Computational Medicine

02-718: Fall 2021

This is course on the algorithms and computational methods used in modern medicine. The topics to be covered include computational strategies for advancing personalized medicine, pharmacogenomics for predicting individual drug responses, metagenomics for learning the role of the microbiome in human health, mining electronic medical records to identify disease phenotypes, and case studies in complex human diseases such as cancer and asthma. We will discuss how machine learning methodologies such as regression, classification, clustering, semi-supervised learning, probabilistic modeling, and time-series modeling are being used to analyze a variety of datasets collected by clinicians. Class sessions will consist of lectures, discussions of papers from the literature, and guest presentations by clinicians and other domain experts. Grading will be based on homework assignments and a project. This course is self contained. There are no prerequisites.

Previously offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020

See also SARS Wars: A New Hope A free, online course intended to provide basic information on the biology and medicine relevant to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19

Automation of Scientific Research

02-450 and 02-750: Spring 2021:

(formerly called Automation of Biological Research)

Automated science and engineering combines Robotics, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate the pace of discovery and rational design. This course introduces students to the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms that enable this emerging paradigm. Emphasis is placed on techniques for sequential analysis (i.e., model discovery and hypothesis generation), design of experiments, and optimization to maximize the return on research capital. Specific approaches will include Active Learning, Reinforcement Learning, and Bayesian Optimization..

Previously offered: Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020

Cell and Systems Modeling

02-730: Fall 2015:

This is an introductory course in Systems Biology focusing on the development, simulation, and analysis of mechanistic models of biological systems.

Previously offered: Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Fall 2014

Algorithms for Computational Structural Biology

02-721 (formerly 15-879): Spring 2014

This course is an introductory survey of the algorithmic techniques used in the field of structural biology.

Previously offered: Fall 2004, Spring 2007, Spring 2010

Advanced Algorithms for Computational Structural Biology

02-722: Fall 2012 Guest-taught by Prof. Ilyin

This is a seminar-style course on the current literature in computational structural biology.

Pre-req: 15-879A, or permission of the instructor

Previously offered: Spring 2005, Fall 2005

Computational Biology Journal Club

02-730: Spring 2015:

This is a journal club focusing on the recent literature in Computational Biology

Previously offered: Sprint 2014

Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms

15-211: Fall 2011

Previously offered: Fall 2005, Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011

Formal Methods in Systems Biology

15-872A:

This is a seminar-style course on the use of formal methods in modeling biological systems. Topics will include applications of model checking, algebraic methods, rule-based modeling, and type theory.

Open to graduate students from SCS and MCS and others by permission

Previously offered: Spring 2008