Genetic Research (TNH)

Unit Code

00258

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Department of Medicine
The Northern Hospital
Epping
Victoria 3076 Australia

Unit Points

Research Points: 100

Coursework Points: 0

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Prof Judy Savige
University Department of Medicine
The Northern Hospital
Epping
Victoria 3076 Australia

tel: +61 3 8405 8823
email: jasavige@unimelb.edu.au

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Overall Objectives

This course will provide an introduction to epidemiological, clinical and laboratory-based research in the field of genetics. It will also provide an understanding of modern genetic disgnostic techniques in clinical practice. Finally, it will ensure a critical understanding of biomedical literature.

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Content

Coursework: N/A

Research: The major component to this course will be a clinical research project in the genetics of inherited renal disease or of acquired genetic mutation that cause leukemia. There are thus 2 main areas of research. The first, to do with inherited kidney diseases, will provide an interface between epidemiology, pathology, clinical disease and laboratory-based genetic research. It will analyse the results of a community-based survey of blood in the urine ("haematuria") and determine the genetic mutations that cause this. This will involve examination of the urine, development of family pedigrees, understanding genetic counselling, linkage analysis and mutation detection.

The second area of research will involve looking for genetic mutations in the common forms of adult acute myeloid leukemia, whether the demonstration of these mutations can be used for diagnosis, whether they disappear with different forms of treatment and whether they recur when the disease returns.

Sample Research Topics:

1. What genetic mutations in candidate genes cause blood in the urine?
2. Can we use the mutations that occur in the common forms of adult leukemia to follow the response to treatment and predict disease recurrence?

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 100 points
Research Report (up to 9,000 words): 75%
Supervisor's evaluation: 15%
Assignment on research-related lecture topics: 10%

Coursework Component: 0 points
N/A

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
4