Research Interest Area: Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology
Molecular and genetic epidemiology aims to improve health outcomes by quantifying biologic information and assessing its influence on health, interventions, services and programs.
Overview
Interdisciplinary science, human genetics, precision medicine, cellular and molecular biology are contemporary topics for which molecular and genetic epidemiologists have much to offer.
Students with the following topic interests are encouraged to explore this research interest area:
- Human genetics and genetic epidemiology
- Pharmacogenomics and precision medicine
- Molecular epidemiology and nutrition
- Clinical and translational investigations
- A variety of health conditions such as infectious diseases, cancer, other chronic diseases, nutrition, reproductive and maternal and child health.
Faculty
Faculty members primarily working in this area
Collaborating faculty
Curriculum
Featured Courses
- EPID:5500 Clinical Epidemiology
- EPID:5560 Biomarkers in Epidemiology
- EPID:6550 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
- EPID:6600 Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
Learning Objectives
Students interested in molecular and genetic epidemiology are preparing for a career in which they will:
- Advance methods for quantifying genetic variants and assessing their effect on health, interventions, services and programs
- Apply basic techniques of molecular biology and genetics to advance biomarker discovery and validation.
- Contribute to optimizing prediction of disease using contemporary molecular and genetic approaches
- Inform clinical and healthcare practice and policy by incorporating molecular and genetic information
- Collaborate and lead interdisciplinary teams to design and conduct observational and interventional research
- Be competent in a family of related research fields including: outcomes research, clinical epidemiology, pharmacogenomics, and molecular biology
Recommended Coursework for the Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology Research Interest Area PhD Requirement
Students interested in pursuing their dissertation research in molecular and genetic epidemiology will take 26 s.h. of focused coursework from the following:
| Course # | Course Title | Semester Hours | Offering Schedule |
| EPID:5500 | Intro to Clinical Epidemiology | 3 | Fall |
| EPID:5560 | Biomarkers in Epidemiology | 3 | Every other spring, odd numbered years |
| EPID:6600 | Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases | 3 | Every other spring, even numbered years |
| EPID:6071 | Social Epidemiology | 3 | Fall |
| BIOL:3713 | Molecular Genetics | 3 | Fall |
| PCOL:6250 | Advanced Problem Solving in Pharmacological Sciences | 3 | Fall, Spring |
| BIOL:3314 | Genomics | 3 | Spring |
| BIOL:5320 | Computational Genomics | 3 | Last taught Spring 22 |
| HHP:4450 | Genetic Basis of Disease | 3 | Fall, Spring |
| MMED:6240 | Inflam Cell Signal and Target Cancer Therapy | 3 | |
| PATH:7001 | Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cancer | 3 | Spring |
| HHP:3500 | Human Physiology | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| BIOS:6720 | Machine Learning for Biomedical Data | 3 |
Centers and Resources
Centers and Institutes
- Iowa Institute of Human Genetics
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center
- Obesity Research and Education Initiative
Research Resources
- UI Genetics Cluster Initiative
- Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders
- Iowa Perinatal Health Research Collaborative
- SEER (National Cancer Institute, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program)
- State Hygienic Laboratory