A new training course in spatial transcriptomics will be developed and delivered in Lausanne as part of this Staff Exchange. Spatial omics has grown rapidly in recent years, yet many ELIXIR Nodes have limited capacity to train researchers in these methods. The need for coordinated training was highlighted in the 2023 skills gap survey conducted by the ELIXIR Single-Cell Omics Community and the ELIXIR Training Platform.
The new multi-Node training course will combine expertise from Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden. Trainers will collaborate on preparing reusable and FAIR training materials and deliver an in-person course designed to help participants gain practical experience in analysing spatial transcriptomics data.
Beyond supporting the course delivery, the activity will contribute to building long-term training capacity within ELIXIR by seeding a network of trainers who can adapt and reuse the materials in their own Nodes. The expectation is that the course will become a foundation for future offerings as the field continues to evolve.
