Biomedical Science - MSc

• Cell Culture and Antibody Technology (20 cp) - You'll explore the scientific basis of cell culture and antibody technologies, and assess how they're used to solve problems in biotechnology, molecular biosciences, and biomedical sciences. You'll look at the relationship between cell and antibody technologies, as well as other technologies, particularly recombinant DNA technology and how these may develop in the future.

• Research Methods and Bioethics (20 cp) - This module encourages you to think beyond your own subject, and interact accordingly. You'll gain a solid foundation in literature review, research design and planning, data analysis and a poster presentation by focusing your studies on a related ethical issue. Ethical issues in research will also be explored, as you discover when and how to obtain ethical clearance in accordance with ethical governance at NTU.

• Research Project (60 cp) - In consultation with a supervisor at NTU, you'll select a research topic comprising an original, defined research question (or series of such questions), and develop a written research proposal for the Project. You'll then present this proposal as part of the Research Methods and Bioethics module.

Working individually with the guidance of supervisors, you'll design your experiments and computer-based approaches to address the research questions. A diary-style record of protocols or methods will be used to generate entries for your skills portfolio.

You'll communicate your findings through a written thesis, and a poster presentation. For the MRes course, an interim written report and oral presentation will be assessed after six to eight months of work, in order to review your progress.

You can choose either both Pharmacology and Biology of disease for 40 cp or, Pharmacology or Biology of Disease for 20 cp:

• Pharmacology (20 cp) - In this module, you’ll see how genes can influence our physiology, and hence our pharmacological response to drugs used to treat pathological conditions. You’ll develop the concept of tailoring therapeutic drugs as the future of drug design, enabling physicians to prescribe personalised medical treatments based on an individual’s genome.

• Biology of Disease (20 cp) - You’ll gain an understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney fibrosis. The lectures and seminars examine cancer aetiology, the genotypic and phenotypic properties associated with tumour progression, metastasis, and the current approaches to cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy.

Your remaining 40 or 60 cp can be made up with the following modules:

• Microbial Diagnostics (20 cp) - This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the rationale and process of designing modern microbial diagnostic assays. Furthermore, you'll explore the theory and rationale of techniques such as culture-based diagnosis, serology, PCR, real-time PCR, microarrays, and sequencing for infectious disease diagnostics. You'll gain practical experience of performing real-time PCR detection from a sample.

• Molecular Biology (20 cp) - During this module, you'll consolidate your knowledge of the molecular biology of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and how to prove hoe genomes are mutated, analysed and manipulated in the detection, study and therapy of disease. You'll study the control of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and the control at transcriptional, post-transcriptional (RNAi, microRNA) and translational levels.

• Cellular Pathology (20 cp) - Through distance learning, you’ll explore the key topics in cellular pathology, with particular relevance to current medical and diagnostic practice. You’ll apply your specialist knowledge to critically analyse data and information. This will include an appreciation of the laboratory role in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, alongside the fundamental issues associated with modern laboratory.

• Haematology and Transfusion Science (20 cp) - This eLearning module aims to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the key topics in haematology and transfusion science. You’ll develop an appreciation of the importance of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease, and a high-level of understanding of the subject with particular relevance to current medical and diagnostic practice.

• Medical Microbiology (20 cp) - Interactive and interesting eLearning material will be the basis for the module. You’ll develop an appreciation of the importance of medical microbiology in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease, and gain a high-level of understanding of the subject.