Science at the Frontier of Unsolved Medical Problems
SCRB 197
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
We ask in this class how fundamental science, pathophysiological insights, and AI can be harnessed to understand disease and to design approaches to improve human health. We begin with an introduction to some areas where fundamental knowledge -- for example in genetics, immunology, and oncogenes -- have led to striking recent changes in therapy. We then focus on two areas where medicine has made less progress: disorders of the brain and failure of organ systems. As in Frontiers in Therapeutics, the prior version of this class, each session will begin with a lecture by an expert in the field. This will then be followed by student-led discussions of papers relevant to the topic. Students will learn how to evaluate the relevance of fundamental science to seemingly intractable medical problems, as well as the credibility of proposed novel therapeutic opportunities.
Course Notes
Prerequisites are Life and Physical Sciences A or Life Sciences 1a; Life Sciences 1b; MCB 60, SCRB 50, or permission of the instructor
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
NOTE: This course requires additional sections; you will be prompted to choose secondary components during the Add to Cart process
