08956 - Clinical Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The student, at the end of the module, thanks to the knowledge of the fundamental principles of chemistry and organic molecules of biological interest, is able to evaluate biological and biochemical parameters in biological samples and in vivo, also in relation to pathophysiological states, at different levels of structural organization, from single molecules to cells, tissues, organs, up to the whole organism.

Course contents

• Biomarkers: definition and types; development and validation of biomarkers; sources of variability in laboratory investigations; performance of a test.
  
• Precision medicine: definitions; role of biomarkers in precision medicine; molecular diagnostics techniques and their applications; next-generation sequencing.
  
• Epigenetics: principles; epigenetic biomarkers.
• Liquid biopsy: biomarkers based on circulating nucleic acids.

Readings/Bibliography

• Teaching materials in pdf
• M. Ciaccio e G. Lippi, Biochimica Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio, EDISES

Teaching methods

Lectures with powerpoint presentations

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the knowledge acquired by the student is based on the administration of a written questionnaire (paper or electronic) with multiple choice questions divided as follows: questionnaire A (30 questions on general pathology and immunology and general pharmacology), questionnaire B (30 questions of Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry). The student will be able to take the two questionnaires in the same exam session or in separate sessions, as long as they complete the exam within the current Academic Year.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations, video

Office hours

See the website of Maria Giulia Bacalini