course-details-portlet

SMED8021

Genetic epidemiology - theory only

Choose study year

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 2.5
Level Doctoral degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Oral exam

About

About the course

Course content

The course focuses on the understanding of genetic epidemiology concepts and understanding of genetic variation in the population. Topics to be taught are study design, analysis methods (whole genome, mendelian randomization and functional follow-up), bias and confounding in analyses, implication of functional findings, the use of registry data and ethical considerations. This course has lectures together with SMED8020.

Learning outcome

After completing SMED8021, the student will have:

Knowledge:

  • Understand the concepts of genetic epidemiology
  • Understand how genetic variation manifests itself in the population and how it can be studied.
  • Have theoretical knowledge of important tools and analysis methods for genome-wide analyses.
  • Have theoretical knowledge of analysis methods and the three main assumptions for MR analyses.

Skills:

  • Be able to assess and discuss results from such analyses, understand implications of functional findings and suggest follow-up analyses.
  • Be able to describe the construction of an instrumental variable and assess the validity, strength and weaknesses of such.
  • Be able to assess and discuss results from MR analyses.

General Competence:

  • Critically evaluate scientific papers in genetic epidemiology to support decisions and inform future research.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. All lectures are mandatory. The course coordinator may approve up to 20% absence from mandatory lectures. Absence may not be approved if the activity is considered to be critical to the learning outcomes of the course.

Compulsory assignments

  • All lectures are mandatory

Further on evaluation

Attendance at all lectures is mandatory.

On the oral exam, the students are expected to present a scientific paper of choice and will be asked to assess and discuss the data, choice of methods, strengths and weaknesses. A list of papers to chose from will be provided at the beginning of the course week.

Required previous knowledge

Master degree or similar. Medical students at the students Research Program.

Course materials

Given material, lecture notes and published articles.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SMED8020 2.5 sp Autumn 2020
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Medicine

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Public Health and Nursing

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Oral exam
Grade: Passed / Not Passed

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Oral exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 30 minutes