GTAC: The Genomics Training Academy

GeNotes aims to help clinicians make the right genomics decisions at each stage of a clinical pathway

What is the GTAC?

The Genomics Training Academy (GTAC) is a national initiative led by NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme and Genomics Unit.

The academy provides training and education to the specialist genomics laboratory and clinical workforce within the UK, including bioinformaticians, clinical geneticists, clinical scientists, biomedical scientists, genetic counsellors and genetic technologists.

Aims and objectives

The GTAC’s seven aims and objectives are:

Establish

Establish a sustainable model and governance structure for the delivery of high-quality education and training in a rapidly changing environment.

Scope

Scope education and training needs across the different professional groups within the specialist genomics workforce.

Map

Map identified needs to the current genomics education offer to identify gaps, assess requirements, and align to existing training programmes and curricula.

Create

Create education resources with quality-approved assessment frameworks that allow a standardised and consistent approach to training and assessment.

Use

Use validated evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of the GTAC and the educational resources produced, to inform quality improvement cycles.

Encourage and evaluate

Encourage and evaluate learner engagement in the development of education and training resources, including immersive and virtual technologies.

Develop

Develop the GTAC teaching faculty and enhance the genomics education and training community with CPD, scholarship and good-practice sharing.

How training is delivered

The GTAC uses a ‘hub and spoke’ model where the central, online education hub supports in-person training at regional spokes – currently, the seven Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs) and Genomic Medicine Service Alliances (GMSAs).

Online learning takes place primarily on the virtual learning environment Moodle, which features videos, lectures, courses, webinars, workshops and more. Virtual reality (VR) and other hybrid resources are also being developed in collaboration with GLH educators. 

How to enrol

GTAC resources are being made available in phases. Some learner groups are being invited via email, typically from their trainers/educators, to participate in modules as part of their training (e.g. particular year groups of the Scientist Training Programme, SpRs). Collaborate, the monthly CPD webinar series, is now available to the entire NHS specialist genomics workforce. Wider enrolment of the GTAC will be available soon.

GTAC learning resources

The GTAC teaching faculty is scoping out and planning education and training interventions for learners, and a number of courses and resources are already in development.

Examples of recent and upcoming packages include:

Collaborate: A Clinical Education Initiative

Online CPD sessions for the NHS’s specialist genomics workforce, held monthly.

Variant interpretation workshops

A series of webinars and virtual workshops to complement FutureLearn courses.

Virtual reality for lab skills

A suite of immersive observational experiences for core genetic laboratory techniques.

Prenatal exomes sessions

Case-based workshops and webinars featuring knowledge-based learning.

Clinical genetics SpR teachings

Online sessions delivered by subject matter experts to support clinical genetics SpR training.

Faculty and governance

The GTAC is led by Professor Kate Tatton-Brown and comprised of:

  • the teaching faculty and GLH practice educators (see below); and
  • an operations team that provides administrative, editorial and e-learning support. 

The project is overseen by a steering group and senior management team – you can view the governance structure here.

Bioinformatics

  • Dr Sanjeev Bhaskar, professional lead
  • Fern Johnson, education specialist

Clinical genetics

  • Dr Alex Murray, professional lead
  • Dr Rhian Thomas, education specialist
  • Dr Olga Tsoulaki, education specialist

Genetic counselling

  • Dr Laura Boyes, professional lead
  • Heidy Brandon, education specialist

Laboratory

  • Jennie Bell, professional lead
  • Sarah Collier, education specialist for lab technologies
  • Jennifer Glauert (maternity cover for Sarah Collier)
  • Alison Taylor-Beadling, education specialist for lab reporting

Technology-enhanced learning

  • Dr Terri McVeigh, professional lead

GLH practice educators

  • Central and South: Anita Luharia and Jennifer Whitfield
  • East: Ben Moore and Francesca Tonini
  • North Thames: Peter Brett and Hayley Turgoose
  • North West: Tom Monk and Chris Watt
  • South East: Layla Afkhami and Julia Baptista
  • North East and Yorkshire: Kate Rankeillor
  • South West: Rebecca Lewis and Nikol Voutsina

Frequently asked questions

How and when can I sign up for the GTAC?

GTAC resources are being made available in phases. Some learner groups are being invited via email, typically from their trainers/educators, to participate in modules as part of their training (e.g. particular year groups of the Scientist Training Programme, SpRs). Collaborate, the monthly CPD webinar series, is now available to the entire NHS specialist genomics workforce. Wider enrolment of the GTAC will be available soon.

Who is eligible to enrol?

The GTAC’s primary focus is learners in NHS-funded genomics training programmes, such as the Scientist Training Programme and clinical genetics medical training, as well as the wider professional genomics workforce of the NHS.

Is the GTAC available internationally?

The GTAC is only available to NHS genomics professionals within the UK.

How will the virtual reality modules work?

The GTAC’s virtual reality (VR) resources are currently being utilised in the seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs. They provide virtual reality experiences for core genetic laboratory techniques. The GTAC’s VR modules are being delivered in two phases. The first shows techniques in immersive virtual reality via headsets, guiding learners through the genomic laboratories. Phase two will offer ‘hands-on’ virtual learning experiences.

Can I apply to work for the GTAC?

Any vacant roles within the GTAC will be posted on NHS Jobs.

Find out more

If you would like to receive updates about the GTAC, including new courses, vacancies and more, please sign up for the GEP newsletter. For any general queries, you can contact us.

Last updated on 28th May 2025