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Study Genomic Health and Medicine at Otago

    Genomic Health and Medicine at Otago

    Build your understanding of genomics and the vast opportunities it offers to health practice

    The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences endorsed in Genomic Health and Medicine offers the first opportunity in Aotearoa New Zealand to complete a postgraduate qualification in the emerging field of genomics.

    What is genomics?

    Genomics is the study of genes (the genome), including interactions of genes with each other and with the person's environment. Genomic medicine uses this information to improve health outcomes and understand disease risk.

    Genomics is increasingly utilised in the study and treatment of complex diseases, such as cancer, typically caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

    Why is genomics important?

    Genomics is driving a revolutionary shift in healthcare. It takes understanding of personalised human health to another level, where technology is being utilised to understand how a person’s molecular makeup can be deciphered and understood to improve their health and clinical outcomes.

    And interest is growing, we routinely encounter genomics terms in the media – PCR tests, direct-to-consumer DNA tests, epigenomics, genome sequencing, mRNA vaccines, targeted cancer treatments, gene editing and more.

    Do you know what these terms mean? Are you interested in how they could impact your health and that of your community? Or how genomic data can be integrated into clinical practice?

    The world is changing rapidly, join us in learning how these new technologies can impact and improve the lives of New Zealanders, and some of the computational methods that make this possible.

    Our teaching and research team talk about the genomics programme

    Who is this qualification for?

    Our programme is open to graduates from all backgrounds. Learn with and from others, including:

    • Healthcare professionals
    • People working in government policy
    • Scientists
    • Statisticians and data modellers
    • Health researchers

    It is important to understand these new advances in treatment and diagnosis in order to reassure, advise, or feel less overwhelmed amidst a sea of new terminology.

    The qualification details

    Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences

    The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences endorsed in Genomic Health and Medicine is a 60-point qualification and requires completion of four core papers, see the Programme requirements table below.

    All papers are taught by distance learning, enabling you to study when and where it suits you.

    Qualification page for the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences

    Include our papers as part of a different qualification

    Alternatively, you can choose our introductory paper to satisfy your curiosity or include it as part of a different qualification.

    How to apply

    Applications usually open in September each year.

    If you have questions, please email pathology.uow@otago.ac.nz

    Information sessions

    We hold regular information sessions on a range of subjects and topics.

    2022 Genomic Health and Medicine information evening

    Upcoming information sessions

    Requirements

    GEHM papers

    Sorry, no papers matching this subject were found.

    More information

    Contact us

    Dr Aaron Stevens
    Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
    University of Otago, Wellington
    Email aaron.stevens@otago.ac.nz

    Associate Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee
    Department of Pathology
    Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago
    Email aniruddha.chatterjee@otago.ac.nz

    Studying at Otago

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    Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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