This module will provide insight into the way big data are impacting our understanding of human disease and the development of therapies. It will focus on a variety of disorders ranging from rare Mendelian disease to common disorders of complex aetiology. The content will be delivered by focusing on exemplar cases and will take the students on the journey from defining the medical problem and understanding the disease mechanisms, all the way to the development of treatments and therapies. Topics reviewed will include gene replacement therapy, pharmacogenetics, phenotype-genotype correlations, patient datasets, whole genome sequencing, antisense oligonucleotide (AON)-based therapies and CRISPR-mediated gene editing. At the end of this course, students should have a thorough understanding of the exciting way big data is influencing medical research and practice today, and what opportunities it offers for the future, but they will also have an appreciation of the problems and limitations that it brings.

Detailed Description

Full programme information can be found in the Module and Programme Catalogue

International Sales tax may need to be added to the module fee for students resident in countries where online education attracts a sales tax. Please consult your Advisor.