Economic Models and Human Genomics 15 credits

With the UK Government’s effort to produce high quality evidence-based genomic medicine, predicated on information on the benefits and costs associated with genomic medicine, it is important that students understand the use of health economic information in decision making. This module explores the potential impact of genomic medicine and technologies on the healthcare system, its patients and their families. The health economic approach of economic evaluation methods will be used to demonstrate the potential costs and benefits of new clinical and technological approaches.

Technological advances in the area of genomic medicine have led to new tests with major impact on improving disease diagnosis and effectiveness of treatments. However, the continuous growth in the use of genomic technologies has cost implications. Using established economic models it is possible to predict the costs of new treatments and assess benefits to patients in the context of the available resources for health care. In addition, this module will explore the factors that determine the effects of the rapid development of new technologies on health care systems covering the role and relative influence that government, doctors and the public exert in this process. These will be analysed to assess whether clients/patients are best served by current arrangements and whether people's health outcomes match reasonable expectations. Students will be encouraged to propose ways of tackling perceived shortcomings.

The teaching on this module is shared with two additional MSc programmes in Public Health and Health Economics and does not have a specific genomic focus, although students will be encouraged to consider the genomic applications. The number of places for Genomic Medicine students on this module is capped at five per year.

Course content

• Critically evaluate the different types of economic evaluation used in genomic medicine, including: definition and purpose of economic evaluation; the concept of opportunity cost in economic evaluation; measuring outcomes in the context of an economic evaluation.
• Types of economic evaluation including: cost effectiveness analysis; cost utility analysis; and cost benefit analysis.
• Types of health outcome measures to assess new genomic interventions
• The limitations of using health outcome measures in the context of diseases where treatments may not be available.
• Issues surrounding health economic evaluations in genomic medicine, including the use of genomic technologies.
• How to present and interpret the results of an economic evaluation, for example, a cost per quality adjusted life year, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).
• Describe how to undertake a budget impact analysis in genomic medicine.
• Discuss how healthcare decision makers use health economic evidence when deciding how to prioritise health care interventions in genomic medicine.

Attendance required

On campus teaching will take place on 5 days: Monday 18th - Friday 22nd November 2024.

Credits

15 credits

Please contact the Programme Administrator for further information at genomics@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Please note this microcredential is available for home applicants only.

Why choose a Postgraduate Microcredential short course?

• Microcredentials offer the perfect opportunity to boost your CV without the commitment of a full degree
• Usually taken from existing modules within a Masters, they can be used as standalone credentials with some also counting as academic credits at postgraduate level
• Add a postgraduate level qualification to your CV
• Develop the specialist skills you need for your career goals
• Alumni status with the University of Birmingham
• Learners will have the same access to our student support and campus facilities as our students on full degree programmes.

Please note the deadline for submitting an application:

• Applicants eligible for Home fees are to apply a minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date.
• Applicants eligible for Overseas fees are to apply a minimum of 3 months before the module start date.

Please note that once registered for the microcredential you cannot swap for the non-credit short course version.