Online course on Challenges of Genomic and Precision Medicine

Ethical and Social Challenges of Genomic and Precision Medicine is a free online course conducted by the University of California, San Francisco.

Knowledge linking genomics to health and disease is rapidly expanding. Translation of this knowledge into clinical and public health practice offers promising opportunities but also raises a host of ethical, legal, social, and policy questions. Using case examples, this inter-disciplinary course will explore the challenges of genomic and precision medicine.

About the course
This seven week, inter-disciplinary course provides an introduction to ethical, legal, social, and policy issues that arise in the translation of genomic knowledge into medical and public health practice. It considers challenges in health related and reproductive testing/screening focusing on six specific areas:

• Pre-conception genetic diagnosis, and prenatal testing/screening
• Newborn screening
• Use of genomic sequencing technologies to diagnose and predict disease
• Targeting genomic testing/screening by race/ethnicity.
• Direct-to-consumer genomic testing/screening
• Use of "big data" for genomic research and genomic translation

Course Syllabus
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Reproductive Genetics
Week 3: Screening
Week 4: Genetic Technology in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Disease
Week 5: Race and Genetics
Week 6: Direct-to-Consumer Testing
Week 7: Where Do We Go From Here?

Prerequisites
This course is primarily directed toward learners with an interest in genetics, medical genetics, genetic counseling, public health, as well as members of the broader public with an interest in the ethical, legal, policy, and social issues raised by the new science of genomics.

Course Sessions
September 15, 2014 - November 3, 2014

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