Genetic Epidemiology

CI 724 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course provides clinical researchers with the skills to thoughtfully incorporate genetic studies into their research programs and clinical practice. The course focuses primarily on the use of genetic association methods to identify variants associated with disease risk in unrelated individuals and family-based studies. Students will learn foundational concepts in population genetics, eg: linkage disequilibrium and population stratification; frameworks for the design of rigorous genetic epidemiologic studies; and how to interpret and ethically translate the findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and large-scale sequencing studies.  Students will also learn the fundamentals of using prepared datasets and genetic software tools to analyze large-scale genetic data in lab sessions, as well as how to use bioinformatic tools and public databases in research and clinical settings.  At the end of the course, advanced principles of integrative omics study design will be briefly introduced.