Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Goals and Learning Objectives

This course aims to provide current understanding about extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their role in health and diseases. The EVs are known to be involved in cell to cell communication. Apart from maintaining normal cell physiology, EVs deliver messages that can drive or influence the progression of a disease. This course discusses recent advances made in the field to give an introduction on their function in health as well as in disease. This course includes four modules. Module 1 is an introduction to the course, and provides an overview of the previous MOOC on EVs “Basics of Extracellular Vesicles”. Module 2 focuses on the role of EVs in physiological conditions and gives various examples on their role in metabolism, inflammation, immunity and pregnancy and coagulation. This module also briefly covers the topic of microorganism-derived EVs such as vesicles from bacteria and discusses EVs from apoptotic and senescent cells. In Module 3, we focus on the role of EVs in cancer: how EVs can mediate communication between the tumour and its microenvironment, the functional role of immune cell-derived EVs in development of cancer, as well as the role of EVs in cancer cell proliferation, survival, metastasis and drug resistance. In Module 4, the role of EVs in diseases of the cardiovascular, haematopoietic, nervous, respiratory and urinary systems, and infectious diseases will be presented. This course is recommended for intermediate learners or anyone who is interested in the field of extracellular vesicles and their role in a particular disease including scientists, clinicians, or cell and molecular biologists who look to broaden their understanding of the field.

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Recommended for cell and molecular biologists, clinicians, and scientists interested in extracellular vesicles and their functions in various diseases

Covers the role of extracellular vesicles in physiological conditions such as metabolism, inflammation, immunity, and pregnancy

Provides insights into the role of extracellular vesicles in diseases of the cardiovascular, hematopoietic, nervous, respiratory, urinary systems, and infectious diseases

Examines the pathophysiology of extracellular vesicles in cancer, including their communication within the tumor microenvironment and their impact on cancer cell proliferation and metastasis

Prerequisite knowledge in the field of extracellular vesicles is recommended for intermediate learners

Reviews summary

Comprehensive overview of extracellular vesicles

According to learners, this course provides a highly comprehensive and current overview of the field of extracellular vesicles, detailing their crucial roles in both health and various diseases, including cancer. Students frequently praise the deep expertise and engaging presentation of the instructors. The course content is considered exceptionally relevant for researchers, clinicians, and professionals looking to deepen their understanding or stay updated on EV advancements. While highly valuable, it is firmly aimed at intermediate learners and requires a solid foundation in biology or medicine, which some beginners found challenging .

Best for learners with background.

"This course is definitely aimed at intermediate learners or those already familiar with basic cell biology."

"Without a solid background, I found some modules quite challenging to fully grasp at first."

"Having prior knowledge made it much easier to follow the advanced concepts and appreciate the details."

Content is organized logically.

"The course structure was logical, building from basics to specific diseases step-by-step."

"Modules flowed well, making it easier to digest complex information in segments."

"I appreciated how the topics were broken down into manageable sections each week."

Useful for research and clinical work.

"The information presented is directly applicable to my work in the lab researching cancer biomarkers."

"It's an excellent way for clinicians and researchers to stay updated on the rapidly moving EV field."

"I gained practical insights relevant to developing EV-based diagnostic or therapeutic strategies."

Taught by knowledgeable researchers.

"The professors are clearly experts in the field and explained complex topics well."

"Learning directly from leading researchers was a major highlight of this course."

"Their insights provided valuable context and made the complex material much easier to digest."

Provides current understanding of EVs.

"The course offered a very comprehensive overview of EVs, covering both basic principles and recent advances."

"I found the content to be highly relevant to my research and up-to-date with the current literature."

"It delves into the intricate roles of EVs in diverse diseases, which is exactly what I needed to expand my knowledge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease with these activities:

Review key biology concepts

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This course is rooted in biology. Understanding biology principles and terminology will assist with understanding EVs.

Browse courses on Cells

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Review biology notes and textbooks.
Take practice quizzes and exercises.

Follow tutorials on EV isolation and analysis techniques

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This course will benefit from additional knowledge on how to isolate and analyze EVs. This knowledge is not covered in detail in this course.

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Identify relevant tutorials on platforms like YouTube, Coursera, or edX.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step.

Solve EV visualization coding challenges

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Solidify the understanding of bioinformatics concepts and techniques commonly used in EV research.

Browse courses on Bioinformatics

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Find a collection of coding challenges related to EV research
Attempt to solve the challenges using the skills and knowledge gained in the course
Review solutions and discuss findings with peers or instructors

Two other activities

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Design an experiment to isolate EVs from a specific biological source

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Reinforce the principles of EV isolation and experimental design in the context of EV research.

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Research different methods of EV isolation
Select an appropriate method based on the specific biological source
Design an experimental protocol for EV isolation
Optimize the protocol to maximize EV yield and purity

Practice using the EV cargo database

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Practice will help you become more comfortable using the EV cargo database.

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Go to the EV cargo database website
Create an account
Search for a specific EV cargo

Career center

Learners who complete Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Oncologist

Oncologists diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Oncologists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in cancer. This understanding may help them to develop new and more effective treatments for cancer.

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Molecular Biologist

Molecular Biologists study the structure and function of molecules. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Molecular Biologists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to develop new therapies for treating diseases.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct research to advance scientific knowledge. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Research Scientists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to develop new therapies for treating diseases.

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Virologist

Virologists study viruses. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Virologists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in viral infections. This understanding may help them to develop new therapies for treating viral infections.

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Medical Writer

Medical Writers create written materials about medical topics. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Medical Writers, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to write more accurate and informative materials about these topics.

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Science Writer

Science Writers write about scientific topics for a general audience. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Science Writers, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to write more accurate and informative articles about these topics.

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Toxicologist

Toxicologists study the effects of toxic substances on human health. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Toxicologists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in toxicity. This understanding may help them to develop new strategies for protecting human health from toxic substances.

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Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Regulatory Affairs Specialists ensure that drugs and medical devices are safe and effective before they are marketed. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Regulatory Affairs Specialists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to make better decisions about the safety and effectiveness of drugs and medical devices.

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Clinical Research Associate

Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) manage clinical trials, which are research studies that test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and treatments. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for CRAs, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in disease. This understanding may help them to design and conduct clinical trials more effectively.

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Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare Consultants provide advice to healthcare organizations on how to improve their operations. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Healthcare Consultants, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to develop new strategies for improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and patterns of disease. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Epidemiologists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in disease. This understanding may help them to develop new strategies for preventing and controlling disease.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Data Scientists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to develop new data-driven solutions to healthcare problems.

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Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants provide medical care under the supervision of a physician. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Physician Assistants, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to provide better care to their patients.

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Cardiologist

Cardiologists diagnose, treat, and prevent heart and blood vessel diseases. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for cardiologists, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in cardiovascular diseases. This understanding may help them to develop new and more effective treatments for these diseases.

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Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data. The course on Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease may be helpful for Statisticians, as it will provide them with a better understanding of the role of EVs in health and disease. This understanding may help them to develop new statistical methods for analyzing data on EVs.

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