Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship Training

The IU School of Medicine Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics offers training in Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) which leads to eligibility for certification by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG).

Laboratory Genetics and Genomics is a new specialty of the ABMGG which incorporates training in the Clinical Cytogenetics, Clinical Molecular Genetics, and Clinical Pharmacogenomics laboratories.

How to Apply

For questions about program admissions or to submit application materials, email the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics Education Programs Manager.

Email the Department

Curriculum

The training period is 30 months with an option for an additional six months. Upon completion of 30 months of training, individuals may apply to the ABMGG for eligibility for the certification examination in Laboratory Genetics and Genomics.

In addition to experience gained in clinical cytogenetics, clinical molecular genetics, and pharmacogenomics, Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellows are instructed on how to validate and establish new testing; implement quality control practices; and establish, review and maintain standard operating procedures. Fellows also rotate through a month of Medical Genetics clinics each year of training.

Explore the Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Learning Guide for specifics.

Admissions

Our next cycle for LGG fellowship training starts July of 2025. Applications should be submitted by August 31, 2024, which should include the following:

Current resume
Personal statement
Three letters of recommendation sent directly to the program at iugtllgg@iu.edu.

Incomplete applications at the time of the deadline will not be considered.

Program Progression

Year 1
Content	July	August	September/ October	November/ December	January/ February	March/ April	May	June
Block	Cytogenetics Block 1				Molecular Genetics Block 1
Core Training	Orientation Pre-Analytics – Week 1 Blood setup and culture Cytogenetic test cases/ scoping	Prenatal/ POC setup and culture Cytogenetic test cases/ scoping	Blood/ prenatal/ POC analysis and interpretation CMA wet lab/ analysis	FISH wet lab and scoping Cancer setup and culture	Orientation – Week 1 Pre-analytics DNA extraction RNA assays	STR MLPA Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion	Sanger Sequencing NGS Introduction	Molecular case review and sign-outs Research Proposal
Site	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Other Training			Read 1/2 cases constitutional cases; participate in CMA analysis, interpretation and report	Interpretation. Integrate FISH with constitutional cases and CMA; provide Understand the FISH/Cancer cytogenetics workflow- read FISH cases and integrate with G-band	In-service exam		Test validation	Medical Genetics Clinic
Site			1	1	1		1	2 and 3
Didactics		Monthly in-service	Q613 - Molecular & Biochemistry Laboratory Q625 - Introduction to Clinical Genetics		Q620 - Human Cytogenetics/Q630 Population Genetics Q630 - Population Genetics

Year 2
Content	July	August	September/ October	November/ December	January/ February/ March	April	May	June
Block	Cytogenetics Block 2				Molecular Genetics Block 2
Core Training	CMA analysis/ interpretation/ reporting		Cancer chromosome and FISH analysis/ interpretation/ reporting		NGS	Pathology laboratory rotation	Pharmacogenomics/ Open Array
Site	1		1		1	4	1
Other Training	Medical Genetics Clinic/URDC	Newborn Screen Laboratory	Integration of Prenatal with Cytogenetics, FISH and CMA; Read FISH and G-band Cancer cases; provide interpretation	Take Laboratory Calls and Consultations Prenatal Genetic Counseling	In-service exam NGS 101 (AMP) Research	NGS Research	Pharmacogenomics: Genes, Drugs, and Genotyping - AMP Research	Research
Site	2 and 3		1	3	1		1	1
Didactics	Lab Administration certificate course (AMP) Monthly In-Service		Q600 - Practical Prenatal Genetic Counseling		Q612-Molecular and Biochemistry Didactics

Year 3
Content	July	August-December
Block	Biochemical genetics rotation	Area of concentration in cytogenetics, molecular, pharmacogenomics or NGS
Core Training		Case sign-outs for cytogenetics/ molecular/ pharmacogenomics/ diagnostic genomics (NGS) laboratories (rotate weekly-primary responsibility) CAP QA/QC for cytogenetics/ molecular/ pharmacogenomics/ diagnostic genomics (NGS) laboratories
Site	1	1
Other Training	Research/ teaching/ test validation	Manuscript submission Research/ teaching/ test validation
Site	1	1
Didactics		Course lectures/ department seminar

NOTE: Each fellow has a two week vacation time per year that can be scheduled in coordination with the program director.

Site Key

Site 1: IU Genetic Testing Lab

Site 2: IU Health University Hospital

Site 3: Riley Children's Hospital

Site 4: IU Health Pathology Lab

Abbreviations

Product of conception (POC), Chromosomal microarray (CMA), Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Short tandem repeat (STR) testing, Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), Next generation sequencing (NGS), Undiagnosed Rare Disease Clinic (URDC), Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), College of American Pathologists (CAP), Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC)