1 - 5 September 2008 - Coolangatta, Australia
This intensive course will cover state-of-the-art statistical genetics methods for detection of genetic loci for complex traits, either qualitative or quantitative. Each day will include hands-on computer exercises using statistical genetics computer programs, especially Mendel, SimWalk, and FBAT. The course will cover the general theory behind the methods as well as emphasize the practical aspects needed to give the best chances of success.
Topics will include:
The course is designed to assist people who are actively studying the genetics of complex traits. It will cover both theoretical and practical gene mapping issues and will stress the interpretation of results. Please see the following link for a downloadable flier.
Instructors: Professor Kenneth Lange and senior faculty from the Department of Human Genetics, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Participants: No prior experience with these methods is required but participants should be "computer literate". Each participant is required to bring a laptop computer to the course to run the analysis exercises.
Venue: Anzac Room, Twin Towns Club and Resort, Coolangatta, Australia.
Sunday 31st August 2008
Welcome Reception, price included in the registration fee, venue and start time to be advised.
Monday 1st September 2008
8am Registration Desk opens
9am Course begins
Thursday 4th September 2008
Course dinner, price included in the registration fee, venue to be advised.
Friday 5th September 2008
5pm Course ends
Course Details and Timetable can be found here
Course participants are responsible for organising their own accommodation. Accommodation is available at the course venue, the Outrigger Twin Towns Resort, where the advertised regular rate for a single room in the hotel is AUD184. Other accommodation options exist and some suggestions are given below. The prices quoted are in Australian dollars and include a 10% goods and services tax (GST).
Lower nightly rates for these and other hotels may be available online, for instance at:
Coolangatta YHA
230 Coolangatta Road
Bilinga QLD 4225
Phone: +61 7 5536 7644
Facsimile: +61 7 55995436
booking@coolangattawha.com
http://www.coolangattayha.com/index.html
Single room: AUD37 per night (less for YHA members)
Shared rooms: AUD26-30 per night (less for YHA members)
Sunset Strip Budget Resort
199-203 Boundary Street
Coolangatta QLD 4225
Phone: +61 7 5599 5517
Facsimile: +61 7 5536 7566
holiday@sunsetstrip.com.au
http://www.sunsetstrip.com.au
Single room: AUD50 per night (less if staying 7 nights)
Shared rooms: AUD30-33 per night
Dolphins Harbourside Hotel
17-21 Wharf Street
Tweed Heads NSW 2485
Phone: +61 7 5599 1909
Single room: AUD66 per night
Single room with shared bathroom: AUD55 per night
Greenmount Beach Resort
Eden Avenue
Coolangatta QLD 4225
PO Box 3
Coolangatta QLD 4225
Phone: +61 7 5536 1222
Facsimile: +61 7 5536 1102
sales@greenmountresort.com.au
http://www.greenmountresort.com.au
Single room: AUD115 per night
Single room with breakfast: AUD130 per night
Coolangatta is a beautiful seaside town adjacent to Tweed Heads, its so-called “twin town”. Coolangatta and Tweed Heads are towns which lie on opposite sides of the border separating the states of Queensland (Qld) and New South Wales (NSW). A map showing the location of the course venue can be found here.
Coolangatta’s airport, called Gold Coast airport, receives direct flights from a number of cities in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. If you cannot fly directly to Gold Coast airport then we recommend you fly to Brisbane or Sydney then follow the advice below. Further advice for travellers to Coolangatta can be found here.
From Gold Coast airport
The Twin Towns Resort and Club (the course venue) and most hotels in Coolangatta and Tweed Heads are a short taxi ride from Gold Coast airport (approximate cost: $10). Other transport options from Gold Coast airport to local hotels and resorts can be found at http://www.goldcoastairport.com.au/transfers.php.
From Sydney airport
Connecting flights from Sydney airport to Gold Coast airport are available from Qantas, Virgin Blue, Air New Zealand and other airlines (a full listing is available at http://www.goldcoastairport.com.au/index.php ). Once you have arrived at Gold Coast airport, follow the instructions above.
From Brisbane airport
A list of transport options from Brisbane airport, including public transport and car rental, can be found here. The Airtrain Connect service involves a train ride from Brisbane airport then a chauffeured transfer to Coolangatta and is quite reasonably priced (approximate cost: $74 return).
Advice to international visitors
The following may be useful for international visitors to Australia.
Travel by road within Australia can be very time-consuming, for example it takes roughly 9 hours to drive from Sydney to Tweed Heads, so air travel is recommended whenever possible.
Some international visitors may require visas or may need to satisfy other requirements to visit Australia. As the procedure for obtaining a visa can take a month or more to complete we recommend you enquire about visas well in advance.
Like the US, Australia is a federation of states, each with its own parliament and laws. Coolangatta and Tweed Heads are towns which lie on opposite sides of the border separating the states of Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW). Therefore, while these “twin towns” are adjacent to each other and movement between them is unrestricted, it is important to realize that subtle differences in laws and services may exist.
Registrations for the course are now open. Please download a registration form, and return it with payment in Australian Dollars (AUD) to:
2008 Statistical Genetics Short Course featuring Mendel
Australian Twin Registry
Level 2, 723 Swanston St
Carlton VIC 3053
Australia
or Fax (+61 3) 9349 5815 with credit card details
Full Registration: AUD1500
Student registration: AUD1250
Early Bird rate: A discount of AUD100 applies for registrations received prior to April 15th 2008