industrial collaborators around the UK, who contribute to teaching, co-supervise research projects and provide employment opportunities.

Career paths

You’ll leave this programme with competence in state-of-the-art analytic workflows and hands-on experience of a wide range of real-life cancer and medical data, so that you will be ready to meet research and industry needs after graduation.

There is high demand for well-trained bioinformaticians and computational biologists to manage, analyse, integrate and visualise “big data”, both in academia and industry. Bioinformatics and data science skills are highly transferable, allowing skilled individuals to move to other sectors, such as data analytics, software development and quantitative finance.

We anticipate that graduates from this programme are likely to move into roles such as:

• Bioinformatician
• Data analyst
• Computational biologist
• Researcher

In both academia and industry, including large pharmaceutical companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups.