Biomedical Genetics and Tissue Engineering MSc

The MSc programmes in Biomedical Engineering are full-time, one academic year (12 consecutive months).

Biomechanics and Biomaterials

Main topics include: review of biomechanical principles; introduction to biomedical materials; stability of biomedical materials; biocompatibility; materials for adhesion and joining; applications of biomedical materials; implant design.

Biomedical Engineering Principles

Main topics include: bone structure and composition; the mechanical properties of bone, cartilage and tendon; the cardiovascular function and the cardiac cycle; body fluids and organs; organisation of the nervous system; sensory systems; biomechanical principles; biomedical materials; biofluid mechanics principles, the cardiovascular system, blood structure and composition, modelling of biofluid systems.

Design and Manufacture

Main topics include: design and materials optimisation; management and manufacturing strategies; improving clinical medical and industrial interaction; meeting product liability, ethical, legal and commercial needs.

Main topics include: company structure and organisation will be considered (with particular reference to the United Kingdom), together with the interfacing between hospital, clinical and healthcare sectors; review of existing practice: examination of existing equipment and devices; consideration of current procedures for integrating engineering expertise into the biomedical environment. Discussion of management techniques; design of biomedical equipment: statistical Procedures and Data Handling; matching of equipment to biomedical systems; quality assurance requirements in clinical technology; patient safety requirements and protection; sterilisation procedures and infection control; failure criteria and fail-safe design; maintainability and whole life provision; public and environmental considerations: environmental and hygenic topics in the provision of hospital services; legal and ethical requirements; product development: innovation in the company environment, innovation in the clinical environment; cash flow and capital provision; testing and validation; product development criteria and strategies.

Dissertation

Your choice of dissertation topic is made in consultation with academic staff and (where applicable) with the sponsoring company. The topic agreed is also subject to approval by the Module Co-ordinator. The primary requirement for the topic is that it must have sufficient scope to allow the student to demonstrate his or her ability to conduct a well-founded programme of investigation and research. It is not only the outcome that is important since the topic chosen must be such that the whole process of investigation can be clearly demonstrated throughout the project. In industrially sponsored projects the potential differences between industrial and academic expectations must be clearly understood.

Genomic Technologies

Main topics: General knowledge of genomic and proteomic technology; Microarrary technology; Transgenic technology. Drug discovery technology; Translational experiment-design and interpretation; Sequencing in microbiology research.

Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease

Main topics: The module will focus on the following subject material with emphasis on how these processes are altered in a variety of human diseases. Where appropriate, therapeutic intervention in these processes will be highlighted. Signalling pathways resulting from activation of membrane, intracellular or nuclear receptors will be discussed. Examples include: Mammalian iron, copper and zinc metabolism, G-Protein coupled receptor signalling, Wnt signalling, JAK/STAT signalling and cytokine signalling, Steroid signalling.

Tissue Engineering

Main topics: Fundamentals of tissue structure, function and pathology. Tissue regeneration. Tissue engineering substitutes. Cells, cell culture, stem cells, cell and gene therapy. Extracellular matrix, structure, scaffolds. Cell signalling, growth factors, cytokines, neurotransmitters, receptors and other signalling molecules. Bioreactors, ex-vivo and in-vivo. Engineering host tissue responses.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.