Cancer in the 21st Century: the Genomic Revolution (FutureLearn)

This free online course is open to anyone, although it is designed for individuals with a prior interest in biology, including current undergraduate students, and nurses or medics who want to further their knowledge in this area.

Over six weeks, we will examine three key questions about cancer diagnosis and treatment:

• Where have we come from?
• Where are we now?
• And where are we going?

The course will offer insights into patients’ experiences and enable discussions on key issues. Guest lecturers will include active researchers and those involved in direct patient care.
You will also get the chance to undertake your own internet-based investigation into one of the most exciting areas of cancer research.

What topics will you cover?
This course examined three key questions about cancer diagnosis and treatment: Where have we come from? Where are we now? And where are we going? It looked at the biological basis of cancer, influences on causation, how it is detected and treated, and the development of new treatment strategies.
Learners gained insights into patients’ experiences, discussed key issues relating to this topic and also had the chance to undertake their own internet-based investigation into one of the developing areas of Epigenetics.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic cell biology as it relates to the development of cancer
• Discuss factors contributing to the development of cancer including environmental and genetic aspects
• Identify current approaches used to identify and treat cancer
• Reflect on strategies which may be used in future cancer therapies and the implications for society