Clinical Bioinformatics
Learn more about clinical bioinformatics below…
What is a career in clinical bioinformatics in health and social care?
Clinical bioinformatics is an area of healthcare science responsible for developing and improving methods for acquiring, storing, organising and analysing biological data that supports the delivery of patient care. Staff working in clinical bioinformatics use areas of computer science, including software tools that generate useful biological knowledge.
Informatics in healthcare science is broken down into three fields: genomics, health informatics and physical sciences.
The roles available depend on the field you would like to work in. For example, in genomics you could be supporting the 100,000 Genomes Project, connecting computing, biology and medicine; in health informatics, you could be ensuring that informatics data is used efficiently and to the required standards; or in physical sciences, you could be designing the equipment and software that does the processing of data.
Entry routes and pay
To work in clinical bioinformatics in the UK, you typically need a strong background in science, computing, or mathematics, along with specialised training in bioinformatics, and to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. You will need a degree in a relevant field such as:
Biological sciences (e.g., genetics, molecular biology); Computer science or data science; Mathematics, statistics, or physics; Biomedical sciences or health informatics
If you have a degree in a relevant filed, you may be able to apply to NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) which will train you to work in a senior healthcare science role. For more information on the STP please click here.
Some organisations offer Healthcare Science Assistant (Level 2), Laboratory Technician (Level 3) and Healthcare Science Practitioner (Level 6 – degree) apprenticeships.
For more information about apprenticeships please click here.
Healthcare science practitioners usually start on £29,970; trainee clinical scientists typically start at £37,338 and with further training and specialisms you could apply to higher roles up to £105,235.
Where can you work?
Hospital
