Translational Medicine: introduction and definition (P02356)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : MED-P-MED

This course provides background and introduction to the emerging discipline of Translational Medicine and the increasingly important role it will play in biomedical research and the biopharmaceutical industry. Translational Medicine will be defined and explained in terms of promoting focussed multidisciplinary interactions between science and medicine to enhance disease research and drug development. An explanation and supporting examples are given highlighting the requirement for new models of research involving closer relationship between science, medicine, and industry. In addition, the wider inter-relationships with regulatory, ethical and societal sectors are presented. The course covers the driving forces behind the development of Translational Medicine and its impact in meshing together advances in science and medicine. Examples of global developments in the field of Translational Medicine will be given along with their relevance to the biopharmaceutical industry and academic research. A description of the barriers and future potentials of Translational Medicine within the academic and industrial sectors will be provided.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : None other than the programme entry requirements

? Co-requisites : All students registered for Certificate in Translational Medicine MUST do this core course.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : All courses will be delivered by distance learning, using WebCT as the delivery platform. Registered students are provided with a user name and password that allows them to access a protected course web site. The website provides a variety of educational material and supports a range of approaches by the students to the material provided. Online delivery will be supported through the provision of video cassettes and interactive multimedia tutorials and discussions with peers and tutors. The website also houses a number of interactive tutorials that allow students to work with information in a self-paced manner to test their understanding of important concepts and principles.

Study guides with lecture notes are available, either to be read on screen or printed by the students for private use. Selected readings from relevant journals and textbooks are also provided. A CD ROM of the course readings is mailed to each student at the beginning of the year.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Translational Medicine, (Medicine, Schedule R)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Additional Class Information : The course will be delivered by distance learning, using WebCT as the delivery platform. The total workload (including self-directed study) for the course will be approximately 100 hours.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

The Certificate will provide participants with an in depth understanding of the rationale and impact of Translational Medicine and appreciation of its increasingly important role to medical research, the drug development industry and regulatory sectors. The multidisciplinary, integrative and interactive nature of Translational Medicine will be highlighted and understanding of its relevance and impact to scientific, medical and societal sectors will be gained. Participants will thereby gain a sound understanding of the essential elements of translational Medicine, equipping them to engage further in this rapidly evolving field. Consequently, the Certificate will have relevance to clinicians and scientists engaged in academic and industrial research as well as to those in allied healthcare and regulatory sectors.