Learn How Developments In Genomics Are Transforming Patient Care in Diabetes

There have been huge advances in the field of genetics in the last 10 years since the sequencing of the first human genome in 2003. It is now possible to analyze all 20,000 human genes in a single experiment, rather than focussing on one gene at a time. We are in the genomics era. The free online course “Genomic Medicine: Transforming Patient Care in Diabetes” introduces the topic of genomics, using the University of Exeter’s research expertise in diabetes, to illustrate the clinical application of current genomics knowledge. The course is designed for anyone who wants to learn about how the genomic era is changing medical science, including healthcare professionals, science undergraduates and non-specialists. Non-specialists might not feel the need to engage with the scientific elements of the course in as much depth as others, but would still benefit from the overall subject matter.

Genomic Medicine: Transforming Patient Care in Diabetes – Course Content

The course uses patient experiences to discuss the impact and value of a genetic diagnosis for diabetes for patients, their families and the clinicians responsible for their care. You will learn about the value of understanding the underlying pathological mechanism of a disease, to enable the progression from genomic testing to improvements in clinical care. You will also learn about: the different modes of inheritance for diabetes, including polygenic, monogenic, mitochondrial and epigenetic; the molecular basis of these inheritance patterns; and how this relates to risk for individuals, families and populations.

You will be taken through the process of discovering novel genetic mutations in the genome, including intergenic regions, previously thought to play a minor role in gene function. This will include thinking about the pattern of inheritance, to design a strategy for gene discovery, through to the latest laboratory techniques used for genomic sequencing. There will also be an introduction to the bioinformatics resources and techniques used to interpret the wealth of genomic data generated by the techniques described.