Case Studies in Personalized Medicine from Coursera

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Syllabus

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALIZED MEDICINE

The first module of this course will focus on introducing the concept of personalized medicine. We will very briefly review fundamentals of genetics as these apply to personalized medicine (DNA structure; RNA; protein structures; function of DNA; coding; DNA variations; types of genetic variants), as well as review statistical concepts and skills important to clinical data analysis (odds ratios, relative risk, P values, multiple testing, sensitivity, specificity, ROCs). In Module 2 we will explore drug actions and reactions as we look closely at the general mechanisms underlying variability in drug responses, drug metabolism and transport, and genetic variability in drug-handling molecules.

UNIT 2: STUDYING GENETIC VARIATION

Module 3 focuses on how we study genetic variation. We'll start by looking at families and populations. Topics that will be introduced include family history and inheritance patterns, ancestry, and linkage. Then in Module 4 we shift our focus to studying the contemporary techniques and technologies used to study genetic variation, including genome-wide association and sequencing.

UNIT 3: CASE STUDIES IN PERSONALIZED MEDICINE, PART 1

In Module 5 we will begin to discuss specific cases as these apply to personalized medicine. We will first look very closely at a case of familial hypercholesterolemia as we investigate how we use genomic medicine to move from a rare disease to a common medication, using genomics to find new drug targets, and a discussion of the side effects of statin therapy. In Module 6 we will look at a collection of "high risk pharmacogenetics"cases that illustrate adverse reactions due to drug metabolism and variable drug responses.

UNIT 4: CASE STUDIES IN PERSONALIZED MEDICINE, PART 2

Module 7 continues our focus on case studies with a look at some cases that illustrate how personalized medicine informs treatment decisions related to specific diseases/conditions. These include cystic fibrosis, Marfan syndrome, heart failure, neuropsychiatric diseases, and diabetes. Three cases/lessons focus specifically on how genomic medicine informs testing for and treatment of cancer.

UNIT 5: PERSONALIZED MEDICINE IN A SYSTEM OF CARE

Module 8 serves as a review and a continuing discussion of the cases presented in Modules 5-7, as we take a look at where we are now and what's on the horizon in personalized medicine. In Module 9 we will explore some critical considerations for implementing and operationalizing personalized medicine in a system of care, particularly in the area of informatics. We will discuss the role of the electronic medical record in a learning healthcare system, how electronic records support discovery, and using electronic records in the delivery of personalized medicine.

FINAL REFLECTION ACTIVITY

We are on the verge of having patients come to their physicians with their entire genome sequenced. How can we best use this information to improve care? This course looks closely at many specific genetic variants that have been identified as playing a role in a person’s susceptibility to disease and/or potential for adverse reaction to certain substances/drugs. In the peer review activity below, please reflect on how your learning in this course has impacted your understanding of personalized medicine. There are two versions of this activity – one for healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical students, etc.), and one for non-healthcare professionals (patients, consumers, general interest, etc.) Please be sure to choose the appropriate version of the activity.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores topics in personalized medicine, including genetic variation, drug responses, and case studies in disease treatment

Taught by Dr. Dan Roden, a recognized expert in personalized medicine, who has conducted groundbreaking research in the field

Provides a strong foundation for healthcare professionals who want to learn about personalized medicine and its applications

Offers a multi-modal learning experience with videos, readings, discussions, and case studies

Provides an opportunity for learners to reflect on how personalized medicine impacts their understanding of patient care

Exclusively targeted towards healthcare professionals with 5+ years of experience, which may not be suitable for all learners

Reviews summary

Personalized medicine insights

According to learners, this course provides fascinating insights into the field of personalized medicine. However, learners mention that it could be improved by including information on side effects of pharmaceuticals.

Learners find the course insightful.

"fascinating course"

The course does not cover side effects.

"didn't cover side effects in most pharmaceuticals"

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 Case Studies in Personalized Medicine with these activities:

Review mendelian inheritance

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Reviewing Mendelian inheritance patterns will help you understand the fundamentals of genetics and prepare you for more advanced topics in personalized medicine.

Browse courses on Genetics

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Review a textbook chapter or online resource on Mendelian inheritance.
Complete practice problems related to Mendelian inheritance.

Gather resources on personalized medicine

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Compiling resources on personalized medicine will help you stay up-to-date on the latest research and developments in the field.

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Search for articles, websites, and other resources on personalized medicine.
Organize the resources into a folder or database.
Review the resources regularly to stay up-to-date on the latest developments.

Explore the Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (PharmGKB)

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PharmGKB is a valuable resource for learning about the role of genetics in drug response. Exploring the database will help you understand how genetic variants can affect drug efficacy and safety.

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Visit the PharmGKB website.
Browse the database to learn about different genes and their role in drug metabolism.
Search for specific drugs to see how genetic variants can affect their response.

Five other activities

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Mentor a student interested in personalized medicine

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Mentoring a student will help you solidify your understanding of personalized medicine and develop your leadership skills.

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Identify a student who is interested in personalized medicine.
Meet with the student regularly to provide guidance and support.
Help the student develop his or her knowledge and skills in personalized medicine.

Attend a workshop on personalized medicine

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Attending a workshop on personalized medicine will allow you to learn from experts in the field and network with other professionals.

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Search for workshops on personalized medicine in your area.
Register for a workshop that interests you.
Attend the workshop and participate in the discussions.

Develop a case study of personalized medicine

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Creating a case study will help you apply your knowledge of personalized medicine to a real-world scenario and develop your critical thinking skills.

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Identify a specific disease or condition that can be treated with personalized medicine.
Research the genetic variants associated with the disease or condition.
Develop a treatment plan that takes into account the patient's genetic profile.
Present your case study to your classmates or colleagues.

Contribute to an open-source personalized medicine project

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Contributing to an open-source project will allow you to gain practical experience in personalized medicine and collaborate with other developers.

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Find an open-source personalized medicine project on GitHub.
Fork the project and make changes to the code.
Submit a pull request to the original project.

Participate in a personalized medicine hackathon

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Participating in a hackathon will challenge you to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems in personalized medicine.

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Find a personalized medicine hackathon that interests you.
Form a team with other students or professionals.
Develop a solution to the hackathon challenge.
Present your solution to a panel of judges.

Career center

Learners who complete Case Studies in Personalized Medicine will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Medical Geneticist

Medical geneticists specialize in the diagnosis and management of genetic disorders. This course provides medical geneticists with a comprehensive overview of personalized medicine and its applications in clinical practice. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized treatment plans. By completing this course, medical geneticists can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and provide better care for their patients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Geneticist

Pharmacogenomics Researcher

Pharmacogenomics researchers study the relationship between genetic variation and drug response. This course provides pharmacogenomics researchers with a solid foundation in genetics, pharmacology, and bioinformatics. The course covers topics such as genetic variation analysis, drug metabolism, and the development of personalized drug therapies. By completing this course, pharmacogenomics researchers can expand their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments.

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Clinical Research Associate

Clinical research associates manage clinical trials and collect data on the safety and efficacy of new drugs and treatments. This course provides clinical research associates with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in clinical research. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the design of personalized clinical trials. By completing this course, clinical research associates can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments.

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Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners provide primary care to patients. This course provides nurse practitioners with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in clinical practice. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized treatment plans. By completing this course, nurse practitioners can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and provide better care for their patients.

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Genetic Counselor

Genetic counselors help individuals and families understand and manage genetic disorders. This course provides genetic counselors with a solid foundation in genetics, genomics, and personalized medicine. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized care plans. By completing this course, genetic counselors can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and provide better care for their clients.

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Pharmacist

Pharmacists play a vital role in personalized medicine as they are responsible for dispensing medications and ensuring their safe and effective use. This course provides pharmacists with a solid understanding of the genetic basis of drug response and how to use genetic information to tailor drug therapy to individual patients. By completing this course, pharmacists can enhance their ability to provide personalized medication recommendations and optimize patient outcomes.

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Physician

Physicians provide medical care to patients. This course provides physicians with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in clinical practice. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized treatment plans. By completing this course, physicians can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and provide better care for their patients.

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Health Informatics Specialist

Health informatics specialists design and implement health information systems. This course provides health informatics specialists with a comprehensive overview of personalized medicine and its applications in healthcare delivery. The course covers topics such as electronic health records, data analytics, and the development of personalized health information systems. By completing this course, health informatics specialists can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective healthcare delivery systems.

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Clinical Pharmacologist

Clinical pharmacologists study the effects of drugs in humans. This course provides clinical pharmacologists with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in clinical practice. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized drug therapies. By completing this course, clinical pharmacologists can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments.

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Bioinformatician

Bioinformaticians play a crucial role in personalized medicine by analyzing and interpreting large amounts of genetic data. This course provides bioinformaticians with a comprehensive overview of personalized medicine and its applications in clinical practice. The course covers topics such as genetic data analysis, statistical methods, and the development of computational tools for personalized medicine. By completing this course, bioinformaticians can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health policy analysts analyze and develop policies that affect the health of the population. This course provides health policy analysts with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in health policy. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized health policies. By completing this course, health policy analysts can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective health policies.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians design and analyze statistical studies. This course provides biostatisticians with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in research. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized statistical models. By completing this course, biostatisticians can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators plan, organize, and direct the provision of health care services. This course provides healthcare administrators with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in healthcare delivery. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized healthcare delivery models. By completing this course, healthcare administrators can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective healthcare delivery systems.

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Research Scientist

Research scientists conduct research to advance scientific knowledge. This course provides research scientists with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in research. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized research protocols. By completing this course, research scientists can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists study the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations. This course provides epidemiologists with a solid understanding of personalized medicine and its applications in research. The course covers topics such as genetic testing, interpretation of genetic results, and the development of personalized epidemiological studies. By completing this course, epidemiologists can enhance their knowledge and skills in personalized medicine and contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments.

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