The University of Turku's FinnGen support regularly organizes training sessions that help researchers utilize FinnGen data in their own research.

Training

The University of Turku’s FinnGen support organizes training sessions and events that help researchers start their research work with FinnGen data. Training sessions are held regularly on a monthly basis, and all training sessions can be found in the university’s staff training calendar and on this website. Personnel from the University of Turku, the Southwest Finland Welfare District, and the Auria Biobank can register for the training sessions directly through the registration links or by contacting FinnGen support (finngen-support@utu.fi).

Upcoming FinnGen user trainings

27.01.2025 | FinnGen user training 1 24.02.2025 | FinnGen user training 2 24.03.2025 | FinnGen user training 3

Course info

FinnGen user training 1

The training introduces the FinnGen research project and the principles and scientific plan of FinnGen. It covers FinnGen as an organization, the availability and structure of the data, and the position of the research project at both national and international levels. Participants will be able to explain what the FinnGen research project and data are. The training is conducted remotely via Zoom and is open to anyone interested in FinnGen, without requiring affiliation with Varha, UTU, or Auria. Registration is through the University of Turku’s staff training calendar (for UTU personnel) or via the registration link (for UTU and others). Registration opens one month before the event.

The language is finnish or english.

Past and upcoming events:
27.01.2025
25.08.2025
26.01.2026
31.08.2026
25.01.2027

FinnGen user training 2

Participants in the training will be able to explain what FinnGen’s green data and green tools are and how to use them in their own research. Participants are required to have an affiliation with Varha, UTU, or Auria. During the training, each participant can apply for FinnGen user credentials, which is free of charge. The training is conducted remotely via Zoom and lasts 2+2 hours: teaching the green data and tools (2 hours) and tool demonstrations (2 hours). Registration for the training is through the University of Turku’s staff training calendar (for UTU personnel) or via the registration links (for UTU, Varha, Auria). Registration opens two months before the event.

The language is finnish or english.

Past and upcoming events:
24.02.2025
29.09.2025
23.02.2026
28.09.2026
22.02.2027

FinnGen user training 3

The goal is to familiarize participants with the FinnGen sandbox environment and the red data. Participants will be able to explain what the red data consists of and what the sandbox environment is, and they will be able to apply for the necessary permissions to analyze the red data. Additionally, participants get to know how to draft a FinnGen analysis proposal form for publishing their own research results. Participants are required to have an affiliation with Varha, UTU, or Auria. It is also recommended that participants have a FinnGen user credentials and sandbox permissions in advance, but these can also be obtained during the training. The training lasts 2+2 hours and is conducted remotely via Zoom. Two hours are dedicated to teaching the structure of the red data and two hours to the sandbox environment. Registration for the training is through the University of Turku’s staff training calendar (for UTU personnel) or via the registration links (for UTU, Varha, Auria). Registration opens three months before the event.

The language is finnish or english.

Past and upcoming events:
24.03.2025
27.10.2025
30.03.2026
26.10.2026
29.03.2027

FinnGen user training 4

The goal of the training is to teach the use of the most common tools in the Sandbox environment: Atlas, Cohort Operations Tool, Pipeline, Genotype Browser, PGS Browser. Additionally, R, Python, SQL, and UNIX programming languages will be demonstrated for analyzing raw data, and source material for self-study of these programming languages will be provided. Participants will be able to independently conduct various registry and genetic studies in the Sandbox, understand the directory structure of FinnGen data, download results from the Sandbox to their own computers, and publish according to FinnGen principles. Participants are required to have an affiliation with Varha, UTU, or Auria. Additionally, FinnGen Red data access is required to participate in the exercises. The application form and instructions for Red data access will be sent to registrants before the training.

The training is organized in a hybrid format, both in-person and remotely, in the Kallo MED D2083 classroom. The duration is 2 + 2 hours (lecture + demonstrations), which includes exercises. Registration for the training is through the University of Turku’s staff training calendar (for UTU personnel) or via the registration links (for UTU, Varha, Auria). Registration opens three months before the event.

The language is finnish or english.

Past and upcoming events:
28.04.2025
24.11.2025
27.04.2026
30.11.2026
26.04.2027