Course prerequisites
Knowledge of basic concepts in epidemiology and study designs.

Course Overview
This course will introduce the students to the basic principles and practices in molecular epidemiology as a rapidly developing field during the last decades driven by the novel discoveries of biological phenomena at molecular and genetic level. The course will start with providing an overview of the contextual framework for establishing the molecular epidemiology as a new branch in epidemiology including the recent developments in the biomedical field. Throughout the course, the students will gain understanding on various practical aspects related to the use of biomarkers in epidemiological research. These include considerations of the type of biomarkers, the biosample collection, processing and storage, biomarker measurements, principles of quality control for laboratory assays, measurement error, validity and reproducibility of biomarker data. The students will get to know specific study designs that allow integration and analysis of biomarkers in epidemiologic research, i.e. nested case-control and case-cohort studies. They will learn to appraise issues in epidemiologic study design and analysis, incl. potential uses and limitations of biomarkers. The students will be also exposed to numerous examples of the application of biomarkers to the study of major chronic diseases and conditions, incl. the COVID-19. In addition, they will learn about specific applications of biomarkers in various population groups, i.e. children and older people. A specific emphasis will be put on the ethical and legal aspects in biomarker research. The course will conclude with discussing the recent developments in establishing large biobanks, the generation of big data and novel biotechnological platforms and directions in molecular epidemiologic research. The lecture topics will be organised to combine theoretical and practical aspects of molecular epidemiology and will include multiple class exercises and discussions of specific research examples involving biomarkers.

Course Objectives
This course is aimed to provide a background for understanding the basic principles in molecular epidemiology designs, methods, analysis and interpretation. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
1. Know the contextual framework, the principles and concepts of molecular epidemiology;
2. Be acquainted with the application of biomarkers in epidemiologic studies, including their strengths and limitations;
3. Describe major challenges in collecting, storing and processing various biological samples for human population studies, as well as the ethical and legal considerations;
4. Formulate a research question and prepare a study and analysis plan employing study designs in molecular epidemiology;
5. Critically appraise research reporting data from molecular epidemiologic study.

Course Materials
Recommended:
Molecular Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases by Chris Wild, Paolo Vineis, and Seymour Garte. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2008.
Further materials and suggested readings will be provided during the course.

Course requirements
In-class paper discussions: Students will be asked to read an article that provides an example of uses of biomarkers to investigate associations of interest. The students will briefly present the study using a list of predefined questions. They should learn to address the appropriateness the research question, the methodological aspects related to the used study design, biomarker information and data analysis/interpretation.

Homework: Students will be given the name of a specific biomarker, i.e. C-reactive protein. They will be asked to provide a general overview about this biomarker and how it was studied in epidemiological studies. The students will receive also suggested literature that they can use and specific instructions on how to structure their report.

Final project. Students will have an opportunity to choose from two possible formats for preparing a final project

Option 1: A research proposal for a molecular epidemiology study.
The students should develop a short project proposal to address a research question in the field of molecular epidemiology. It should describe the research background, the specific hypothesis and research objectives, the study design (study population, exclusion/inclusion criteria; sample collection; biomarker measurement), planned statistical analyses and potential study limitations. The students should demonstrate that they can clearly describe the research question, provide justification and supporting literature; make a proper study design choice and demonstrate critical thinking.

Option 2: Literature review on the use of a biomarker(s) for addressing a particular research question
The students will be offered specific topics and can make a choice for conducting a literature review addressing a specific research question. Using the guidelines of the preselected journals, they will plan and conduct a literature review in which they should clearly present the research question and identify gaps and existing inconsistencies that need to be addressed by the review. They will suggest a strategy for collecting the literature and appropriate methods and data presentation. The students should show that they can clearly describe the research question, provide justification and supporting literature; critically appraise used study designs and demonstrate critical thinking.

Final presentation:
Each student will present their final work as a 20 minute presentation + 5-10 min discussion during the last two weeks of the course.

"Freiwilligen Kurs"

Grundkenntnisse erwerben. Beispiele:

• alterspezifische Mortalitätsraten berechnen und grafisch darstellen (metrisch und logarithmisch),
• proportionale Mortalität berechnen und grafisch darstellen, years of potential life lost; direkte und indirekte Altersstandisierung.

"Freiwilligen Kurs"

Grundkenntnisse erwerben. Beispiele:

• alterspezifische Mortalitätsraten berechnen und grafisch darstellen (metrisch und logarithmisch),
• proportionale Mortalität berechnen und grafisch darstellen, years of potential life lost; direkte und indirekte Altersstandisierung.

"Freiwilligen Kurs"

Grundkenntnisse erwerben. Beispiele:

• alterspezifische Mortalitätsraten berechnen und grafisch darstellen (metrisch und logarithmisch),
• proportionale Mortalität berechnen und grafisch darstellen, years of potential life lost; direkte und indirekte Altersstandisierung.

"Freiwilligen Kurs"
ZOOM-Kurs
Grundkenntnisse erwerben. Beispiele:

• alterspezifische Mortalitätsraten berechnen und grafisch darstellen (metrisch und logarithmisch),
• proportionale Mortalität berechnen und grafisch darstellen, years of potential life lost; direkte und indirekte Altersstandisierung.

"Freiwilligen Kurs"
ZOOM-Kurs
Grundkenntnisse erwerben. Beispiele:

• alterspezifische Mortalitätsraten berechnen und grafisch darstellen (metrisch und logarithmisch),
• proportionale Mortalität berechnen und grafisch darstellen, years of potential life lost; direkte und indirekte Altersstandisierung.

Termin: jeden vierten Mittwoch im Monat

Einführungsveranstaltung für die Studierenden der Masterstudiengänge:

• M.A. Public Health - Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention
• M.A. Public Health - Gesundheitsversorgung, -ökonomie und -management
• M.Sc. Epidemiologie
• M.Sc. Community Health Care and Nursing: Versorgungsforschung und Versorgungsplanung

Einführung in die Studiengänge:

• Überblick Studiengänge
• Einführung erstes Semester
• Studieren im Ausland
• Angebote des Studienzentrums
• Vorstellung StugA
• Organisatorisches

Die Vorlesung gibt einen übergreifenden Einblick in den Zusammenhang von Public Health und Ethik. Dafür erläutert sie:
• den Unterschied zwischen Moral und Ethik
• zentrale ethische Theorien
• wichtige ethische Prinzipien (wie etwa Autonomie, Nicht-Schaden, Gerechtigkeit, Vulnerabilität, Solidarität, Vertrauen)
• exemplarische Themenfelder von Ethik und Public Health (z.B. Gesundheitsaufklärung, Prävention, soziale Ungleichheit und die Verteilung knapper Ressourcen)
• Ethik als Praxisfeld (z.B. in Ethikkommissionen, öffentlichen Gremien und Institutionen)
• den Aufbau einer ethischen Argumentation
Zu jeder Sitzung wird ein zentraler Text bereitgestellt, der prüfungsrelevant ist.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass für ein Bestehen des Moduls jeweils eine zweite Studienleistung notwendig ist, die in der Vorlesung „Versorgungssystem in Deutschland“ abgeleistet wird.

Dieses Seminar wird zweisprachig D/EN durchgeführt.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass für ein Bestehen des Moduls jeweils eine zweite Studienleistung notwendig ist, die in der Vorlesung „Versorgungssystem in Deutschland“ abgeleistet wird.

Dieses Seminar wird zweisprachig D/EN durchgeführt.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass für ein Bestehen des Moduls jeweils eine zweite Studienleistung notwendig ist, die in der Vorlesung „Versorgungssystem in Deutschland“ abgeleistet wird.

Dieses Seminar wird zweisprachig D/EN durchgeführt.