MOOC Técnico

Epigenetics: Human Health (IST)

Offered by Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa,

Our journey continues. Welcome to the second stop of our journey into the epigenetic realms of human health and disease. This is the second course of the epigenetics trilogy. We will recover the link of epigenetics with disease; explore epigenetic-inspired molecular therapeutics to move cells from states of disease back into states of health; and cover some advances on epigenetics, including breakthroughs on inheritance, pain and memory.

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

Go to Class

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