Genomic Medicine and Research: A Community Approach (FutureLearn)

Translational research has shown the benefits of using a community-focussed approach to healthcare. This course shares these benefits and raises awareness of community genetics as a field of medicine. Amish communities and families affected by inherited disorders are given as an example.

What topics will you cover?

- A range of rare inherited diseases, and their genetic basis

- What we mean by the term ‘Community Genetics’

- Mechanisms and methodology for investigating the genetic basis of rare diseases in a community setting

- The use of whole genome analysis in the clinical management of patients within a community setting

- The importance of understanding a patient’s ethnicity, family history and cultural beliefs and practices, in formulating a differential diagnosis and for ensuring equality of health care and special educational needs provision

- Mechanisms for dissemination of research findings to ensure maximum community, and international, impact and benefits

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Describe what a translational research project looks like

- Describe examples of rare inherited diseases and their genetic basis

- Develop an understanding of what is meant by the term “Community Genetics"

- Describe current approaches used to identify new genes for rare monogenic recessive diseases within communities

- Design approaches for undertaking translational genomic research in a community setting

- Reflect on the importance of understanding a patient’s ethnicity, family history and their culture, beliefs and practices in formulating a differential diagnosis

- Describe the value of whole genome sequencing in reaching a specific diagnosis for aiding the clinical management of patients with inherited disease

- Identify patients with rare inherited disease for whom genomic research studies would be appropriate

- Identify the mechanisms for translating research findings into direct benefits for communities and patients worldwide

- Develop an understanding of the unique scientific insights provided by the study of rare monogenic disease