Mendelian Randomization
Mendelian randomization is a study design that uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to test the causal effect of a (non-genetic) risk factor on a disease or health-related outcome. Since its first proposal in 2003, academics working in the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) and throughout Population Health Sciences at the University of Bristol Medical School (including those who are tutors on this course) have been at the forefront of developing methods for assessing and limiting potential biases with this approach.
| Dates | 3 - 6 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Fee | £875 |
| Format | Online |
| Audience | Open to all applicants (prerequisites apply) |
Advisory
It is not recommend that learners take Advanced Mendelian Randomization in the same academic year as Mendelian Randomization. The advanced course is deliberately scheduled earlier within each short course programme.
Course profile
This course aims to provide an introduction to the conduct, assumptions, strengths and limitations of Mendelian randomization, including the use of up-to-date methods for sensitivity analyses that explore likely violation of Mendelian randomization assumptions.
Please click on the sections below for more information.
Over 3.5 days, this online course will consist of learning activities set by the tutor including lectures (live and asynchronous), small group work, discussions, individual tasks, and computer practical activities. Directed and self-directed learning will include activities such as reading, accessing web-based supplementary materials, critical appraisal and completion of quizzes. All teaching will be conducted online using Blackboard and Blackboard Collaborate.
By the end of the course participants should be able to:
- describe the principles and assumptions of instrumental variable analyses;
- discuss the properties of genetic variants that make them suitable to be used as instrumental variables;
- explain the strengths and limitations of one-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomization for addressing population health causal questions;
- conduct a (straightforward) one-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis;
- describe the concepts behind sensitivity analyses to test for potential violation of the key assumptions of Mendelian randomization;
- apply up-to-date sensitivity analyses in one- and two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses;
- critically appraise Mendelian randomization papers and analyses;
- identify the key features required in writing reproducible and transparent Mendelian randomization papers; and
- design a Mendelian randomization study of an exposure/outcome pair.
The course is intended for anyone who wants to be able to undertake Mendelian randomization analyses. It is an introductory to intermediate course. The course will not include any genetic epidemiology teaching, nor how to undertake a genome-wide association study. However, genetic epidemiology and the ability to complete a genome-wide association study are NOT a prerequisite for being able to understand this course.
This course will cover:
- a recap of genetic and epidemiological concepts useful for conducting, understanding and interpreting Mendelian randomization analyses;
- one-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomization, including their assumptions, application and interpretation;
- practical experience of how to apply Mendelian randomization methods to real data;
- a range of sensitivity analyses that explore likely violation of the assumptions of Mendelian randomization;
- the MR-Base platform and how to use it appropriately;
- an exploration of recent advances in and future directions of Mendelian randomization and the use of Mendelian randomization in drug discovery and target validation;
- a critical appraisal of a Mendelian randomization paper;
- how to write and design a Mendelian randomization study;
- contextualisation of Mendelian randomization in the broader field of epidemiology with triangulation; and
- plenty of opportunities to ask questions about Mendelian randomization to experienced tutors working in the field.
Dr Kaitlin Wade - application of Mendelian randomization to understand causal role of the gut microbiome in human health and disease.
Dr Emma Louise Anderson - application of Mendelian randomization to understand causal risk factors of Alzheimer's disease, dementia and cognitive decline.
Dr Rebecca Richmond - application of Mendelian randomization in cancer, women's health and sleep research, and for investigating molecular mechanisms.
To make sure the course is suitable for you and you will benefit from attending, please ensure you meet the following prerequisites before booking:
| Knowledge | Prior experience of using Mendelian randomization is not required, but participants should have an understanding of aetiological epidemiological principles, and ideally be working on causal population health questions. Those intending to take this course should already understand epidemiological principles and have knowledge and skills in statistical analysis to the level of running, and correctly interpreting results from, multivariable regression analyses. Participants must have experience in running such analyses efficiently in Stata and/or R as all practicals on the course will be offered in both Stata and R and the focus of these practicals will be on Mendelian randomization (not learning how to use the statistical packages). Note: it is not necessary for those participating in the course to be able to use both Stata and R, but you must be able to use one of these. |
|---|---|
| Software |
Participants who would like to use Stata need to have installed Stata version 17* (or later) in advance of the course. *Stata users - Internal University of Bristol participants are given access to Stata. Go to Stata Installation Instructions (internal only) for help setting it up before the start of the course. External participants are responsible for providing their own access to Stata, however if you are a student, Stata offer a short term free Student licence (one week). |
Before booking this course, please make sure you read the information provided above about the target audience and prerequisites. It is important that you have access to the relevant IT resources needed for the course and meet the knowledge prerequisites to ensure you can get the most from the course.
Bookings are taken via our online booking system, for which you must register an account. To check if you are eligible for free or discounted courses please see our fees and voucher packs page. All bookings are subject to our terms & conditions, which can be read in full here.
For help and support with booking a course refer to our booking information page, FAQs or feel free to contact us directly. For available payment options please see: How to pay your short course fees.
Participants are granted access to our virtual learning platform (Blackboard Ultra) 1 to 2 weeks in advance of the course. This allows time for any pre-course work to be completed and to familiarise with the platform.
To gain the most from the course, we recommend that you attend in full and participate in all interactive components. We endeavour to record all live lecture sessions and upload these to the online learning environment within 24 hours. This allows course participants to review these sessions at leisure and revisit them multiple times. Please note that we do not record breakout sessions.
All course participants retain access to the online learning materials and recordings for 5 months after the course.
University of Bristol staff and postgraduate students who do not wish to attend the full course may instead register for access to the 'Materials & Recordings' version of this course: Further information and bookings.
100% of attendees recommend this course*.
*Attendee feedback from March 2026.
Here is a sample of feedback from the last run of the course:
“Great comprehensive course. Engaging lecturers and v useful practicals. Great amount of emphasis on both the usefulness and the limitations associated with MR, its important to provide a balanced take!” - Course feedback, March 2026
“I have gained a nuanced understanding of the utility of MR as a technique and I've already started writing my ideas for a MR study, I kept getting bursts of inspiration throughout the course. I'm looking forward to taking some concrete steps towards this now!” - Course feedback, March 2026
“The course was really great! It was a very useful and comprehensive introduction to MR, perfect as I'm just starting out. I liked the mix of lectures, practicals and Q+A sessions, which facilitated good discussion. The course leaders and facilitators were friendly and very approachable too, making it easier to contribute and ask questions.” - Course feedback, March 2026
“The course was very well organised and the lectures were clear and informative. The content was high quality and helped clarify key concepts and assumptions in Mendelian Randomisation.” - Course feedback, March 2026
“The structure of the course was well designed and facilitated learning, there was a good mixture of activities to keep engagement up.” - Course feedback, March 2026
“Very well structured; nice alternations between lectures and practicals; very friendly positive course atmosphere; that encouraged to ask any questions; availability of course material was very good.” - Course feedback, March 2026