Human and Mammalian Genetics and Genomics: The McKusick Short Course is a cornerstone training program. For more than six decades, the McKusick Short Course has combined foundational genetics education with emerging research and real-world application, helping participants build both conceptual understanding and practical insight through experiential learning.
The program spans basic, clinical, and translational genetics and genomics, including:
- Gene and variant discovery in Mendelian and complex disease
- Genome biology and the molecular basis of genetic disease
- Use of animal models to understand disease mechanisms
- Genetic disease treatment and therapeutic approaches
- Bioinformatics, population genetics, genome manipulation, mutagenesis and phenotyping
Get the Full Experience in Bar Harbor
Immerse yourself in an intensive, two-week program featuring morning lectures, afternoon workshops and special evening sessions, alongside opportunities to connect with faculty and peers during poster sessions, lunches and receptions — all set on Mt. Desert Island near Acadia National Park.
Program Features
- Named lectures from internationally recognized faculty
- Sessions with experts from the American and African Societies of Human Genetics
- The Human Genetics Clinic, a unique opportunity to witness medical geneticists diagnosing rare conditions in real patients
- Opportunities to share your research during a poster session. Submit an abstract by July 1, 2026.
2026 Featured Speakers
Chen K. Chai Memorial Lecture
John Mattick, Ph.D., University of New South Wales Sydney
Victor A. McKusick Memorial Lecture
Wendy Chung, M.D., Ph.D., Boston Children's Hospital
Thomas H. Roderick Memorial Lecture
Patricia Wittkopp, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Senior Lecture
Anne Bowcock, Ph.D., Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai
Trainee & Early-Career Support
A limited number of scholarships are available, providing up to $1,500 toward registration, along with reimbursable travel awards up to $550 to help offset the cost of flights, ground transportation or lodging.
Registration includes daily breakfast and lunch. Optional shared housing includes dinner service.
Need help securing support? Customize this sample justification letter to share with your PI, supervisor or department head.
Flexible Virtual Access
Can’t attend in person? Join virtually with flexible access to live-streamed lectures, interactive Q&A, and recorded content available for six months.
Though virtual participants won’t have access to afternoon workshops or live access to evening sessions, the online experience ensures you stay connected with the latest in genetics and genomics. View the virtual schedule here.
Accommodation Information
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Erin McDevitt at 207-288-6000 x256659 or [email protected].
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25HD079344. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
