Postgraduate

In London

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Location

    London

  • Start date

    Different dates available

There are also full-time and part-time Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) and Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) options. This course is aimed at students from a wide range of backgrounds, from basic scientists to all levels of healthcare professionals, and will provide a flexible, multi-disciplinary and multi-professional perspective in genomics, applied to clinical practice and medical research. 

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
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South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

This course is aimed at students from a wide range of backgrounds, from basic scientists to all levels of healthcare professionals, and will provide a flexible, multi-disciplinary and multi-professional perspective in genomics, applied to clinical practice and medical research.  It is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to be able to interpret and understand genomic data that increasingly impacts on service delivery to patients and the community. The training provided covers all aspects of genomic science and medicine (not merely DNA sequencing or detection of genetic variation), undertaken in one of the most cutting-edge scientific environments.  The course includes collaborations with: the Institute of Cancer Research (providing the core Cancer Genomics Module) Buckinghamshire New University (collaborating on the optional Workplace-Based Module) Brunel University London (providing the optional Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics Module) The Institute of Cancer Research and Brunel University London may also co-supervise research projects. The course is flexible and modular, and available as a full- or part-time MSc, delivered over one or two years respectively.  There are also full-time and part-time Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) options.  Full-time students should register for the qualification they wish to exit with, either PG Cert, PG Dip or the MSc. Part-time students should register for the PG Cert in the first instance and progress to the other awards should they so wish. 

All applicants must apply online. You can usually apply for up to two courses, although your second choice will only be considered if your first-choice application is unsuccessful. Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but popular courses close when they are full, so you should apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you. You will need to upload documents with your applications, which may include transcripts and degree...

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Subjects

  • IT
  • Genomics
  • Project
  • Healthcare
  • Evaluation
  • Interpretation
  • Basic IT
  • Basic
  • Basic IT training

Course programme

All MSc students are required to take 8 taught modules plus an independent research project. In total you will complete:

  • seven core modules
  • one optional/elective module from a choice of six

The modules will be taught using a blended approach (direct teaching and online distance learning) to provide flexibility for health professionals to combine their study with NHS and Public Health service duties.

Most modules will consist of one week of face-to face teaching and up to three weeks of eLearning and independent study.

The modules are offered on a cycle of 12 months, so that all modules become available at least once in each 12 month cycle.

Core taught modules
  • Core Concepts in Human Genetics and Genomics will provide all of the basic genomic science knowledge required by later modules, including genomic architecture, regulatory systems, genetic variation, function, and how this impacts upon disease processes and clinical outcomes. This module is offered twice in each 12-month cycle.
  • Omics Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine will provide an in-depth description of the genomic techniques that are used to assess genomic variation in clinical problems. It will allow you to critically evaluate which techniques might be used, and their limitations in analysing different disease states.
  • Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease will explain how pathogen genomics can inform the epidemiology of infections, impact upon drug development and resistance, lead to novel diagnostics/therapeutics/stratified healthcare, and provide insights into host susceptibilities to infection.
  • Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment (delivered by the Institute of Cancer Research) will explain the principles of cancer genomics, including predisposition, diagnosis, classification, treatment and patient monitoring with particular emphasis on how genomic analysis impacts these factors and the ethical issues relevant to cancer.
  • Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics will explain the principles and subtleties of ethics in evaluating genetic/genomic data with an emphasis on emerging genomics technologies and the ways that ethical issues are handled in various countries.
  • Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases will explain different types of genetic variation, their contribution to rare and complex disease, how they are detected (with particular emphasis upon the 100,000 Genomes Project), interpreted and communicated.
  • Either: Bioinformatics, Quality Control, Analysis & Interpretation of Genome Sequencing Data, providing the principles of computational DNA sequence analysis, including sequence alignment methods and statistical tests, to identify and correctly communicate pathogenic mutations and assess possible functions through database and network programs); OR the less computationally-intense Genomics and the Patient module, which will concentrate on the identification and interpretation of final Next Gen DNA sequencing reports with an emphasis on calculating genetic risk and ethical considerations.
Optional taught modules
  • Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Medicine will explain how genomic approaches can be used to understand the mechanisms of differential drug responses and reactions, and to inform patient stratification. An emphasis will be placed upon the current limitations and future prospects of pharmacogenomic studies.
  • Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics (delivered by Brunel University London) will explain the methods, assumptions, decision models and interpretation of cost estimate analysis for healthcare interventions and health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on genomic medicine
  • Laboratory Skills for Genomics will be a hands-on wet lab course on how to develop a good experimental design, carry out a genomic analysis project, identify and critically analyse sequence variants and determine the implications for patients.
  • Genome-Based Therapeutics will cover key concepts in developing gene and nucleic acid-based therapies from genomic studies including efficacy and toxicity.
  • Professional and Research Skills (eLearning module) will teach the differences between audit, research, qualitative, quantitative and systematic review methods, how to conduct literature searches, appraise published data, conduct appropriate statistical tests and understand the data management, ethical and reporting requirements in research studies, with a particular emphasis on the 100,000 Genomes Project and translational research.
  • Workplace-Based Module (all distance learning, co-delivered with Buckingham New University) will be conducted with a clinical mentor and a genomics expert. It will focus upon developing a learning contract and a proposed change in clinical practice enabled by genomic medicine approaches and the integration of new knowledge. It will incorporate an evaluation of personal/organisational issues, the application of genomic methods to a range of cases and an evaluation of their utility. You will complete this module in your own workplace therefore it will only be available to students who work in an appropriate healthcare setting (to be approved by the module co-leads).
Core research project

This is the final core requirement for the MSc course and will involve identifying a novel and important research question; designing, planning and undertaking the project; and critically analysing and drawing statistically substantiated conclusions from the data.

We offer four types of project:

  • laboratory-based
  • clinical-based
  • computer-based
  • literature-based

Assessment is by written dissertation, oral presentation, viva and supervisor mark.

Genomic Medicine

Price on request