Gene therapy is rapidly becoming the top priority for R&D departments working on treatments for difficult-to-cure diseases. Advances in this field and successful clinical trials promise a brighter future for cancer patients, those battling HIV, and many others living with previously considered "incurable" diseases.

Available online from anywhere in the world, this course is the first elective offered in the new Stanford Genetics and Genomics certificate. Participants may enroll in a single course or earn the professional certificate by completing a total of six courses: two required and four electives.

Courses are taught by faculty from Stanford's Department of Genetics, a world leader in the fields of genetics, genomics, and personalized medicine. Guest lecturers provide industry insight.

Other available courses in the Stanford Genetics and Genomics Certificate are Fundamentals of Genetics: The Genetics You Need to Know; and Genomics and the Other Omics: The Comprehensive Essentials.

Upcoming course topics include

• agricultural biotechnology
• cancer genomics
• stem cells
• personalized genomics
• pharmacogenomics
• synthetic biology.

Acceptance into the program is ongoing and participants may apply to the Stanford Genetics and Genomics Certificate program online.