75-105 credits of compulsory modules, 75-105 credits of optional modules (subject to choosing 180 credits in total). You must select modules as follows:
Compulsory choice 2 - select 30-60 credits from this group.
Optional 1 - select 75-105 credits from this group. Module HPDM045 requires on-campus attendance. HPDM046Z will run subject to sufficient interest.
HPDM036Z: Omics Techniques and Their Application to Genomic Medicine ONLINE
This module explores state-of-the-art genomic technologies used for DNA sequencing, including targeted approaches, whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing, together with RNA sequencing and other technologies used to investigate genomic variation in clinical settings. You will gain an understanding of the principles and applications of these highly parallel sequencing technologies and array-based methodologies used in genomic medicine. The module introduces key bioinformatics approaches for the analysis and interpretation of genomic data. Together with the Introduction to Human Genetics and Genomics module, this module provides a foundation for the subsequent Bioinformatics, Interpretation, Statistics and Data Quality Assurance module. In addition, the module introduces the application of RNA sequencing and other molecular approaches to estimate gene and protein expression, including the study of mRNA, microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs. The module also provides a comprehensive introduction to epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics, highlighting their roles in the functional interpretation of genomic data and the discovery of disease biomarkers. Applications of omics approaches in areas such as cancer genomics and infectious disease research will be explored to illustrate how integrated genomic data can inform disease mechanisms, diagnostics and personalised medicine.
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HPDM037Z: Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases
In this module you will explore the genetic basis of common and rare inherited disorders. The principles and practice of medical genetics and genomics, and the management and treatment of patients and their families will be discussed. Utilizing exemplars, the module demonstrates the clinical utility of genomic data in healthcare settings. You will learn about contemporary approaches used to identify genetic causes of disease, with a focus on rare inherited diseases.
The module will also address the integration of genomic data into clinical pathways, emphasizing the impact of advances in genomic technologies on patient care. The role of genomics in care pathways will be explored from both patient and family perspectives, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of genomic data. Additionally, you will learn to identify patients with unmet diagnostic needs who may benefit from exome or genome sequencing and will be introduced to the complexities of interpreting genomic data in clinical contexts. The module will also cover key initiatives such as the development of genomic medicine services, and the infrastructure supporting incorporation of genomic testing into the NHS.
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HPDM082AZ: Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics
This module will start with by covering the fundamentals of nucleic acid structure and function, including changes during the cell cycle. Following this, you will learn the fundamentals of gene expression and its relationship to the architecture of genes and the genome. Next, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of genomic variation, including the various ways it can be classified and its frequency. Lastly, you will apply what you have learnt to interpret genotype and/or phenotype information for the prediction of disease risk, presentation and/or mechanisms.
This module aims to give you a fundamental understanding of DNA structure, function, and variation and recognise its importance to human health and disease. It will prepare you for further modules in genomic medicine that enable a deeper exploration of how genomic information can be used to improve healthcare, medicine, and our biological understanding of human diseases.
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HPDM042Z: Research Project - Data
In this module you will apply and extend your existing knowledge and skills by undertaking an independent research project aligned with your degree programme (MSc Neuroscience, Health Data Science or Genomic Medicine). Projects are selected from a diverse portfolio designed to reflect a wide range of scientific interests and programme specialities. Depending on your programme, projects may involve laboratory-based research, a systematic review, or in silico approaches such as data analysis, computer modelling or bioinformatics. Projects are undertaken within Exeter’s leading research groups and may include collaboration with partners including the National Health Service, pharmaceutical companies and health data organisations.
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HPDM043Z: Research Project - Literature
The aim of this module is for you to build on your previous knowledge, skills and experience of conducting research by undertaking a medical genomics research dissertation. The dissertation will demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in a specialism of healthcare science. The research project will be designed to take into account the research training required by you and the needs of the department in which you will be conducting your research. Your research dissertation will be presented in the form of an in depth literature based review on a specific subject e.g. cardiovascular genomics or epigenetics.
You will use both the theoretical knowledge you will acquire, throughout the taught part of the course, and the analytical skills you will develop in order to participate in research independently. Undertaking of the research dissertation will involve formulating the research question, analysing published data, presenting results and providing a discussion of the results. The project could be carried out in the hosting NHS laboratory, research department or industry, under joint supervision i.e. involving tutors from both the hosting department and the MSc programme.
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BIOM567Z: Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease
This module provides an exciting learning opportunity at the forefront of modern biology. You will explore the genomics of infectious agents, including the implications of gain/loss of genes and plasmids upon the pathogenicity and the sensitivity to drug treatment.
You will explore some of the huge range of freely available sequence data and computational tools that underpin modern genomics research.
This module is primarily aimed at clinical practitioners, diagnostic service providers, scientists, researchers and those aspiring to specialise within an academic career pathway. You will learn from, with and about your peers, developing a mutual understanding and respect for the positive contributions that each will bring to Genomic Medicine.
Computer-based practical workshops will consolidate the use of bioinformatics tools and databases through hands-on analysis of genomics data (e.g. comparative genomics of pathogen genome sequences or prediction of antimicrobial resistance).
Key employability skills include extracting and analysing complex information from web-based resources, and awareness of data-driven decision making. You will develop skills relevant to careers in medicine, medical research, and biosciences more broadly.
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CSCM001Z: Genetics of Diabetes: Understanding and Clinical Utility
Over 5 million people in the UK have diabetes and 10% of the NHS budget is spent on diabetes. Genetic risk plays a role in all forms of diabetes: it is the primary cause of rare forms (monogenic diabetes) and an important risk factor in common forms (type 1 and type 2 diabetes). Genetics can improve diagnosis and treatment, offering precision medicine in monogenic diabetes and risk stratification in type 1 diabetes. Exeter is one of the world’s leading centres for diabetes research and this module will be taught by Exeter’s world-leading experts.
This module aims to equip healthcare professionals who have a special interest in endocrinology and diabetes with an advanced knowledge of the importance of genetics in diagnosing and managing these conditions. The module covers the genetic causes of the different subtypes of diabetes including rare monogenic forms of diabetes, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The module will cover the underpinning genetics and the potential of genetic testing for diagnosis and management of conditions. You will see how research translates into real-world healthcare solutions for diabetes, but the skills you gain will be relevant to many other conditions.
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HPDM038Z: Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment ONLINE
This module will equip you with detailed knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer development. This will include the ways in which interrogation of a person's own genome, and the genome of tumour cells, can facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
This module covers the molecular mechanisms that underlie cancer development, growth and metastasis, and the differences between cancer types. It will explore the varied molecular and cellular actions of cancer treatments, the genomic factors affecting response and resistance to treatment and the research approaches to cancer drug development. The genomic basis for cancer predisposition will also be discussed, considering how this may impact patients and their families. This will include risk assessment, cancer screening, treatment and cancer preventative options. The module aims to equip you with knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer development and highlight how interrogation of a person’s own genome and the genome of neoplastic cells can facilitate the diagnosis and personalised treatment of cancer.
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HPDM039Z: Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare
Pharmacogenomics and stratified healthcare should ensure that patients are offered the 'right treatment, for the right person, at the right time’. This module will provide you with an overview of the analytical strategies and techniques used in pharmacogenomics and explore some of the challenges and limitations in this field. It will consider current clinical practice as well as emerging technologies.
This module aims to describe the complexity of pharmacogenomics and its application in clinical practice. This will include tailoring drug treatment to improve patient response, and techniques to stratify patients at risk of adverse drug reactions. The module will use examples of known, validated pharmacogenomic tests, relevant to the use of drug treatments.
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HPDM041Z: Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis ONLINE
One of the key challenges in genomic medicine is to interpret large-scale sequencing data effectively in order to arrive at an accurate genetic diagnosis. The aim of this module is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of how this process is conducted. You will learn how large-scale genomic data is analysed and interpreted, as well as develop a practical understanding of how bioinformatic and statistical tools are used.
The module will cover the fundamental principles of bioinformatics and data quality assessment as applied to clinical genomics. You will use a range of software packages and in silico prediction tools, alongside genomic and clinical databases. You will learn how to apply these tools to evaluate the quality of a sequencing data set, align sequencing reads to a reference genome, identify genetic variants, and filter variants with evidence of pathogenicity. Theoretical sessions will be coupled with practical workshops and self-paced assignments where you will get to perform a range of data bioinformatic analyses on real-world data.
By the end of the module, you will be able to use bioinformatic tools to critically interpret real-world data and to accurately report your findings in a diagnostic context.
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HPDM044Z: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics ONLINE
The module will provide you with a framework for ethical understanding of medical genomics. An 'ethics in practice' approach will be taken. You will be provided with a platform of ethical understanding from which to consider issues of confidentiality, autonomy, disclosure, informed consent and justice. You will consider the impact of genomic technologies on individuals, families, and demographic groupings. The social implications of genetic testing and screening will be considered, especially in the context of reproductive technologies. Finally you will be provided with a legal framework for the use of genetic data for research, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Many genomic tests have wider implications for the patient and their family, particularly where these may have a predictive aspect, provide incidental information, and/or have potential for being misleading or increase uncertainty. You will explore the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) involved in genomic testing and in specific integrated pathways.
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HPDM045: Counselling Skills for Genomics
This module equips you with knowledge and skills to support patients undergoing genomic investigations. Working together through a mixture of lectures, discussions and practical group exercises, you build foundational counselling skills and learn how to apply them to different genomic scenarios. The course also introduces key practical tasks in the medical genomic pathway, including taking consent, interpreting results and documenting family history. Throughout the course we consider the social, personal and familial impact of these tests, exploring how we can support individuals and promote equity in genomic medicine.
Expect to be supported, challenged and to work together extensively in small groups. If you have any access needs that you would like to discuss, please contact the module lead. Due to the interactive and layered design of the course, attendance is essential for all four contact days.
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HPDM046Z: Advanced Bioinformatics
This module is available either via blended learning with contact days on-campus, or as fully distance learning via our online platform. There may be some variation in scheduled teaching and learning activities depending on your mode of study.
The main challenge for application of genomic data is in its analysis and interpretation. In this module you will build on the knowledge and understanding gained in the Bioinformatics, Interpretation, Statistics and Data Quality Assurance module. You will learn how to use programming and scripting via the command line as well as the 'Galaxy' interface to formulate more complex research questions and analyse NHS data sets. You will gain a greater understanding of the different approaches to sequence data assembly and alignment and copy number variant and structural variant analysis.
The module will cover more advanced principles of informatics and bioinformatics applied to clinical genomics, how to find major genomic and genetic data resources for use in more complex data analysis, and use of programming and scripting via the command line. Theoretical sessions will be coupled with practical assignments of analysing and annotating predefined data sets. Upon completion of this module you will be eligible to base your MSc research project on data from the '100,000 Genomes Project'.
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HPDM049Z: Epigenetics
This module is delivered fully online through the University’s virtual learning platform, using a combination of recorded lectures, guided learning activities and interactive resources. The module introduces the structure and function of the human epigenome, including key regulatory mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification and chromatin remodelling, and their role in controlling gene expression. You will examine how the epigenome interacts with the genome and how epigenetic regulation contributes to normal cellular function. Building on these core principles, the module explores the role of epigenetic variation in human health and disease. You will investigate how the epigenome changes with ageing and in response to environmental and psychosocial exposures, and how these changes may influence disease risk and progression. The application of epigenetics in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease, particularly in areas such as cancer, will also be examined. The module also introduces the genomic technologies and bioinformatics approaches used to study the epigenome, highlighting how epigenomic data can contribute to understanding disease mechanisms. Throughout the module, current challenges and limitations in epigenetic research will be critically discussed alongside emerging developments in the field.
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HPDM220Z: Health Economics
The continuous growth in the use of genomic technologies alongside other emerging healthcare innovations has led to many health advancements, but also has cost implications. Using established health economic methods, especially economic evaluation, it is possible to predict the costs of new treatments and the potential benefits to patients, the NHS and the wider economy in the context of the available resources for healthcare.
This module explores the potential impact of genomic medicine and other healthcare technologies on the healthcare system, its patients and their families. The health economic approach of economic evaluation methods will be used to demonstrate to you the potential costs and benefits of new clinical and technological approaches.
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