UK Human Functional Genomics Initiative Successfully Delivers National AI & Genomics Training Programme

The UK Human Functional Genomics Initiative is pleased to announce the successful completion of its fully funded national training programme designed to equip researchers and technical professionals with practical skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for biomedical data.

Supported by funding from UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and additional support from BioFAIR, the programme provided an inclusive and accessible opportunity for participants across the UK biomedical research community to develop critical computational skills and apply them to functional genomics.

The training programme was structured in two complementary components. Participants first engaged in a comprehensive online course covering foundational skills in Python programming and data handling, delivered through a series of structured modules between January and March 2026. This was followed by an intensive, hands-on workshop in London held on 23^rd and 24^th March 2026, where attendees applied AI/ML approaches to real-world functional genomics datasets, supported by the Initiative’s Data Coordination Centre, Bioinformatician’s from the Imperial PPTM Cluster and the Functional Genomics Screening Laboratory based at the Milner Therapeutics Institute, and facilitators from Learn2Discover.

A total of 36 participants were fully funded to undertake both the online training and attend the in-person workshop in London. In addition, a further 30 participants were funded to complete the online training programme, significantly expanding the reach and impact of the initiative. BioFAIR’s additional funding support played a key role in enabling the successful delivery of the in-person workshop.

The workshop fostered a highly collaborative environment, with participants encouraged to engage in practical sessions centred on real world functional genomics data, and connect with peers and experts in genomics data science. The programme also prioritised inclusivity, actively encouraging applications from early career researchers, research technology professionals, and individuals from groups under-represented in AI/ML and genomics.

With an estimated bursary value of approximately £2,500 per participant, the initiative removed financial barriers by covering all training costs, as well as travel and subsistence for the in-person component.

Participants will continue their engagement with the UK Human Functional Genomics Initiative through attendance at the Scientific Symposium in Manchester in June 2026, alongside follow-up evaluations to capture the longer-term impact of the training on skills development, research outputs, and career progression.

This programme represents a significant step forward in building AI capability within the UK’s functional genomics community, strengthening the integration of advanced computational approaches into biomedical research.