Epigenetics: Human Health (IST)

Epigenetics: Human Health (IST)

Our journey continues. Welcome to the second stop of our journey into the epigenetic realms of human health and disease. This is the second course of the epigenetics trilogy. We will recover the link of epigenetics with disease; explore epigenetic-inspired molecular therapeutics to move cells from states of disease back into states of health; and cover some advances on epigenetics, including breakthroughs on inheritance, pain and memory.

Upon concluding these courses, you will be prepared to read the scientific literature in this field and take advanced courses, including "Hands-on Epigenetics (Volume III)" where we cover the foundations of multi-omic data analysis to enter the worldwide research on epigenetics.

Goals
On the molecular therapeutics:

  • understand why, when and how targeted therapies (such as antihormonal therapy, immunotherapy and neoantigen therapy) address disease
  • understand how epigenetic drugs can reverse detrimental epigenetic markers and thus promote health
  • be familiar with advances on stem-cell science therapeutics, including ways of restoring cellular health within our body (in vivo) and through culture-and-transplant (in vitro)

On the epigenetics of our daily lives:

  • understand how epigenetics are related with memory, childhood abuse and neglect, depression, aging or addiction
  • critically understand how scientific experiments are advancing the research in this field
  • be able to separate what is caused by our biology and by our environment (the link between nature and nurture)
  • understand why and how individuals with identical (or similar) genetics differ trait-wise and health-wise
  • be familiar with the epigenetics of inheritance, understanding whether our health is conditioned by ancestor lineage and whether it is possible to disrupt inherited epigenetic markers
  • glimpse view on future therapeutics based on epigenome reprogramming

Contents
Topic 3

  • structured view on current and future therapeutics targeting the biological mechanisms driving disease
  • molecularly targeted therapies and human health: antibody therapy, immunotherapy and neoantigen therapy
  • external sources of protein and RNA supplementation
  • epigenetic drugs and human health
  • stem-cell science therapeutics: cell transplant, dialysis, somatic cell nuclear transfer, dedifferentiation
  • comprehensive view on molecular medicine and oncological disorders

Topic 4

  • epigenetics and (non-)identical twins, links between our biology and the environment
  • the epigenetics of memory, childhood neglect and abuse, depression, weight, neurological disorders, aging, and addiction
  • the epigenetics of inheritance
  • advances on epigenetics' research from the stance of lab experiments
  • consolidated view on epigenetic-driven study, prediction and treatment of human diseases
Go to Class
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