The major thrust of research in genomic & molecular epidemiology in the next ten years will be the identification of predisposing genes in complex diseases and environmental factors. This may ultimately lead to more targeted surveillance and improved clinical care.
Genomic & molecular epidemiology focuses on the uses of genomic, molecular, and epidemiological research in identifying the possible familial and hereditary factors underlying the origins and manifestations of human disease. The cause of most chronic diseases -including cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders- may lie in the interactions between environmental factors and genetic susceptibility. Genomic & molecular epidemiology helps optimize etiological studies through an integrated approach that draws on the methodologies of epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics, and molecular biology.
The objective of the genomic & molecular epidemiology programme is to prepare candidates for epidemiological research in the areas of genetic determinants of diseases and of genetic risk assessment and seeks to train candidates in these specific fields or to prepare them for executive/advisory positions in the area of public health, or health policy. The genomic & molecular epidemiology programme is a mix of general subjects, such as study design and statistical data analysis, and subjects tailored with specific genomic & molecular epidemiology research and analytical methods.