Biomarkers in Health and in Disease

Code: CMS14335L

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Biomedical Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

This UC provides future graduates with an overview of the state of the art in the use of biomarkers and the importance they have achieved in clinical practice (including Personalized Medicine), in monitoring environmental influences on health and in research.

Sustainable Development Goals

3. Saúde de qualidade - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

4. Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

5. Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

8. Trabalho digno e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

9. Indústria, inovação e infraestruturas - Construir infraestrutura resiliente, promover a industrialização inclusiva e sustentável, e fomentar a inovação.

Learning Goals

The CU is structured to provide an overview of the state of the art in the use of biomarkers and the importance they have achieved in clinical practice and research.
Once the UC is completed, the student must be able to:
- Define and classify biomarkers associated with normal physiological states and specific pathologies of each organ system;
- Describe the main technologies and methodologies used in the discovery, detection and validation of biomarkers;
- Elucidate the importance of using biomarkers in medicine and clinical research;
- Recognize the growing importance of environmental exposure biomarkers;
- List ethical and legislative considerations inherent to the approval and testing of biomarkers;
- Point out the future paths of biomarkers in the context of Personalized Medicine.

1 Introduction to Biomarkers
2 Technologies for Discovery of Biomarkers
3 Biomarkers and Molecular Diagnostics
4 Biomarkers for Drug Discovery and Development
5 Role of Biomarkers in Healthcare
6 Biomarkers in Metabolic Disorders
7 Biomarkers in Immune Disorders
8 Biomarkers of Musculoskeletal Disorders
9 Biomarkers of Infectious Diseases
10 Biomarkers of Genetic Disorders
11 Biomarkers of Aging
12 Nutritional Biomarkers
13 Biomarkers of Cancer
14 Biomarkers of Disorders of the Nervous System
15 Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disorders
16 Biomarkers of Pulmonary Diseases
17 Biomarkers in Gynecology and Obstetrics
18 Biomarkers & Personalized Medicine
19 Biomarkers for Environmental Exposure
20 Biomarkers and Regulatory Issues
21 The Future of Biomarkers

Teaching Methods

The methodologies to be applied are intended above all to motivate the student to get involved in the learning process, while promoting their research and synthesis capacity.
Theoretical contents will be taught by oral presentation supported by audiovisual media and by seminars on specific points of the syllabus. In the theoretical-practical component, students will be asked to carry out a research project (in which he is challenged to develop an action plan for the discovery and/or validation of a biomarker), and to group resolution of issues/problems related to the theme.

Assessment

The assessment of the Curricular Unit comprises two components: assessment of acquired knowledge and ability to integrate the information learned through written tests (two mid-term tests or a final exam), and assessment of theoretic-practical knowledge through the resolution of directed questions/applied problems and the presentation of a research work on biomarkers for the diagnosis/prognosis of a pathology.
The final grade (NF) is calculated according to the following weightings:
NF = 0.3*NTP+0.7*NT, where NTP corresponds to the grade obtained in the theoretical-practical component and NT corresponds to the grade obtained in the written tests/exam.
For working students or other students with special attendance arrangements who choose not to attend theoretical-practical classes (>75%), the final assessment will be based on the examination system. However, these students must prepare an individual research project for the calculation of the theoretical-practical component grade.
To obtain approval, the minimum grade in any of the tests (mid-term or final exam) is 8 values, and the final grade, after weighting with NTP, must be equal to or higher than 10.