Introduction to Precision Medicine
Year 2 SSC
Course Coordinators : Dr Antonia Roseweir and Dr Heather Jorgenson
Course Aims:
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The course aims to provide students with a critical understanding
of the need of novel biomarkers and disease classifiers and how
they relate to current strategies for better patients' response and
benefit using cancer as a disease model.
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The course also aims to provide an insight into molecular
pathology research focussing on the types of research used for
biomarker identifications, optimization and validation to take be
taken forward into precision medicine.
Intended Learning Outcomes:
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Critically discuss the definitions of various biomarker types and
how they relate to current translational strategies, including
disease stratification, responsiveness to drug therapy and
precision medicine.
Critically discuss the methods in identification, optimisation and
validation of new and better biomarkers, including statistical
evaluation and limitations.
Critically discuss the biomarker strategies within the clinical trial
design, including the current approaches and practice of patient
selection.
Communicate effectively the results of critical evaluation of
biomarker identification and validation studies, including those in
primary publications and systematic reviews
To demonstrate a professional attitude/behaviour throughout the
SSC module
Topics Covered:
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Signal transduction and biomarkers
Clinical specimens and tissue analysis for subtyping
RNA techniques for risk stratification
DNA and protein techniques in precision medicine
Biomarkers and clinical trial design
Weekly Sessions:
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Self-learning via online content and extra reading
Tutorial with Scientist on techniques
Q&A session with Clinicians on their role
Discussion session on previous week with coordinators
Meetings with supervisor
Assessment comprising poster and flash presentation