UNILAG trains postgraduate biologists in R programming and RNA sequencing

According to a statement on the official website of UNILAG, the institution concluded a two-day workshop on R programming and bioinformatics to equip biologists with foundational skills in RNA sequencing data analysis and computational approaches to biological research. The training, facilitated by the Faculty of Life Sciences in collaboration with Walter Pirovano and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, was held on Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

Designed for participants with varying levels of coding experience, the workshop introduced them to R programming, RStudio and RNA-seq data analysis. The first day of the workshop featured theoretical sessions with physical and online participation, while the second day focused on practical training for selected postgraduate students whose research proposals had been approved for participation.

Insights on Transcriptomics and Sequencing

In his opening remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Professor Ganiyu Oyetibo, highlighted the value of transcriptomics in understanding biological processes and investigating disease mechanisms. He explained that conventional approaches to studying organisms may not fully account for their biological activities, making gene-expression analysis a valuable additional tool. Professor Oyetibo explained that transcriptomics enables researchers to examine RNA molecules produced under different conditions and identify genes that are actively expressed.

Following the opening remarks, Dr James Mills of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam introduced participants to the fundamentals of sequencing and bioinformatics, highlighting how advances in these fields have expanded the possibilities for biological research. Delivering a session on modern bioinformatics for translational research, Dr Mills discussed the fundamentals by tracing the development of sequencing technologies from Sanger sequencing to short-read and long-read methods. He stressed that the choice of technology should depend on the research question and the type of biological information required.

Focusing on RNA sequencing, he explained that the transcriptome comprises the RNA molecules present in a cell or sample at a given time. Analysing these molecules can help researchers identify changes in gene expression, investigate disease mechanisms and discover potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Dr Mills outlined the four main stages of RNA-seq, which are sample preparation, library preparation, sequencing and data analysis.

Practical Training and Closing Remarks

The second day featured a hands-on practical session led virtually by Dr Mills at the Professor Bolanle Oboh Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratories, UNILAG. Coordinated by Dr Imade Nsa, the session involved selected postgraduate students whose research proposals had been approved for participation. Working on their laptops, participants followed Dr Mills’s demonstrations and practised key stages of RNA-seq data analysis, including data normalisation and principal component analysis.

The practical session was followed by a question-and-answer session, which allowed participants to explore the use of publicly available gene-expression datasets for further research. Dr Mills explained that researchers could retrieve existing data from repositories such as the Gene Expression Omnibus to investigate new questions without incurring the cost of generating fresh datasets. He highlighted tools such as GEO2R and Galaxy as useful starting points for beginners with limited R programming experience.

Speaking after the practical session, Professor Funmilayo Olubajo Awobajo expressed appreciation to the organisers, Walter Pirovano and Dr Mills for facilitating the training opportunity. He noted that the workshop would contribute to improving research productivity and strengthening students’ skills, while expressing hope for further training and collaboration. Professor Awobajo commended Dr Imade Nsa for coordinating the programme and appreciated the participating students for their commitment to learning.