GENES & SEM WORKSHOP 2025

Genomic analysis of Single-variant Data using Structural Equation Modeling: GRM-SEM and GW-SEM

Registration is open between 26-28 May 2025.

Workshop organisers: Beate St Pourcain (MPI for Psycholinguistics), Brad Verhulst (Texas A&M University), Conor Dolan (Vrije Universiteit)

This online workshop will cover an introduction to structural equation modelling for single-variant genetic data from genotyping arrays studying population-based samples of unrelated individuals. We will focus on (i) the methodological components of structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis, (ii) analysing associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and latent traits using GW-SEM, and (iii) modelling genomic trait covariance based on genetic relatedness matrices (GRMs) using GRM-SEM.

The course consists of three consecutive half-days, 26-28 May 2025 at 13.00-17.00 (CET). Each half-day will consist of a lecture and a related practical, including live talks, tutor demonstrations and hands-on exercises, and ample opportunities to engage with the course tutors with live Q+A sessions. The content of the course, including presentations and materials for practicals, can be accessed online.

The workshop is free of charge.

The maximum number of participants for the workshop has now been reached and the workshop registration has been closed.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with R programming and regression analyses, as well as an understanding of genetic and genomic mechanisms (undergraduate level) and matrix algebra (undergraduate level), will ensure that you get the most out of the workshop. Practicals will involve both tutor demonstrations and hands-on exercises. Participants will need their own desktop or laptop computer to connect to the workshop resources and run the code independently.

Syllabus (preliminary)

26 May 2025

Talk 1: Introduction to SEM and CFA
Practical 1: Applied SEM

27 May 2025

Talk 2: CFA for single SNPs using GW-SEM
Practical 2: GW-SEM applications

28 May 2025

Talk 3: Genomic covariance structure analyses in population-based cohorts: GRM-SEM
Practical 3: GRM-SEM applications