AUTHOR=Agudelo-Romero Patricia , Conradie Talya , Caparros-Martin Jose Antonio , Martino David Jimmy , Kicic Anthony , Stick Stephen Michael , Hakkaart Christopher , Sharma Abhinav ,  the Theme Collaboration Group 

TITLE=Advancing bioinformatics capacity through Nextflow and nf-core: lessons from an early-to mid-career researchers–focused program at The Kids Research Institute Australia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioinformatics

VOLUME=Volume 5 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioinformatics/articles/10.3389/fbinf.2025.1610015

DOI=10.3389/fbinf.2025.1610015

ISSN=2673-7647

ABSTRACT=The increasing adoption of high-throughput “omics” technologies has heightened the demand for standardized, scalable, and reproducible bioinformatics workflows. Nextflow and nf-core provide a robust framework for researchers, particularly early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs), to navigate complex data analysis. At The Kids Research Institute Australia, we implemented a structured approach to bioinformatics capacity building using these tools. This perspective presents nine practical rules derived from lessons learnt, which facilitated the successful adoption of Nextflow and nf-core, addressing implementation challenges, knowledge gaps, resource allocation, and community support. Our experience serves as a guide for institutions aiming to establish sustainable bioinformatics capabilities and empower EMCRs.