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MSc Experimental Medicine

Academic Year 2021/22

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

MSc Experimental Medicine

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Master of Science

Programme Code

MED-MSC-EX

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

100270

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

Full Time - 1 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

180

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

N/A

Accreditations (PSRB)

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

No

Programme Specific Regulations

Awards, Credits and Programme of Learning Outcomes

The following regulations should be read in conjunction with the University’s General Regulations:

1. Any student who fails 60 credits or more of taught modules will not be able to proceed to the dissertation module until the taught modules are successfully completed. Students can then choose whether to graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma or re-enrol to take the Dissertation in the next academic year.

2. In the case of failed modules, students will normally be permitted one resit attempt in each module. Students who fail any module twice will normally be required to withdraw.

3. Candidates who pass all the taught modules and the Research Project (120 CATS) but who fail to achieve a mark of at least 50% in the dissertation shall be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma.

4. Candidates who pass all the taught modules and the Research Project (120 CATS) but who do not submit a dissertation, shall be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma.

5. Candidates who are not eligible for the awards of Masters or Postgraduate Diploma but who have obtained 60 CATS including the core module SCM8145 Fundamental Research Skills in Experimental Medicine, shall be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate.

Students with protected characteristics

Normally there are no barriers, but as this is a laboratory based subject, each case will be considered individually

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No
(With the exception of students who are taking this as an intercalated degree and whose primary programmes are subject to Fitness to Practise (FTP) regulations) FTP programmes are those which permit students to enter a profession which is itself subject to FTP rules

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

Acquire the knowledge and skills to understand the principles of experimental medicine research.

Show evidence of participation in original and high quality biomedical research.

Acquire the knowledge and laboratory skills to design, troubleshoot and execute research experiments in experimental medicine.

Demonstrate scientific writing skills through the write up of their research as a Dissertation and the completion of written course assignments.

Evaluate current and future developments in experimental and translational medicine and critically assess novel therapeutic approaches.

Critically analyse scientific literature and show proficiency in scientific writing of research articles.

Recognise and employ key skills in team building.

Demonstrate ability to incorporate innovation into their research topics.

Demonstrate capacity for self-directed and life-long learning.

Demonstrate the knowledge and research skills for progression to a PhD programme.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Analyze, interpret and appraise experimental data

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures/research supervision

Methods of Assessment

Essays, Research Project

Adopt various experimental approaches and combine information from different sources to develop an experimental plan

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, research project

Methods of Assessment

Presentations,
Research project

Assess publically available data sets and outline how they would be useful in their research approach.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Research project

Evaluate ethical issues in human and animal research

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Masterclasses, Journal Clubs, Guided Self-Directed Learning and Small Group Learning

Methods of Assessment

Presentation, Written assignment

Search for, retrieve and evaluate scientific literature

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials, Workshops

Methods of Assessment

Presentation, Written assignment

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Critically evaluate scientific literature

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures

Methods of Assessment

Written Assignments

Apply analytical, numerical and creative thinking skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars

Methods of Assessment

Presentations

Work independently and take responsibility for self-learning

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Research Project

Develop comprehensive understanding of and laboratory skills in experimental design, troubleshooting and execution

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Research project

Methods of Assessment

Research project, presentations.

Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills, including presenting scientific information

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Masterclasses

Methods of Assessment

Presentations, Written assignments

Manage time effectively and prioritize tasks

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Practicals; research project

Methods of Assessment

Research Project

Develop own knowledge and skills and contribute to the development of others, through active participation in teamwork and group learning opportunities

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Journal Clubs, Small Group Learning

Methods of Assessment

Presentations

Use information technology with particular emphasis on the recording of information and data retrieval

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Guided Self Directed Learning, Small Group Learning, Practicals

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments

Apply scientific research principles and audit

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments

Enhance Professional and Career Development portfolio

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, Masterclasses

Methods of Assessment

Written assignment

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Critically analyse and discuss principles of translational medicine and how they can be applied in translational/clinical arenas

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures

Methods of Assessment

Essays

Discuss experimental approaches, techniques and design in experimental medicine

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars/laboratory meetings, Research project

Methods of Assessment

Oral Presentations (PowerPoint)

Demonstrate an understanding of genomic alterations that lead to cellular phenotype changes in human disease

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Oral Presentations

Apply the principles of clinical trial design and indicate how translational studies can be incorporated into clinical trials

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments

Critically evaluate current scientific literature

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Journal Clubs

Methods of Assessment

Presentations

Discuss research ethics in relation to studies in humans and animals and correctly apply established principles and legislation to these areas of research

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Guided Self Directed Learning

Methods of Assessment

Presentations

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Critically analyse experimental approaches to address research hypotheses

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures

Methods of Assessment

Essays

Explain techniques that will underpin the experimental design of their Research Project

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars

Methods of Assessment

Oral Presentations

Develop and present a Research Proposal for their Research Project

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Written assignment

Communicate complex scientific concepts, experiments and data analyses in a comprehensive written dissertation

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Masterclasses, Lectures

Methods of Assessment

Project dissertation

Demonstrate the ability to use publicly available literature databases

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Masterclasses, Lectures

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments, Project dissertation

Demonstrate the skills to write a research report, indicating progress and future plans/directions

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Guided Self Directed Learning

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments

Critically appraise a scientific paper

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Small Group Learning

Methods of Assessment

Oral Presentations , Written assignments

Demonstrate the ability to write a scientific paper based on established guidelines for a chosen journal

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments

Identify factors that contribute to a high quality clinical trial.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, Tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Presentation

Depending on their subject specialty, the successful student will also be able to demonstrate the skill sets as indicated below. Throughout the different themes, emphasis will be placed on critical thinking using tutorials where the students will critique published scientific research.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

not applicable

Methods of Assessment

not applicable

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Medicine:

Identify the physiological principles underpinning cardiovascular disease and diabetes
Assess the use of pre-clinical models as a basis for translational research
Discuss and evaluate current approaches used for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in diabetes
Evaluate present strategies for the prevention and management of diabetic cardiovascular disease.
Discuss the mechanisms of action of commonly used cardiovascular drug therapies in diabetes
Critically evaluate the potential of novel strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, Tutorials, Masterclasses, Seminars

Methods of Assessment

Presentation/ Written assignments

Infection and Immunity:

Explain and critically analyse the functioning of the immune system
Discuss the processes that occur during infection and analyse the host-pathogen interactions
Explain the outcomes of deregulated immune responses during disease
Compare and contrast in vitro and in vivo models of disease
Explain the therapeutic approaches to the design of new treatments and have an understanding of the principles and practice of clinical trials.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, Tutorials, Masterclasses, Seminars

Methods of Assessment

Presentation/Written assignments

MODULE INFORMATION

Programme Requirements

Module Title

Module Code

Level/ stage

Credits

Availability

Duration

Pre-requisite

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

S1

S2

 

 

Core

Option

Coursework %

Practical %

Examination %

Inflammation and Immunology - from Cell to Clinic

SCM8062

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

70%

30%

0%

The Immune System in Health and Disease

SCM8097

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

75%

25%

0%

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Medicine Biology & Disease

SCM8110

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

75%

25%

0%

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Medicine: Clinical Translation

SCM8111

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

70%

30%

0%

Fundamental Research Skills in Experimental Medicine

SCM8145

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

60%

40%

0%

Research Project

SCM8146

7

60

YES

YES

24 weeks

N

YES

70%

30%

0%

Dissertation

SCM8147

7

60

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Notes

Students must take the core taught modules (20 CATS) and two modules (20 CATS each) from one of the two groups (Diabetes and Cardiovascular Medicine Biology and Disease: SCM8110 and SCMSCM8111) or (Infection and Immunity: SCM8097 and SCM8062), plus the Research Project (60 CATS) and Dissertation (60 CATS) which is completed over the summer.