Translational Medicine (MRes)

Course Structure

The MSc in Biomedical and Clinical Research is a full-time postgraduate programme delivered over one year.  The programme will primarily be of interest to students with undergraduate degrees in Biomedical Science or Healthcare Science related fields. Students will undertake 2 core taught modules, Core Research Skills and Clinical Translation (20 CATS each; total 40 CATS). Then, depending on their field of interest, students have a choice of optional modules on offer that include Advanced Research Skills (20 CATS), Delivering Clinical Trials from Protocol to Patient (20 CATS), Statistics in Public Health and Medical Research (10 CATS) and Health and Biomedical informatics and the Exposome (10 CATS). Students will also undertake an intensive research project (60 CATS) from a list of laboratory or non-laboratory projects that are offered and supervised by the academic faculty. Depending on the research project selected, students will be guided to select relevant optional modules that will suit laboratory, clinical or bioinformatic projects. The MSc is awarded to students who successfully complete 120 CATS points (60 CATS taught modules, 60 CATS Research Project, and 60 CATS Dissertation). A Postgraduate Diploma Exit qualification is available to those students who have successfully completed 120 CATS points (60 CATS, taught modules and 60 CATS research project). A Postgraduate Certificate Exit qualification is available to those students who have successfully completed 60 CATS points of taught modules

Semester 1

Semester 1 comprises 3 months of intensive teaching, which includes the two core modules, and if selected, one optional module on advanced research skills or statistics. SCM8145 Core Research Skills – CORE module, 20 CATS In this module students learn the skills that embed excellence and rigour into the scientific approach to a research question. Active researchers teach students the core skills of designing and methodological approaches to testing a research hypothesis. Taught elements include database searches and approach to systematic reviews, basic principles of laboratory and clinical research design, regulatory requirements governing research, public involvement with science, data analysis, presentation, dissemination and communication of science. Students can undertake additional training in Good Clinical Practice, or training in animal handling procedures for a Home Office personal licence. SCM8181 Clinical Translation – CORE module, 20 CATS This module provides detailed theoretical and practical introduction about clinical translation. It focusses on state-of-the-art methods on research and clinical translation related to vascular, respiratory and infection/immunity related diseases. Current therapeutic approaches are also covered together with potential future strategies based on cutting edge translational research. The full spectrum of translational research is covered from animal and human models of disease through to the design and implementation of clinical trials. Topics covered: • Gene Therapy /CRISP/CAS9 • Drug development / repurposing • Stem Cells / Reprogramming- Cell based Therapies • Harnessing the immune system for therapeutics • Pharmacokinetics / Pharmacodynamic studies • Vaccine Development • Developing new ways to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance • Exploiting omics for therapeutics • Harnessing the Microbiome • High throughput drug screening • Biomarker discovery • Commercialisation • Clinical Trials SCM8180 Advanced Research Skills – OPTIONAL module, 20 CATS This module provides a detailed theoretical and practical introduction to advanced research skills. It will provide a depth of knowledge of the research process and practical skills for the design and conduct of research studies, including data collection and analysis. Topics covered: • Preclinical Research Experimental Design. • Advanced human cell culture, including stem cells. • Advanced Imaging Training such as confocal microscopy. • Single Cell RNA Sequencing • Multi-dimensional parameter analysis of cell populations • Bioinformatics • Statistics • Organoids / 3D Culture Systems • 3D Printing • Microfluidics • Proteomics and Metabolomics SCM8167 Statistics in Public Health and Medical Research – OPTIONAL module, 10 CATS The module is delivered as lectures, and skills-based SPSS (a statistical package) computer laboratory practical's, and focuses on handling research data, performing statistical analysis and interpreting statistical output. It is delivered by a team of statisticians based in the Centre for Public Health. Topics covered: • Screening and presentation of data • Sampling, estimation & confidence intervals • Hypothesis testing - Proportions • Hypothesis testing - Means and ANOVA • Non-parametric methods • Linear regression • Logistic regression • Survival analysis • Systematic reviews and meta-analysis: methods • Age-standardisation: methods•

Semester 2

SCM8148 Health and Biomedical informatics and the exposome – OPTIONAL module, 10 CATS In this module students acquire the knowledge and skills to understand some of the most important concepts in health informatics and how these can be integrated with translational bioinformatics to facilitate the development of precision medicine approaches. This module also includes an introduction to the concept of the exposome and the contribution of biomedical informatics in exposome research. The module covers different aspects of health informatics including the basic structure of Electronic Health Records and how the information contained in these resources can be leveraged for translational bioinformatics research. The module introduces some of the methods and tools (e.g. natural language processing (NLP) or coding tools) relevant for the extraction and reuse of clinical information for research purposes.  Additionally, the course introduces the concept of the exposome, and its relevance for the development of precision medicine approaches. This will include a description of an emerging domain, exposome informatics, providing an insight about the main data types and sources relevant for exposome research. Finally, the course provides an integrative perspective and view of how all these elements work together to foster new comprehensive research approaches where biomedical informatics plays a key and central role SCM8188 Delivering Clinical Trials – from protocol to patient – OPTIONAL module, 20 CATS This module provides an overview of research processes and infrastructure that include: • Setup of a clinical trial • Collecting and managing data in trials • Managing the conduct of a trial • Patient screening, eligibility, consent, and randomisation • Managing risk and reporting adverse events • Basic laboratory procedures and documentation On completion of this module the student will have gained an understanding of: • Foundational knowledge of clinical research delivery, focused on clinical trials. • Research delivery and regulatory infrastructure in Northern Ireland and the wider UK. • The necessary skills required to facilitate the set-up and successful operational delivery of a clinical trial, including screening, eligibility, consent and randomisation. • The processes involved in effective data collection, trial management and oversight. • The ethical framework involved in clinical trials, and the steps needed to ensure the safety of trial participants and delivery of the research. • The practical skills required to manage study documentation, data entry and laboratory sample processing. SCM8146 Research Project – CORE module, 60 CATS The Research Project is a major component of the programme, allowing the student to conduct high quality research during the MSc in Biomedical and Clinical Research. All projects will be performed in the WWIEM under the supervision of renowned academics with active research programmes in biomedical and clinical research and bioinformatics. On completion of this module the successful student should be able to: • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the chosen subject area. • Recognise the importance of planning and preparation required to undertake a research project. • Apply foundational research skills to address a research question. • Carry out a detailed research-based project. • Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues associated with the subject area and research. • Analyse data and synthesize research findings. • Demonstrate the ability to collate and critically assess/interpret data SCM8147 Dissertation – CORE module, 60 CATS This Module comprises the write-up contribution to the overall research element of the Programme. It follows on from the Research Project.  The Dissertation will present the student’s personal studies of the literature, a description of their study design and execution of their project, data presentation, analyses and interpretation, followed by critical discussion and conclusions. The Dissertation will be submitted electronically (15,000-20,000-words).

People teaching you Professor Andriana Margariti Programme Coordinator SMDB pgoffice.smdb@qub.ac.uk

Teaching Times

Learning and Teaching