Case Studies in Personalized Medicine from Coursera

Learn how advances in biomedicine hold the potential to revolutionize drug development, drug treatments, and disease prevention: where are we now, and what does the future hold? This course will present short primers in genetics and mechanisms underlying variability in drug responses. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate principles of how genetics are being brought to bear on refining diagnoses and on personalizing treatment in rare and common diseases. The ethical and operational issues around how to implement large scale genomic sequencing in clinical practice will be addressed.

After completing this course, learners will understand

1. The ways in which genetic variants can contribute to human disease susceptibility

2. How to choose among drug therapies based on genetic factors

3. That the functional consequences of the vast majority of genetic variants discovered by modern sequencing are unknown.

This course is targeted primarily at physicians 5+ years out of training. Other healthcare providers, medical/health sciences students, and members of the public may also be interested.

Course launches January 15, 2016.

* The information presented in “Case Studies in Personalized Medicine” is offered for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as personal medical advice. If you have questions or concerns about a medical matter, please consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.

What's inside

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.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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

Valuable personalized medicine case studies

According to learners, this course offers valuable case studies that are highly relevant for clinical practice, particularly for physicians and other healthcare professionals. Students appreciated the discussion on implementing genomics in healthcare systems, finding it insightful and forward-thinking. Reviewers largely found the course provides a solid foundation in the field. However, students note that the course requires a strong science or medical background to follow comfortably. Some felt the pace was uneven, with foundational genetics/stats reviews being too quick or basic for some, while complex technical sections felt rushed or lacked depth for others. One reviewer noted some materials felt slightly dated given the rapid evolution of the field. Overall, it is seen as a good starting point that covers a wide range of topics.

Final module on practical implementation insightful.

"The discussion on implementing genomics in healthcare systems (Module 9) was particularly insightful."

"The final unit on implementation is forward-thinking. Great resource."

"Integration of genetics, pharmacology, and clinical cases is well done. Ethical considerations are important."

"The focus on practical case studies and implementation issues makes it stand out."

Highly applicable for healthcare field.

"Excellent course! As a practicing physician, I found the case studies... highly relevant to clinical practice."

"Highly recommend for healthcare professionals."

"Highly valuable for medical professionals."

"Solid course for getting a handle on personalized medicine."

Real-world application highly praised.

"The case studies were the most valuable part, showing real-world applications."

"I found the case studies in Modules 5-7 highly relevant to clinical practice."

"The way it connects genetic variation to drug response through case studies is brilliant."

"The case studies are well-chosen and illustrate the concepts effectively."

"The focus on practical case studies and implementation issues makes it stand out."

Field evolves fast, content may feel dated.

"Some materials felt a little dated considering how fast the field moves, but still relevant."

"A good starting point but you'll need to supplement with more detailed resources if you want to go deep."

Foundational parts too slow, advanced too fast.

"A very informative course covering the basics and diving into specific case studies. The genetics refresh was helpful, though quick."

"The genetics and stats review was too basic for me, but then it jumped into complex topics without enough explanation."

"The course provides a broad overview but lacks depth in certain areas, especially the genetic technologies (Module 4). Felt a bit superficial..."

"Pace was uneven. Some parts too slow, others too fast."

"Core concept is interesting, but the execution wasn't perfect. Case studies were helpful when I could follow them..."

Strong science/medical background needed.

"Might be challenging without a basic biology background."

"The prerequisites mentioned are important; a science background is definitely needed."

"Not suitable for beginners or those outside medicine."

"The case studies were hard to follow without a strong clinical background."

"sometimes assumed too much prior 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 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.

Browse courses on Personalized Medicine

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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.

Browse courses on Pharmacogenomics

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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.

Browse courses on Personalized Medicine

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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.

Browse courses on Personalized Medicine

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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.

Browse courses on Personalized Medicine

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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.

Browse courses on Personalized Medicine

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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.

Browse courses on 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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacogenomics Researcher

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Clinical Research Associate

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacist

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Informatics Specialist

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Genetic Counselor

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Clinical Pharmacologist

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse Practitioner

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bioinformatician

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Policy Analyst

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

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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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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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Administrator