1. Describe how knowledge of the genetic and molecular basis for human diseases can be applied in public health research and practice. Describe the importance of genetic epidemiology and molecular epidemiology to public health.
2. Identify key principles and methods for biological sample collection, including informed consent, sample handling, and biobanking (e.g., chain of custody, quality assurance, use of samples and data).
3. Describe how genetic and molecular data are generated, including basic knowledge of current laboratory technologies. Describe the latest technologies in molecular and genomic data generation used to investigate disease, pathogenesis, and normal variation of traits. Identify potential sources of error and bias from technical and biological artifacts.
4. Recognize how molecular biology, biomarkers, and genetics can be incorporated into the design, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiological studies, including integration of findings from other genetic/molecular studies.
a. Describe the major genetic epidemiologic research study designs and their advantages and limitations. Apply knowledge of inheritance to understanding the genetic architecture of diseases and health conditions.
b. Describe the major molecular epidemiologic research study designs and their advantages and limitations.
5. Justify the roles of: epidemiologists, clinicians, basic scientists, bioinformaticians, and statisticians in the design, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiological studies that incorporate genetic and molecular data.
6. Describe the ways that genetic and molecular tests are currently deployed in public health practice (e.g., blood lipids screening, illicit drug and alcohol screening, foodborne outbreak investigations, influenza vaccination targeting, blood lead screening, genetic screening of newborn and prenatal genetic testing, precision targeting of tumor biomarkers, BRCA1 sequencing, microarray testing in intellectual disability, disease transmission modeling).
7. Interpret and critique published epidemiologic research studies that include genetic and molecular data, including the design and analysis of validation studies (for biomarkers) and/or replication studies (for genetic association studies). Demonstrate the ability to explain, both orally and in writing, the findings and implications of molecular and genetic epidemiologic studies.
8. Describe the legal, ethical, and social issues that may be associated with the collection and application of genetic and genomic information and molecular biomarkers.
9. Gain experience managing and analyzing genetic and molecular data.
