In July 2026, the team at the West Midlands Regional Genomics Laboratory hosted a successful work experience event for for university students or recent graduates in biological or life sciences.
Participants were given the opportunity to learn about a range of career paths in genetics and healthcare science, with various practical activities on offer – including interactive sessions with case scenarios.
With sessions including the end to end pathway of a sample, DNA sequencing, cytogenetics and the application process, the event took place onsite at the West Midlands laboratory, and was well-received by attendees.
One student stated: “I found the WMGL event very useful and informative. It was really nice to see behind the scenes of the lab and how each patient sample is processed and treated with care.
“I learnt about many different techniques such as karyotypes, Sanger sequencing and qPCR so I will apply all of this to my own skill set. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the whole event ran smoothly.”
Another told us, “I’ve gathered a lot more tips on becoming a genomic counsellor – something I was very overwhelmed and underinformed about. I’ve gotten a lot more ideas from WEX that I can add to my applications. A million thank yous!”