Learn about rare diseases diagnosis, genetic testing and diagnostic research

Around 30 million people in Europe are living with a rare genetic disease (a disease that affects less than 1 in 2,000 people).

This course offers an exploration of key questions around rare disease diagnostic research and issues today, as well as insights into patient experiences.

Learn about rare genetic disease diagnosis and testing

Over the last two decades, a lot of progress has been made in diagnosing rare genetic diseases.

You will discover more about the progress made through diagnostic research, as well as the types of genetic tests available for rare diseases, and the impact of having a diagnosis – or lacking a diagnosis – on patients’ lives.

You’ll explore key issues relating to rare genetic diseases and undertake your own internet-based investigation into several diagnostic research topics.

Understand the impact of technology in diagnostic research

Technology plays a significant role in diagnosing rare diseases.

As part of this course, you’ll explore technological advances in medical research and rare disease diagnosis, and discover the importance of data sharing, as well as the role of technology in the context of understanding the human genome.

Gain insights into patients’ experiences of rare genetic disease

This course also offers you the opportunity to gain insight into the lives of patients living with a rare genetic disease.

Guest lecturers from the field of rare diseases will also discuss their current research projects and share information from their direct work with patients.

This course is designed for individuals with a keen interest in diagnostic research and rare diseases. While primarily designed for medical students and PhD/post-doc students in biomedical sciences, it will also be of interest to Patients Advocacy Organisations’ representatives, Healthcare professionals or paramedics who want to further their knowledge of rare diseases diagnosis.

Syllabus

Introduction to the course

Welcome and Introduction
What is a rare disease?
Are all rare genetic diseases inherited?
Challenges met when diagnosing rare diseases
What do we call a diagnostic odyssey?
The place of patients groups and organisations
Why is it so important to put a name to a disease?
Test your knowledge

What is the clinical diagnostic pathway for rare diseases patients?

Welcome and Introduction
How is a first genetic consultation held?
Consenting to genetic testing - practical, ethical and research issues
Medical diagnosis and genetic diagnosis: degree of evidence and challenges
Diagnosing rare diseases in Europe - collaborations and realities
Test your knowledge

Diving into analysis and interpretation of genetic results

Welcome and Introduction
What are the available tests to diagnose a rare disease?
Genetic testing in practice
How NGS techniques have been a game-changer in clinical genetic services?
Explanation of the human genome variability and the challenges met when interpreting data
What are prediction tools?
Basic principles of bioinformatics and biological analysis
Multidisciplinarity is the key
Reporting results to patients
Test your knowledge

What are the research steps to reach a diagnosis?

Welcome and Introduction
Specific research challenges of cases without diagnosis
Reclassification of Variants of Uncertain Significance
Family co-segregation
What is clinical and functional reassessment?
How to overcome negative exomes?
Omics approaches in the diagnosis of rare diseases
Importance of international collaborations
Test your knowledge

What's next after the search for a diagnosis?

Welcome and Introduction
How basic pathophysiological research can improve a diagnosis?
Towards multifactorial inheritance
Next Generation Sequencing: from Diagnosis to Prevention
Why are rare diseases registries and databases especially important?
How Social Sciences can help better understand challenges surrounding rare disease diagnosis?
Next Generation Sequencing in medical practice: can we afford it?
Wrap up and next steps