Biomedical Science (Haematology and Transfusion Science) MSc/PGDip/PGCert

Course content

What will you study on the MSc/PGDip/PGCert Biomedical Science (Haematology and Transfusion Science)?

This course will cover the components of human blood and the disorders that affect them, techniques for diagnosing and monitoring disease, and the analysis of blood test results. You’ll look at blood cell formation, blood count, haemoglobinopathies and types of anaemia such as clotting abnormalities, cancers of the blood and bone marrow, myelodysplasia and MPD. You’ll also study blood transfusions and blood donation including blood types, blood typing and tissue typing techniques as well as haemolytic disease of new-borns, reactions to transfusions, and safety measures and care of blood products. In addition, you will explore the ethical and legal issues which can surround specific types of research such as assisted reproduction and genetics, and human or animal research.

What will you gain?

As well as in-depth knowledge of your subject, you will also gain a sound understanding of how to design and carry out experiments, statistical analyses as well as techniques for analysing samples and molecules. You will also be proficient and capable in all aspects of managing a laboratory, including people management, business plans and budgets, safety regulations, and quality management.

The module aims to examine advanced bioanalytical techniques that are used in biomedical research, for the analysis of products, for improving diseases understanding and for the analysis of disease biomarkers. It also provides a detailed understanding of the principles, theory and practice of bioanalytical techniques, including safety, instrumentation, sample preparation techniques together with analysis and interpretation of analytical data.

The module aims to provide insight into a range of ethical and legal issues that relate to professional practice, to research with human and animal subjects and to human reproduction, particularly various forms of reproductive technology. It will also aim to give students a broad overview of the relevant current UK ethical and legal regulations for research using human tissues. The module will further explore the ethical issues present in the rapidly developing area of genetic technology, including genetic testing and selection, genetic engineering, and the concept of genetic disease. After an introduction to basic ethical theory and legal principles, the focus of the module will be on exploring ways in which, by applying theoretical considerations to practice, ethical and legal issues can be critically analysed and addressed.

This module aims to introduce principles and diagnostic techniques of general haematology. It looks at the individual components of normal human blood in detail, and explains the molecular mechanisms of haematological diseases affecting each component. The module also analyses the role of the haematology laboratory in diagnosis and treatment of patients with haematological abnormalities.

The module aims to provide students with the tools required to design effective and efficient experiments and to test scientific hypotheses. The module will also equip students with the tools necessary for statistical analysis in a hypothesis testing context.

This module aims to introduce specialist diagnostic techniques used in haemato-oncology. It provides deep appreciation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of leukaemias, lymphomas and myelomas. It also analyses the role of the haematology laboratory in diagnosis and treatment of patients with these conditions.

The module aims to provide students with current theories and approaches to leadership and management in order they can bring about effect positive change in the team or organisation that they lead or manage.

Module aims to develop students' skills in planning and execution of an analytical, laboratory-based study and critical evaluation of real research results drawing on their acquired knowledge from other modules. In addition, the module aims to develop students' communication skills to enable them to communicate their findings in written and oral form.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Module and programme information is indicative and may be subject to change.