Epigenetics: Human Health (IST)

Upon concluding these courses, you will be prepared to read the scientific literature in this field and take advanced courses, including "Hands-on Epigenetics (Volume III)" where we cover the foundations of multi-omic data analysis to enter the worldwide research on epigenetics.

Goals

On the molecular therapeutics:

- understand why, when and how targeted therapies (such as antihormonal therapy, immunotherapy and neoantigen therapy) address disease

- understand how epigenetic drugs can reverse detrimental epigenetic markers and thus promote health

- be familiar with advances on stem-cell science therapeutics, including ways of restoring cellular health within our body (in vivo) and through culture-and-transplant (in vitro)

On the epigenetics of our daily lives:

- understand how epigenetics are related with memory, childhood abuse and neglect, depression, aging or addiction

- critically understand how scientific experiments are advancing the research in this field

- be able to separate what is caused by our biology and by our environment (the link between nature and nurture)

- understand why and how individuals with identical (or similar) genetics differ trait-wise and health-wise

- be familiar with the epigenetics of inheritance, understanding whether our health is conditioned by ancestor lineage and whether it is possible to disrupt inherited epigenetic markers

- glimpse view on future therapeutics based on epigenome reprogramming

Contents

Topic 3

- structured view on current and future therapeutics targeting the biological mechanisms driving disease

- molecularly targeted therapies and human health: antibody therapy, immunotherapy and neoantigen therapy

- external sources of protein and RNA supplementation

- epigenetic drugs and human health

- stem-cell science therapeutics: cell transplant, dialysis, somatic cell nuclear transfer, dedifferentiation

- comprehensive view on molecular medicine and oncological disorders

Topic 4

- epigenetics and (non-)identical twins, links between our biology and the environment

- the epigenetics of memory, childhood neglect and abuse, depression, weight, neurological disorders, aging, and addiction

- the epigenetics of inheritance

- advances on epigenetics' research from the stance of lab experiments

- consolidated view on epigenetic-driven study, prediction and treatment of human diseases