Genetic Epidemiology

This course focuses on the fundamental research methods and applications in the dynamic field of genetic epidemiology. To help students obtain a basic understanding of the field, the course includes topics such as assessing genetic influences on disease; advances in genomics technology; family based study designs for linkage, exome sequencing and case-parent trios; candidate gene and genome-wide association studies of both common and rare genetic variants;  gene-environment interactions, epistasis and non-Mendelian genetics; software and web-based data resources; ethical issues in genetic epidemiology; and applications of genetic epidemiology to clinical practice and public health. Students will be exposed to a range of research approaches in genetic epidemiology, to examples of these approaches from the literature and from ongoing studies, and will have an opportunity to apply these methods by writing a grant application or human genome epidemiology review in their area of research interest.