New horizons: cancer and the genomic revolution
Dr Leah Marks, lead educator at the University of Glasgow, talks about the free online course, “Cancer in the 21st Century: the Genomic Revolution.”
Cancer is a word which can strike fear into the heart. However, as improved healthcare leads to more people than ever before living well into old age, cancer will become a condition that many more of us will face during our lifetime. Increasing numbers of people will also fall into the category of those who are “living with cancer,” thanks to the enormous progress in cancer therapy in recent decades.
But what does the future hold? Will we find a cure for cancer? This free online course from the University of Glasgow examines these questions by looking at where we’ve come from, where we are now and, finally, where we’re going.
On our 6 week journey we will explore a variety of key areas, beginning with how our understanding of cancer has developed. No longer seen as one disease, we will explore the idea that each cancer has its own genetic signature. We’ll look at the question of why some people get cancer and others don’t – taking into account genetics as well as the environment.
In the second half of the course we’ll move on to look at what would happen to you today, in the 21st century, if you were diagnosed with cancer. A variety of specialists including radiologists, pathologists, surgeons and oncologists will take part and we’ll also hear about the patient experience first-hand. You’ll be amazed at some of the sophisticated approaches which are now widely used.
Finally, we’ll discover, from some of the leading experts in the field, the huge strides forward that are being taken in the realms of genomic cancer medicine. You’ll gain an insight into some of the discoveries that will form the treatments of tomorrow, and hear about how these discoveries make it from bench to bedside. Along the way there’ll be plenty of opportunity to discuss current issues with your fellow learners and do some investigating yourself.
To find out more, join the free online course, “Cancer in the 21st Century: the Genomic Revolution” now.
