MSc Genetics of Human Diseases

The MSc Genetics of Human Diseases will provide scientists and clinicians with an in-depth knowledge of the genetics of human disease and how this can be applied to alleviate human disease through the development and application of diagnostic tests or therapeutic agents. This one year full time course, led by directors Prof Steve Humphries and Prof Andres Ruiz-Linares, will draw together cross-departmental teaching (Biology, Medicine, Psychology, Anthropology, Statistics) providing a thorough grounding in modern approaches to the understanding of the genetics of disease. The core modules provide a broad coverage of the genetics of disease, research skills and social aspects, whilst specialised modules allow a more in depth analysis of two or more specialised subject areas. All course modules will be supplemented with talks from the Henry Stewart Talks collection. The two research projects, one library based and the other generating new data, will provide in-depth research experience in two areas of genetics.

UCL (University College London) is one of Europe’s largest and most productive centres of biomedical science and UCL is in a unique position to offer both the basic science and application of genetics to improve human health, including multi-disciplinary outreach across the college. UCL Genetics Institute (UGI) conducts internationally recognised research in the field of human genetics with multi-disciplinary outreach across the UCL campus, developing and applying Biostatistical and Bioinformatic approaches to human and population genetics.

Further information about UGI can be seen at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ugi

Programme Outline
This programme is offered full-time over 12 months beginning in September 2009. It is divided into three parts:- compulsory core modules, optional modules and a dissertation project. An MSc will be awarded on satisfactory completion of the compulsory module, one of three optional modules and a dissertation based on an original piece of work of research.

Topics covered include
- Advanced Human Genetics
- Disease to Gene to Therapy
- Understanding and Undertaking Gene Ontology Annotation
- Genetics of Cardiovascular and related complex diseases
- Genetics of Neurological diseases
- Cancer Epigenetics
- Statistics and Computing
- Pharmacogenetics
- The New Genetics and Society

Entry requirement
A minimum of a second-class Honours degree in a scientific or medical discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants should be confident using computers and show some evidence of numeracy (minimum GCSE Mathematics or statistics or a module with a good mark in their degree)

Dissertation
This is the practical part of the programme and will consist of an original piece of research. Assessment of these courses will be by an oral presentation and a written dissertation.

For further information, please contact:

Dr Shivanthi Manickasingham
UCL Genetics Institute
5 University Street
London WC1E 6JJ

Email: s.manickasingham@ucl.ac.uk

Web: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ugi/education/msc