Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
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 field of heart disease 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. The module will address the cutting-edge advances in vaccinology and islet transplantation.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. 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 a poster presentation.
Aims
Understanding the importance of scientific research and development of a variety of technologies in promoting advances in medicine that have the potential to impact prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of disease.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Review and evaluate current research and developments in the use of a number of medical technologies that can impact health: 1,2Critically evaluate the benefits and limitations of these technologies and their application: 1,2Communicate information and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences: 1,2
10x 1 hour tutorials/workshops/seminars8x 4 hours engagement with asynchronous content40 hours completion of assignments68 hours independent study
Description of Module Assessment
1: Assignment weighted 50%Analytical Evaluation of a Research ArticleThe assignment will be based on ONE research article relating to ONE of the taught topics. The assignment should be no more than 1000 words. The assignment will be to:
(i) Summarise the main findings of the research article and (ii) an analytical evaluation of the research article, designed to test the student¿s ability to critique the methodological approach, choice of statistical analysis and results presentation.
2: Assignment weighted 50%Impact Evaluation of a Research ArticleThe assignment will be based on ONE research article relating to ONE of the taught topics. The assignment should be no more than 1000 words. The assignment will be to:
(i) Summarise the main findings of the research article and (ii) an impact evaluation designed to test the student¿s ability to critically discuss the potential impact of a paper, including proposing new avenues of research.