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Unit Overview

Description

This unit focuses on the paradigm shift in healthcare from a reactionary model to a predictive, personalised, preventive, and participatory (P4) approach, providing a comprehensive overview of the scientific, clinical, societal, and ethical implications of personalised medicine. Students will explore the integration of cutting-edge genomic technologies, clinical genetics, and multi-omics into precision medicine, with applications ranging from individual care to population health. Practical sessions will allow students to develop communication, critical appraisal and data interpretation skills relevant to the implementation of personalised medicine.

Credit
6 points
Offering
AvailabilityLocationModeFirst year of offer
Not available in 2025UWA (Perth)Face to face
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) explain the principles of P4 medicine and analyse its applications in clinical genetics to improve patient care; (2) evaluate rare disease genomics through case studies to elucidate genotype-phenotype relationships and identify causative molecular mechanisms; (3) assess the clinical implications of results from common variant studies, such as GWAS analyses, and how they may be utilised in personalised medicine; (4) describe how personalised medicine is being implemented to improve clinical care, with examples from pharmacogenomics and cancer care; (5) demonstrate the ability to critically appraise new developments in the emerging field of personalised medicine, and the communication skills necessary to explain and debate them.; and (6) discuss the societal, legal and ethical dimensions of personalised medicine, and current efforts to integrate personalised medicine into health policy.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) exam and (2) workshop/practical assessments. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Dr Mark Cruickshank and Dr Nina McCarthy
Unit rules
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
Major(s) MJD-HUMGE Human Genomics
and Successful completion of IMED2203 Research Methods in Human Health and
GENE2210 Functional Genomics
or GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Contact hours
Lectures: up to two per week, Workshop/practical sessions: 10 x 3 hours
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.