Human Biology Minor (Level 3)
This module will describe and promote the understanding of advances in medicine that have impacted on diagnosis, treatment, prevention of a range of diseases. It will highlight fast emerging areas of research which are striving to improve diagnosis including nanotechnology and new biochemical tests in the fields of heart disease, cancer and fertility investigations which will potentially improve patient care. The module will provide insight into the advancing field of Personalised Medicine, which allows optimisation of treatment based on an individual&©s genetic and clinical information and also an area of cutting edge research into the use of non-coding RNA as a therapeutic tool. The module will also provide an opportunity to discuss new developments in the fields of Tissue engineering and Stem cell technologies, which have seen huge advances in recent years.
All the sessions will be in the form of lectures or case studies and will be delivered by academics and Clinical Scientists who are currently engaged in active research in these fast moving areas. There will be tutorial sessions which will provide a forum for discussion of some of the topics covered in this module. In addition there will be opportunities for the student to appraise the current thinking in these areas and develop and present their own views in the form of an oral and poster presentations.
Indicative content includes:
Stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
Stem cells for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders
Advances in Clinical Diagnostic Medicine
Magnetic Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine
Developments of new biochemistry tests and their translation into routine clinical practice
Non-coding RNA and its potential as a therapeutic tool.
Evaluate and compare current developments in stem cell research and its importance and limitations in the prevention of diseases will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Appraise and compare current drug targeting technologies with particular reference to structure-activity relationships (SAR) and drug-target interactions and the implications for drug design will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Evaluate and appraise current research and advances in therapeutic startegies to replace defective genes, cells or tissues and life support systems in maintaining health and quality of life and critically evaluate the arguments. will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Appraise current research in fast moving fields like nanotechnology and non-coding RNA and evaluate their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic tools of the future. will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Review and appraise current research in the fast growing field of personalized medicine and the development of new diagnostic tests, to optimise treatment for individual patients. will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Communicate information and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences. will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Manage their own learning and make use of primary sources. will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Oral Communication and preparation 20
Self-study and essay writing 112
2 hour Exam to answer 2 out of 5 essays.
This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.