From 7 to 11 April 2026, the IFB/ELIXIR-FR training team organised the latest edition of the course “Integrative Bioinformatics: Principles and Implementation on a Multi-omic Dataset” (ETBII 2026) at the CAES in Fréjus (83). Over five days, around twenty participants and ten trainers came together for a rich and varied programme, combining theory, practice and collaboration, emerging with enhanced skills in multi-omic data analysis and the integration of omic data.
Taking place in 2023 and 2024, the ETBII 2026 course stands out in its third edition as a rare opportunity in the field of integrative bioinformatics. Participants praised the depth of the content, which covered key methods such as multivariate analysis, network analysis and the semantic web. These approaches, which can sometimes be complex for beginners, were made accessible through tailored teaching methods, enabling everyone to quickly gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of the challenges associated with the integration of biological data.
One of the highlights of this year’s event was its balance between theory and practice. The interactive workshops and practical sessions using real-world datasets enabled participants to put the concepts covered into immediate practice. The day dedicated to analysing participants’ own data (Bring Your Own Data) was particularly well received, offering a personalised experience that was directly relevant to their research projects.
A look back at these days in pictures. ©️IFB/ELIXIR-FR
A great sense of teamwork and collaboration, and a positive outcome
Beyond the technical skills, it was the warm and collaborative atmosphere that stood out at this year’s event. The trainers, who were ‘’approachable’’ and ‘’skilled at teaching’’, succeeded in creating an atmosphere of trust and open discussion. Participants highlighted the quality of the interactions, both amongst themselves and with the ‘’experts’’, which fostered a valuable exchange of experiences. “Excellent teachers, friendly”, “Great trainers, great materials, great atmosphere”: the feedback reflects an experience that was both scientifically stimulating and personally enriching.
The latest edition has been a resounding success: 100% of participants reported being satisfied and willing to recommend the course. They leave with a solid grasp of multi-omic data integration, a better understanding of complex analyses and, above all, a desire to continue the collaborations initiated over the course of these five days.
“Thank you and well done to all our participants for their commitment, and to our trainers for their insightful contributions!” – the organising team for the 2026 edition
Support and upcoming training courses
This edition marks the end of a cycle, but the adventure doesn’t stop here. The training materials remain available on Moodle France Bioinformatique, and new courses are already in the pipeline. To find out more and discover what’s on offer, please visit the training calendar on the IFB website.
The ETBII training course will no longer be organised at national level by the IFB. However, the training team would like to see this course taken over by other members of the bioinformatics community. Are you interested, or would you like to discuss this with the IFB training team? Please feel free to contact them by email.
*Sources for this news item: Satisfaction survey conducted following the ETBI 2026 training course by the IFB/ELIXIR-FR Training Team.