Mechanisms and models of disease (P02357)

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

Translational Medicine provides an integrated and interdisciplinary approach for the improved understanding and treatment of disease. This course will highlight the increasing requirement to understand and define disease at a multi-system level (molecules> populations) to enable more sophisticated analysis of the origin and pathogenesis of disease processes. This is becoming increasingly possible by combining advances in science and medicine via translational research approaches; examples of this multi-system approach to disease definition and modelling will be covered. The role of Translational Medicine in facilitating integrated, multi-level, studies to facilitate patient-oriented medicine will be highlighted. Specific examples highlighting the impact of translational medicine in disease research and the development of therapeutic strategies will be given. The final element will cover the important role translational research plays in the definition of multiple intervention points for diagnostics, biomarkers and therapeutics.

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.