Course Syllabus

Draft syllabus

 

Semester & Location:	Fall 2021 - DIS Stockholm
Type & Credits:	Core Course - 3 credits
Core Course Study Tours:	Sweden, Dublin
Major Disciplines:	Biology, Biomedicine / Biotechnology, Pre-Medicine / Health Science
Prerequisites:	One year of biology, including one course in either molecular biology or genetics, and one chemistry course, all at university level.
Faculty Member:	Ulrik K. Stoltze
Program Director:	Susana LS Dietrich
Time & Place:	Mondays 15:30-17:30 and occasionally Fridays 15:30-17:30 New Karolinska Hospital and DIS (D-509) (see schedule for details)

 

Faculty

 

Ulrik Kristoffer Stoltze M.D. (University of Copenhagen, 2017), Phd-student at The Pediatrics Oncology Lab (Bonkolab, 2019-21). Former Clinical Genetics resident (Rigshospitalet, 2018-19), General Practice resident (Søborg, 2018), Surgery resident (Herlev Hospital, 2017). POST-fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, 2016). Active in Genomics research since 2015 with several publications in genetics and bioethics with a focus on childhood cancer. He is conducting one of Denmark’s largest genomics studies offering whole-genome sequencing to any cancer patient under 18 years old. Teaching at DIS since 2017.

 

Course assistant  

Paulina Mendoza M.D. (La Salle University, Mexico City, 2019). M. Sc. Nutrition Science (Karolinska Universitet, 2021). Previous employment at the Military Central Hospital in Mexico City (2019-2020). With DIS since 2021.

 

 Course Description

Standard clinical care is shifting its focus towards precision medicine, where the choice for treatment relies on the specific physiological characteristics of a given patient. The rapid development of ‘omics’, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, is currently adding a new dimension to the advancement of precision medicine and clinical care. This course covers current clinical practices within precision medicine, as well as the potential clinical application of omics in the clinic. In addition, you study patient cases and address diagnosis and treatment by using the precision medicine approach. A special focus on precision molecular therapeutics in cancer will be included in the course. 

Note: Please be aware that the course does not provide regular medical training corresponding to that of medical students and does not include shadowing of doctors or physical examination of patients.

 

Approach to Teaching

The course will include lectures, interactive teaching with discussion of theoretical and clinical cases and diagnostic algorithms, student-to-student presentations, and other teaching methods. In addition, the course will focus on using a hands-on approach to learning, where students will get an a sense of what it means to approach clinical care by a precision medicine approach.

 

Core Course Week and Study Tours

Core course week and study tours are integral parts of the core course. The classroom is “on the road” and theory presented in the classroom is applied in the field. Students will travel with classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours: a short study tour during the core course week and a long study tour to Ireland. Students are expected to

• participate in all activities
• engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives
• be respectful to the destination/location, the speakers, DIS staff, and fellow classmates
• represent self, home university and DIS in a positive light

While on a program study tour, DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation, transportation to/from the destination(s), approx. 2 meals per day (except day one) and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.

Travel policies: You are required to travel with your group to the destination. If you have to deviate from the group travel plans, you need approval from the program director and the study tours office.     

 

Expected Learning Outcomes

After the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the technologies of modern “omics" and their current and potential use in modern diagnostics and precise classification of non-neoplastic diseases and cancer.
• Explain the rationale for choice of tests for the therapeutic decisions in precision medicine practice.
• Discuss knowledge of human pathophysiology in scientific context (basic underlying mechanisms) with regard to specific diseases.
• Recognize and characterize genetic syndromes and discuss their impact on an individual and societal level.
• Interpret the research findings leading to identification of novel targets of therapy and how these findings can be translated to novel more efficient therapies.
• Combine basic diagnostic tests and assays including conventional techniques (eg. microscopy, blood tests) with modern molecular tests (eg. PCR, NGS, etc.) for precise diagnosis and classification of diseases.

 

Required Readings

• Clinical Precision Medicine - 1st edition, Editors:Judy Crabtree, Academic Press, 2019

• Chapters from Hole’s JW: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology, 13 WC Brown Publishers, London 2004

• Chapters from Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease, Professional Edition, 9th Edition, Elsevier Health Europe, 2014.

 

Field Studies

Students will participate in two field studies: 

• Clinical skills introduction (designed to expose students to basic clinical practices)
• TBA

 

Evaluation and Grading

To be eligible for a passing grade in this class, all of the assigned work must be completed. Late assignments may be accepted, but the grade for the assignment will be reduced by 10 points (over 100) per day. The factors influencing the final grade and the weight of each factor is detailed below: 

Component	Weight
Participation	20%
midterm test	35%
Study Tour Assignment	10%
Final Project	35%

 

Final paper

For the final paper, the students will write a paper about a self-chosen subject. There are three models

• Gene Detective. The group is assigned a shortlist of variants and a brief phenotype. The group must independently (with reasonable help from the instructor) work out the diagnosis and give a brief description of their methods and a short scientific description of their proposed diagnosis.
• Genomics Futurist. The group may write on any subject related to the future of genetics/genomic medicine. Potential topics include:
• Gene therapy
• Cloning
• Cancer prevention
• Large-scale genomics projects
• Personalized medicine
• Bioethicist. The group may write on any subject related to the ethical implications of genetics/genomic medicine. Potential topics include:
• Gene therapy
• Genetic privacy
• Genetic testing of children
• Direct-to-consumer genetics

This paper (1000 words max., not including references, 12-point). Students are asked to lock in their final topic of choice and writing partner shortly after the midterm. All papers must include a min. of 5 and max. of 10 scientific references. Up to 2 figures/tables (can be composites).

 

Expectations of the Students

• Laptops may be used for note‐taking, fact‐checking, or assignment in the classroom, but only when indicated by the instructor. At all other times laptops and electronic devices should be put away during class time.
• Reading must be done prior to the class session; a considerable part of the course is dependent on class discussions.
• Students need to be present and participating to receive full credit. The final grade will be affected by unexcused absences and lack of participation. Remember to be in class on time!
• Classroom etiquette includes being respectful of other opinions, listening to others and entering a dialogue in a constructive manner.
• Students are expected to ask relevant questions in regards to the material covered.

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

• Course Enrollment and Grading  
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org 

 

Lecture topics (subject to change up to 2 weeks prior to class):