Columbia University: Mendelian Randomization Boot Camp: A Practical Guide to Study Design and Implementation

Date/Time: Aug 07, 2025, 09:00 AM to Aug 08, 2025, 04:00 PM

Location: Livestream, virtual training

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This two-day intensive boot camp integrates motivation for Mendelian randomization studies, statistical concepts, genetic considerations, and practical examples to design, implement and interpret a Mendelian randomization analysis. Led by a scientist with several award winning papers on Mendelian randomization combined with extensive expertise in epidemiology, the workshop will integrate seminar lectures with hands-on computer sessions to put concepts into practice. Emphasis will be given to leveraging existing publicly available resources (data, tools and packages) as well as indicating the scope for new studies. The afternoon lab sessions will provide an opportunity to work hands-on with real data. Participants will learn and practice all the steps required for a successful Mendelian randomization analysis using publicly available data, including identifying suitable data sources, data extraction, data alignment, assumption checking and sensitivity analysis.

By the end of this Mendelian randomization training, participants will be familiar with the following topics:

Principles of Mendelian randomization

Implementation options

Suitable publicly available data sources

Data interpretation and handling

Data analysis

Sensitivity analysis

Study design advantages and pitfalls

Emerging Mendelian randomization techniques

Use of MR-Base

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