180.640.01
Molecular Epidemiology and Biomarkers in Public Health

Location
East Baltimore
Term
3rd Term
Department
Environmental Health and Engineering
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
Tu, Th, 3:00 - 4:20pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Jessie Buckley
Contact Name
Jessie Buckley
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

340.721 and 340.722 or consent of instructor

Description
Emphasizes the scientific basis of molecular epidemiology and provides examples of the application of molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and toxicology to the study of chronic disease etiology and its public health application, including examples in human cancer, cardiovascular, immunological, and neurological diseases. Also discusses methodological and study design problems.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe how and when molecular and chemical biomarkers can be applied in public health biomonitoring and in epidemiological studies
  2. Articulate the difference between biomarkers of exposure, dose, effect, and susceptibility in various chronic diseases
  3. Discuss methodological and study design problems in applying biomarkers in epidemiological studies
  4. Compare the attributes and deficiencies of particular biomarker assays for biomonitoring and molecular epidemiology
  5. Determine if you should sacrifice banked serum samples to analysis by a particular biomarker assay
  6. Explain the importance of the half-life of a biomarker to an epidemiological study design
  7. Discuss the validation process for new biomarkers prior to application in formal studies
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 20% Participation
  • 40% Assignments
  • 40% Final Exam
Enrollment Restriction
Undergraduate students may not enroll in this course
Instructor Consent
No consent required
Special Comments

Additional 1 hour TBA. This is the onsite section of a course also held virtually/online. You are responsible for the modality in which you register.