IDE7206: Genetic Epidemiology and Bioinformatics

This course develops the Students in Genetic Epidemiology and Bioinformatics. It will provide skills and knowledge of computational and statistical studies in relation to infectious diseases of epidemic potential. There will be heavy use computational tools for advancement of life sciences. These include the roles of genetic factors in determining health and disease. In addition, the linkages of these factors to the environment. Students will be exposed to Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). This course has been designed to meet the demands of field epidemiology, but the skills gained will be applicable in other fields as well. 
 
Aim  

This course will provide Students with knowledge, understanding, skills and competences to explore, analyse, interpret and communicate biological data. 
 
Programme Objectives  
 
At the end of this course, the Students will be able to: 

• Introduce the commonly exploited computational, statistical and analytical approaches to post-genomic biology and genetics. 
• Develop skills to understand and critically evaluate research methodologies and conclusions that allow Students to make sound judgments about the applicability of these techniques to infectious disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. 
• Develop competence in both design and analysis of studies and effective extraction of information in genetics, genomics and other biosciences, coupled with the ability to communicate information, results, issues and ideas to audiences of both a specialist and non-specialist background. 

 
Expected course outcome 
Application of acquired understanding, knowledge, skills and competences in: 

• Field epidemiology. 
• Disease outbreak plans, models and designs. 
• One Health-based approaches to disease monitoring and surveillance.