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Translational Medicine 1: Gene Editing & Molecular Imaging

Taipei Medical University via Coursera

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Details

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

4 weeks, 3 hours a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Found in

Gene Therapy Courses

Overview

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This course gives you easy access to the invaluable techniques used by leading biomedical experts to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and real-world clinical practice. By completing this course, you will learn how to explain gene therapy principles using modified viral vectors, and analyze structural glycosylation mechanisms to identify crucial clinical biomarkers. Furthermore, you will outline the essential stages of preclinical development—including animal models, toxicology, and regulatory steps—and evaluate how molecular imaging modalities visualize diseases at the cellular level. Learners will benefit from a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the medical research pipeline. You will understand exactly how theoretical science and foundational biochemistry transform into safe, human-ready clinical trials. What makes this course unique is its seamless integration of diverse, cutting-edge disciplines. Rather than viewing biology in isolation, we combine structural biology, in vivo imaging, and modern therapeutics. Whether your interest lies in oncology, immunology, or genetic disorders, this course equips you with the fundamental expertise needed to navigate and innovate within the rapidly evolving fields of biotechnology and translational medicine.

Syllabus

Viral Vector in Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique that introduces genetic material into target cells to prevent or fight diseases. However, delivering these therapeutic genes requires overcoming significant biological barriers, such as the extracellular matrix and endosomal degradation. This module explores the principles and applications of using modified viruses as ideal delivery vehicles, known as viral vectors. It objectively examines the conversion of retroviruses, lentiviruses, adenoviruses, and adeno-associated viruses (AAV) into safe, replication-deficient vectors, highlighting their specific advantages, limitations, and recent clinical successes in treating genetic disorders and cancers.

Introduction to Glycoscience and Glycomics

Introduction to GlycoscienceThis module introduces glycoscience and the structural mechanisms of glycosylation, focusing on how carbohydrates covalently bond with proteins and lipids. Drawing from the authoritative text Essentials of Glycobiology, learners will explore foundational biological processes including N-glycosylation, O-glycosylation, and the functions of lectins. Additionally, the course demonstrates how researchers utilize glycomics as a quantitative tool for identifying viral infections and discovering clinical biomarkers, effectively bridging structural biochemistry with modern translational medicine.

Foundations of Preclinical Development and Animal Models

In this module, you will explore the essential process of preclinical development — the critical bridge between laboratory discovery and human clinical trials. You will learn why animal models are used in biomedical research, how to select and generate appropriate disease models, and how different mouse strains and genetic modification techniques are applied in practice. The module also covers key toxicology studies and the regulatory steps required before a drug or medical device can advance to human testing.

An Introduction to Molecular Imaging for Translational Research

This module introduces molecular imaging (MI)— a discipline that visualizes biological processes in living organisms at the cellular and molecular level. Moving beyond conventional anatomy-based imaging, we explore key modalities including PET, fluorescence, and bioluminescence imaging, and examine how each bridges laboratory discovery to clinical practice. Through real research examples spanning cancer detection, drug screening, and immunotherapy monitoring, you will see how molecular imaging is reshaping the way we diagnose and treat disease. Let's begin.