Course Syllabus

Syllabus

 

Semester & Location:	Spring 2022 - 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:	Natassia Robinson natassia.robinson@disstockholm.se
Program Director:	Susana LS Dietrich
Academic support	academics@disstockholm.se
Time & Place:	Mondays 15:30-17:30 and occasionally Fridays 15:30-17:30 Location: D-509

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. The course will also explore the role of environmental risk factors and how their interaction with genetic factors can influence disease risk. In addition, you study patient cases and address diagnosis and treatment by using the precision medicine approach. 

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.

 

Learning Objectives

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

• Understand the role of precision medicine in disease prevention, treatment and management
• To describe the technologies of modern “omics" and understand their applications in modern diagnostics and precise classification of diseases
• Explain the rationale for the choice of tests for the therapeutic decisions in precision medicine practice
• Understand how basic diagnostic tests and assays including conventional techniques (eg. microscopy, blood tests) with molecular tests (eg. PCR, NGS, etc.) can be combined for precise diagnosis and classification of diseases
• Recognize and characterize genetic syndromes and discuss their impact on an individual and societal level
• Evaluate how both genetic and environmental risk factors and interactions between them contribute to disease risk
• Consider the ethical and social implications of precision medicine
• Demonstrate understanding of how precision medicine methodologies could be utilised in the development of novel tools or technologies in diagnosis, prevention, treatment or management of diseases

Faculty

Natassia Robinson BSc Biomedical Science, 2010-2013 (Lancaster University); MMedSci Human Nutrition, 2014-2015 (University of Sheffield); PhD Molecular Epidemiology, 2015-2019 (Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University); Postdoc, 2019-2020 (Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University); Postdoc, 2020-present (Molecular Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet). With DIS since 2022.

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.

 

Readings

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

(please refer to the canvas pages for topic-specific readings) 

Field Studies

Students will participate in two field studies: 

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

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 a sense of what it means to approach clinical care by a precision medicine approach.

Expectations of the Students

• Laptops may be used for note‐taking, fact‐checking, or assignments in the classroom, but only when indicated by the instructor. At all other times, laptops, phones 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 participate 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.

 

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.     

 

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 per day past the deadline.

The factors influencing the final grade and the weight of each factor is detailed below: 

Component	Weight
Participation	10%
Midterm test	25%
Study Tour Assignment	10%
Patient cases (2)	25%
Final Project	30%

Patient Cases

During the semester, you will be presented with 2 patient cases in class to submit as an individual assignment. You are responsible for suggesting, based on the case you get, an appropriate course of questions to get a detailed medical history that will allow you to structure a relevant clinical exam and an appropriate course of paraclinical investigations leading to a preliminary diagnosis. More detailed information will be provided in class.

Midterm test (individual)

The midterm test will be based on the content of the classes up until the time of the test. The test will include a combination of multiple-choice and short essay questions.

Final project

The final project will be a group-based assignment and oral presentation. More details will be provided in class.

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

 

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