Module Specification
An online version of this specification is available to prospective students at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section3_moduledescript/in
dex.html
GENERAL INFORMATION
Module name
Genetic Epidemiology
Module code
2448
Module Organiser
Professor Frank Dudbridge
Contact email
Frank.Dudbridge@lshtm.ac.uk
Home Faculty
Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health
Level
This module is at Level 7 (postgraduate Masters ‘M’ level) of the QAA
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales & Northern
Ireland (FHEQ)
Credit
LSHTM award 15 credits on successful completion of this module
Accreditation
Not currently accredited by any other body
Keywords
Communicable diseases (in general), Non-communicable diseases (in general),
Biological factors (in general), Genetic endowment, Biomedical sciences /
disciplines, Statistics (incl. risk assessment), Quantitative methods
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND AUDIENCE
Overall aim
To introduce the ways in which genetic analysis may be used with
epidemiological studies to provide a powerful means of exploring the aetiology
of disease.
Intended learning
outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
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Target audience
Demonstrate understanding of fundamental concepts of genetics;
Apply epidemiological and statistical principles to the critical
interpretation of genetic epidemiological studies;
Understand papers which describe genetic epidemiological findings;
Compare different study designs and methods of analysis to evaluate the
role of genetic inheritance in human disease;
Compare different study designs and methods of analysis to determine the
location and alleles of the genes responsible for a disease.
This module is open to all MSc students with a background in quantitative
analysis and an interest in recent developments in genetic research applied to
medicine.
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CONTENT
Session content
The module is expected to include sessions addressing the following topics
(please note that these may be subject to change):
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Introduction to Genetics: genes and chromosomes, alleles and
polymorphisms, Mendelian Inheritance, linkage, penetrance, quantitative
genetics, computational analysis;
Studies to determine the extent of genetic contribution to a disease, and its
mode of transmission: family studies, twin studies, segregation analysis;
Studies to determine the location of the gene, and the allele responsible for
a disease: pedigree studies, case/control association studies, genome-wide
association studies;
Current developments in genetics, including Mendelian randomisation, and
ethical aspects.
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Study resources
provided or required
Lecture notes are provided for each session in the module together with
associated papers from scientific journals.
Teaching and learning
methods
Teaching will be a mixture of lectures, practicals and group discussion of
published papers. There will also be seminars on current research.
Assessment details
The assessment consists of a review of the genetics of a complex disease based
on critiquing three papers provided in advance. The strengths and weaknesses
of each paper are discussed and a general summary of the field and its
prospects is provided.
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the task will be a review of the genetics of a complex disease, different to the
one used in the first assessment.
Assessment dates
Assessments will be due in the last week of teaching.
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the next assessment deadline will be the standard School-recommended date in
mid/late September 2016.
Language of study and
assessment
English (please see ‘English language requirements’ below regarding the
standard required for entry).
TIMING AND MODE OF STUDY
Duration
The module runs for 5 weeks at 2.5 days per week, from Wednesday lunchtime
to Friday afternoon.
Dates
For 2015-16, the module will start on Wednesday 24 February 2016 and finish
on Thursday 25 March 2016.
Timetable slot
The module runs in LSHTM timetable slot D2
Mode of Study
The module is taught face-to-face in London. Both full-time and part-time
students follow the same schedule. For full-time students, other LSHTM
modules are available in the other half of the week for the C and D slots.
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Learning time
The notional learning time for the module totals 150 hours, consisting of:
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Contact time ≈ 51 hours
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Directed self-study ≈ 10 hours
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Self-directed learning ≈ 40 hours
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Assessment, review and revision ≈ 49 hours
APPLICATION, ADMISSION AND FEES
Pre-requisites
Students should be comfortable with statistical analyses up to SME level.
Background reading will be provided where necessary on the essentials of
molecular biology (for epidemiologists) and on epidemiology and statistics (for
laboratory scientists).
English language
requirements
A strong command of the English language is necessary to benefit from
studying the module. Applicants whose first language is not English or whose
prior university studies have not been conducted wholly in English must fulfil
LSHTM’s English language requirements, with an acceptable score in an
approved test taken in the two years prior to entry. Applicants may be asked to
take a test even if the standard conditions have been met.
Student numbers
Student numbers are typically 10 per year; numbers may be capped due to
limitations in facilities or staffing.
Student selection
Preference will be given to LSHTM MSc students, particularly those registered
for Epidemiology or who have taken prior modules in statistical methods, and
LSHTM research degree students. Other applicants meeting the entry criteria
will usually be offered a place in the order applications are received, until any
cap on numbers is reached. Applicants may be placed on a waiting list and
given priority the next time the module is run.
Partial Registration (partial participation) by LSHTM research degree students
is allowed for this module.
Fees
For registered LSHTM MSc students, fees for the module are included within
MSc fees (given on individual course prospectus pages).
If registering specifically for this module, as a stand-alone short course,
individual module fees will apply.
Tuition fees must be paid in full before commencing the module, or by any fee
deadline set by the Registry.
Scholarships
Scholarships are not available for individual modules. Some potential sources
of funding are detailed on the LSHTM website.
Admission deadlines
For 2015-16:
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For registered LSHTM MSc students, the module choice deadline (for Term
2 and 3 modules) is Friday 20 November 2015 .
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If registering specifically for this module, applications may be made at any
time but, as places are limited, applications ahead of the MSc deadline are
strongly advised. All applications should be submitted at the latest 8 weeks
prior to the start of the module. Formal registration will take place on the
morning of the first day of the module.
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ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This module specification applies for the academic year 2015-16
Last revised 1 July 2015 by Frank Dudbridge Minor amendments 20 July 15 SDB
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT.
www.lshtm.ac.uk
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