LSC-40051 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module you will meet practitioner health professionals from local NHS Trusts. They will talk to you about their role in the delivery of modern-day health care and provide critical insights into the patient pathway.
Core material will guide you through a complex understanding of how pathobiology can adversely affect metabolism and physiology. You will learn how health practitioners working in Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology can use this knowledge to assess, investigate and evaluate patient needs. Typical areas covered include the role of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology in the investigation of: allergy; autoimmunity; immunodeficiency; electrolytes and renal disease; bone metabolism; organ function; endocrinology to include diabetes and infertility; clinical genetics to include paediatric screening and inherited disorders; lipid disorders and tumour markers.
This module is supported by a case-based learning that will allow you to work in small groups to investigate patient pathways. Each case is designed to consolidate your learning and gain deeper understanding by applying that to actual patient cases. Using this case-based learning approach will give you an insight into modern-day diagnostic problems, including the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach in healthcare delivery and develop key communication, leadership and independent problem solving skills.

This module aims to enhance student understanding of both the clinical and technical role of Clinical Biochemistry and Medical Immunology. They will develop key analytical skills used to assess, investigate and evaluate pathobiology and patient pathways as well as develop evidence-based arguments to support clinical decision making.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Make evidence-based decisions using current research and technical trends in diagnostic Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology: 1
Use detailed knowledge of metabolism, pathology and clinical findings to assess, investigate and evaluate pathobiology related to patient pathways and tackle current problems faced by health professionals: 2
Critically discuss current issues within the role of practicing health care scientists in Blood Sciences, particularly Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology: 1,2
Critically appraise scientific publications: 1
Critically appraise test methodologies principally within Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology: 1,2
Analyse complex scientific data to accurately interpret and validate clinical findings in Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology: 1,2
Discuss the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to assessing patient health and clinical need: 2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours
1x 2-hour introductory tutorial
1 x 3-hour case-based learning - introduction to the cases
4 x 2 hours case-based learning
10 x 2-hour seminars
2 x 2-hour assessment workshops
8 x 10 hours engagement with asynchronous content (including initial consumption, wider reading and note taking)
4 x 4 hours preparation for case study tutorials
Independent Study Hours
30 hours to complete the assignment
70 hours of preparation for the short answer question based on case study exercise
67 hours of independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment