Personalised Medicine from a Nordic Perspective from Coursera

The technical revolution has generated large amounts of data in healthcare and research, and a rapidly increasing knowledge about factors of importance for the individual’s health. This holds great potential to support a change from the one-size-fits-all paradigm to personalised or precision medicine, to guide and thereby improve each health decision of expected benefit for the patient.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has contributed to a great public and political awareness of the importance of personalised medicine, where the influence of host factors like age, sex, obesity, smoking, co-morbidities etc. confer increased risk of serious COVID-19 illness. It is expected that in the near future, a more systematic and data-driven approach for prediction and risk stratification of COVID-19 patients and many other patient groups, will increase and improve due to better understanding of disease pathology, including the influence of genetic variability and biomarkers on disease risk and outcome.

The Nordic countries have unique welfare systems with general access to healthcare, and longitudinal nationwide health databases and biobanks. This infrastructure combined with unique person identifiers creates an optimal setting for personalised medicine development, and the Nordic model of research, translation, care and education can serve as a forefront example for the rest of the world.

The course in Personalised medicine from a Nordic perspective will introduce, describe, define and discuss the concept of personalised medicine from the aspect of the patient, health-care and the infrastructure available to generate a learning environment that is integrated with everyday care of patients. The course also covers communication of risk and the ethical, legal and social aspects of personalised medicine and presents examples where personalised medicine approach is already used in routine care.

The course was initiated by Faculty leaders in the Education Working Group of Nordic Medical Schools and received funding from the Joint Committee of the Nordic Medical Research Councils (NOS-M). Experts from all the Nordic countries participate in the course:

Saedis Saevarsdottir, Sisse Ostrowski, Hans Tomas Björnsson, Richard Rosenquist Brandell, Henning Bundgaard, Engilbert Sigurðsson, Aarno Palotie, Ole A Andreassen, Runolfur Palsson, Alma Möller, Søren Brunak, Johan Askling, Carsten Utoft Niemann, Rudi Agius, Sofia Ernestam, Saemundur Oddsson, Henrik Ullum, Kari Stefansson, Patrick Sulem, Simon Rasmussen, Jens Lundgren, Anders Perner, Merete Lund Hetland, Heidi Bentzen, Henning Langberg, Sigurdur Kristinsson, Thor Aspelund, Jeanette Knox, David Arnar, Sigurdis Haraldsdottir, Hakon Heimer, Lone Frank, Mette Nordahl Svendsen, Bjorn Hofmann, and Morten Søgaard.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to personalised medicine

This module will introduce the concept and methods of personalised medicine, including terminology and definitions, with emphasis on how the infrastructure of the Nordic countries facilitates developing and implementing personalised medicine in collaboration. Examples of applied personalised medicine in the Nordic countries and unmet needs in common diseases, where personalised medicine can be the way forward, will be described and discussed.

Health information used in personalised medicine

The module describes what kind of information is useful to tailor the care of individuals, with focus on the potential of health data that is already collected, and the benefits of using such “real-life” data compared to clinical guidelines based on evidence from randomised clinical trials, but also the importance for data “cleaning” to increase the usefulness of such data. Data analysis is key to unfold the potential of collected health data and the module introduces data science as a tool to apply data-driven clinical decision making and thus personalised medicine.

Biomarkers, genetics, and omics

The module describes definitions and identification of biomarkers and how these can be applied in precision medicine, as this part of personalised medicine is often referred to today. Genetics have a fundamental role in personalised medicine, and the students are expected to have a basic understanding of terminology, definitions and methodology, while the focus here is on its use and potential in personalised medicine (other courses can be taken to gain that knowledge basis if needed). A similar approach is taken for the rapidly developing field of ‘omics’ (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics etc), since this field could well fill up a course on its own. Thus, the module describes analyses and interpretation of biomarker, genetic and omics data and their implications for care. In addition it describes how open data sources are used for analyses and interpretation of such data.

Evidence and documentation for clinical efficacy of personalised medicine

The module will describe and discuss what “evidence” is and the challenges and opportunities and shift in the paradigm that data-driven personalised medicine has introduced. Furthermore, evidence-based medicine including different trial designs and novel trial designs will be described and discussed. The challenge for personalised medicine and novel trial designs to generate good enough evidence for clinical implementation is discussed from a clinical and legal perspective. Finally, the innovation pipeline from research to clinical practice is also described and discussed.

Communication in personalised medicine

The module will introduce, describe and discuss risk – a cornerstone in personalised medicine. How is risk calculated, communicated, inferred and interpreted? Furthermore, patient-centered care – a complement to personalised medicine – and the pro’s and con’s of screening for diseases will be described and discussed.Finally, the role of the media for the hype and horror sometimes introduced by novel healthcare technologies will be discussed.

Ethical, legal and social aspects of personalised medicine

The module will introduce and discuss the ethical and social aspects of personalised medicine in research, clinic and society as well as its impact on health economy and prioritisation. The legislation and regulation of personalised medicine in the Nordic countries will be described and discussed. Furthermore, the industry interest in and collaboration on health data and biologic material will be described and discussed focusing on challenges, possibilities and perspectives. Finally, the module concludes on future perspectives for personalised medicine in the Nordic countries.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Tailored to Nordic learners, leveraging the region's unique welfare systems and data infrastructure

Focuses on bridging research to the clinic, preparing learners to apply personalized medicine in real-world settings

Developed by experts from all Nordic countries, ensuring diverse perspectives and insights

Covers ethical, legal, and social considerations in personalized medicine, preparing learners for challenges in implementation

Emphasizes risk communication, ensuring learners can effectively convey complex medical information to patients

Provides examples of personalized medicine applications in Nordic countries, showcasing real-world success stories

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 Personalised Medicine from a Nordic Perspective with these activities:

Refresh basics on genetic variability

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Review basic concepts in genetics to lay the foundation for understanding personalized medicine.

Browse courses on Genetics

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Review concepts of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Understand inheritance patterns and Mendelian genetics
Explore the principles of genetic variation, including mutations and polymorphisms

Join a study group to discuss personalized medicine case studies

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Engage in peer discussions to analyze real-world case studies in personalized medicine, sharing insights and perspectives.

Browse courses on Personalized Medicine

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Join a study group or form one with classmates
Select and review case studies related to personalized medicine
Discuss case studies, share experiences, and analyze different approaches

Learn about biomarkers in personalized medicine

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Follow tutorials to understand how biomarkers are used in personalized medicine for disease risk assessment and treatment selection.

Browse courses on Biomarkers

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Identify different types of biomarkers
Learn techniques for biomarker discovery and validation
Explore case studies of biomarker applications in personalized medicine

Three other activities

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Attend a workshop on data visualization for personalized medicine

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Participate in a workshop to learn effective data visualization techniques for communicating personalized medicine insights to patients and healthcare professionals.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Register for and attend a data visualization workshop
Learn best practices for visualizing personalized medicine data
Create data visualizations to illustrate key concepts in personalized medicine

Practice data analysis for personalized medicine

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Engage in data analysis exercises to enhance skills in analyzing and interpreting health data for personalized medicine applications.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Explore different data analysis techniques
Apply data analysis methods to real-world personalized medicine datasets
Build predictive models for personalized medicine

Develop a presentation on ethical considerations in personalized medicine

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Create a comprehensive presentation to explore the ethical implications and challenges of personalized medicine, including data privacy, consent, and equity.

Browse courses on Ethics

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Research ethical frameworks and guidelines related to personalized medicine
Identify key ethical issues and concerns
Develop arguments and recommendations for addressing ethical challenges
Present the findings and lead a discussion on ethical considerations

Career center

Learners who complete Personalised Medicine from a Nordic Perspective will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Scientist

*Data Scientists* use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Data Scientist by developing skills in data science and machine learning, which are essential for analyzing and interpreting data in personalized medicine.

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Genetic Counselor

*Genetic Counselors* provide information and support to individuals and families affected by genetic conditions. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Genetic Counselor by building a foundation in biomarkers, genetics, and omics and their implications for personalized medicine.

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Statistician

*Statisticians* collect, analyze, interpret, and present data. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Statistician by developing skills in data science and data analysis, which are essential for understanding and analyzing data in personalized medicine.

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Clinical Geneticist

*Clinical Geneticists* apply genetic principles to understand and manage inherited disorders. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Clinical Geneticist by building a foundation in biomarkers, genetics, and omics and their implications for personalized medicine.

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Data Analyst

*Data Analysts* collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends and patterns. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Data Analyst by developing skills in data science and data-driven clinical decision making in the context of personalized medicine.

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Health Informatics Specialist

*Health Informatics Specialists* use technology to improve the delivery of healthcare. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Health Informatics Specialist by developing skills in managing and analyzing health data and understanding the ethical, legal, and social aspects of personalized medicine.

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Epidemiologist

*Epidemiologists* investigate the causes of disease and other health problems in populations. This course can help prepare one to succeed as an Epidemiologist by developing skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data on disease patterns, which is important for understanding and addressing health disparities in personalized medicine.

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Physician Assistant

*Physician Assistants* provide medical care under the supervision of a physician. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Physician Assistant by developing skills in understanding the principles and applications of personalized medicine.

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Medical Science Liaison

*Medical Science Liaisons* provide scientific and medical information to healthcare professionals. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Medical Science Liaison by developing skills in communicating complex medical information, including the principles and applications of personalized medicine.

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Clinical Data Manager

*Clinical Data Managers* play a key role in the collection, management, and analysis of clinical data. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Clinical Data Manager by developing skills in handling and analyzing data in personalized medicine and understanding its ethical, legal, and social aspects.

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Science Writer

*Science Writers* communicate complex scientific information to the public. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Science Writer by developing skills in understanding and communicating complex medical information, including the principles and applications of personalized medicine.

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Clinical Research Coordinator

*Clinical Research Coordinators* assist with the design, implementation, and management of clinical trials. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Clinical Research Coordinator by developing skills in data collection and management, as well as understanding the principles of clinical trials in personalized medicine.

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Biostatistician

*Biostatisticians* construct, manage, analyze, and make inferences about large datasets. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Biostatistician by developing skills in data science as a tool to apply data-driven clinical decision making.

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Registered Nurse

*Registered Nurses* provide direct patient care. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Registered Nurse by developing skills in understanding the principles and applications of personalized medicine.

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Pharmacist

*Pharmacists* dispense medications and provide information on their use. This course can help prepare one to succeed as a Pharmacist by developing skills in understanding the principles and applications of personalized medicine.

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Personalised Medicine from a Nordic Perspective

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