Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department of ...

Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Department of Environmental Health
University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine
Molecular Epidemiology
26-BE-973
Spring Term 2009
3 credit hours
Fridays 9:00 – 12:00, Kehoe Auditorium
Instructors:
Erin N Haynes, DrPH, MS, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Mary Beth Genter, PhD, Division of Molecular Genetics and Environmental Toxicology
Teaching Assistant: Kpandja “KP” Djawe, Epidemiology PhD student
Office Hours: By Appointment
Prerequisites:26-BE-776, Intro to Epidemiology
Text:
Molecular Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases by Chris Wild, Paolo Vineis, and Seymour
Garte; and is available in the COM bookstore.
Additional textbook reference:
Application of Biomarkers to Cancer Epidemiology (IARC Scientific Publications) ISBN:
9283221427 by P. Toniolo, P. Boffetta, D.E.G. Shuker, N. Rothman, B. Hulka, and N.
Pearce. Available through: http://www.campusi.com.
Molecular Epidemiology: Principles and Practices. ISBN: 0126323453 by P.A. Schulte,
F.P. Perera.
Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals. NRC. The National Academies
Press, Washington DC. 2004
Course Description: This course covers both the major theoretical concepts and practical issues
involved in conducting research involving biomarkers in human populations. Recent advances in basic
science and technology are revolutionizing the field of epidemiology, creating vast opportunities for
studying the relationship between variations at the molecular or cellular level and the early detection,
etiology or prognosis of important diseases. Class topics include: the theoretical advantages of
biomarkers, criteria for evaluating potential markers, sample collection and storage, laboratory quality
control considerations, issues in epidemiologic study design and analysis, ethical/legal concerns, and
discussion of specific examples of research involving molecular markers of internal dose, susceptibility,
early pathological alteration, and prognosis.
Course Objectives:
Students completing this course will develop an understanding of the major theoretical and practical
issues involved in conducting research that integrates laboratory and epidemiological techniques. After
completion of the course, students should be able to:
a. Identify the criteria used to evaluate a potential biological marker in epidemiological research and
apply these criteria to selected examples.
b. Describe the role of biomarkers in population research, including their advantages and limitations.
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c. Describe the major problems in collecting, storing and processing various biological samples for
human population studies, including principles of quality control for laboratory assays.
d. Critically evaluate the major study designs used in molecular epidemiology, and describe the
important issues to be addressed re: study validity and precision.
e. Identify and describe the important ethical and legal issues involved in using human fluid or tissue
specimens for research in an epidemiological context.
f. Critically evaluate the use of biomarkers as indicators of the internal dose of exogenous
substances such as environmental toxins and micronutrients.
g. Describe the major challenges involved in studies using biomarkers as indicators of early
pathological change, in the context of individual risk assessment or chemoprevention.
h. Describe the major challenges involved in studies using biomarkers for early detection/screening
or for evaluation of prognosis.
i. Critically evaluate efforts to study the role of genetic variation in disease causation.
j. Effectively synthesize & evaluate research to address a specific research question.
Course Requirements:
Blackboard: Blackboard will be used to share and discuss progress on the literature review, send
course announcements, and post speaker slides and presentations. Because of the importance of each
class session, each class will be videotaped and streamlined through Blackboard.
Readings: For each lecture there will be selected readings to support the material presented. Reading
the articles prior to the lecture will enhance the learning experience.
Group discussion: There will be small group discussions at the end of each lecture. If you did not attend
the class, you must respond to the discussion question on Blackboard for full participation credit.
Literature Review: Each student will write a publishable review of the literature on the use of a
biomarker(s) in a particular disease/organ system. The manuscript will be prepared according to
specifications outlined by the journal you intend to submit the manuscript. Using the guidelines of the
journal, your literature review will:
1. Identify and describe the disease-exposure relationship
2. Organize information and relate it to the research question you are developing
3. Synthesize results into a summary of what is and isn’t known
4. Identify gaps and controversy in the literature
5. Use tables and /or figures to graphically represent data
6. Develop questions for further research
Papers should be submitted electronically through Blackboard. The journal specifications for a literature
review should accompany your paper. The literature review will be due on the date and time scheduled
for the final exam.
Presentation: Each student will present their literature review to the class using PowerPoint.
Presentations will be limited to 15 minutes. Assessment of presentations will be based on organization,
subject knowledge, graphics, mechanics, eye contact, and elocution. The form used to evaluate the
critique will be posted on Blackboard. Your presentations will be videotaped and made available on
Blackboard for your review and personal critique.
Grading Outline: Grading will be based on group discussion (30%), the literature review (40%), and
presentation (30%). There will be no exams.
Academic Ethics: The faculty of the Department of Environmental Health believe that the conduct of a
student taking a course in the Department should be consistent with that of a professional individual. All
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students in this course will be expected to conduct themselves with complete integrity. All work by the
student will be the work of that student, unless otherwise referenced.
Course Outline by Week:
Lecture Topic Chapter
Readings
Introduction / Study Design
4/3/09 Course Introduction & Writing Literature Review Molecular
Publishing a Paper
Epidemiology Laboratory Overview & Sign-up
2, 3, 15
Speaker
Dr. Erin Haynes
Dr. Mary Beth Genter
Molecular Epidemiology Study Designs
4/10/09 Genetics in Molecular Epidemiology
Molecular Genetic Techniques
IRB Issues
Literature review topic and journal name due
4/17/09 Data collection and handling
DNA Collection, Handling and Storage: Experiences from
a Laboratory
Biological Specimen Collection, Handling and Storage
4/24/09 Genetics in Molecular Epidemiology / Biomarkers in
Translational Research
Genetic Testing not Cost-Effective in Guiding Initial
Dosing of Common Blood Thinner
Molecular Genetics of Diabetes and SNPs vs Scans
Introduction and Methods sections of literature review due
5/1/09 Biomarkers for Screening and Early Detection
Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease
Epigenetic markers of Colon Cancer
5/8/09 Biomarkers of Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Racial Differences In Biomarkers of ETS
Molecular techniques for ETS analysis
Results section of literature review due
5/15/09 Biomarkers of Lead Exposure
Markers of Allergy and Asthma
Discussion section of literature review due
5/22/09 Student presentations
5/29/09 Student presentations
6/5/09 Student presentations
11, 22
7
4, 5, 20
10
9
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Dr. Carreon-Valencia
Dr. Mary Beth Genter
Dr. Erin Haynes
Dr. Michael Spigarelli
Dr. Erin Haynes
Dr. Mark Eckman
Dr. Deka
Karen Putnam
Dr. Ho
Dr. Steve Wilson
Dr. Michael Borchers
Dr. Kim Dietrich
Dr. Patrick Ryan
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