Undergraduate Course: Scientific Frontiers of Medicine (BIME10055)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will provide a comprehensive overview of fundamental knowledge and concepts that are central to the advancement of modern medical research. A translational bench-to-bedside and bedside-to-bench approach will be adopted and biomedical and clinical research in diseases that affect diverse organs will be examined. Experimental systems used to mechanistically dissect human disease and their cellular and molecular analysis will be examined. Examples of topics covered include the role of fundamental biological processes (inflammation, fibrosis) in human disease pathogenesis, mechanisms of tissue healing, regenerative medicine including the use of stem cells, novel biomarkers of human disease (e.g. microRNA, proteins, extracellular vesicles) and the impact of genetics and aging upon disease processes. Methods to study of human disease will cover genetic analyses, translational imaging modalities and novel technologies. This course will provide a coherent and holistic perspective of multiple areas of modern cutting edge research in diverse human disease and their contribution to current and future medicine. |
| Course description |
This course will provide a comprehensive overview of fundamental knowledge and concepts that are central to the advancement of modern medical research including personalised precision medicine and patient stratification. The course will examine experimental systems used to mechanistically dissect human disease and their cellular and molecular analysis from a bench-to-bedside perspective. The role of fundamental pathophysiological processes such as ischaemia, aberrant immune response, inflammation and fibrotic scarring in diseases affecting multiple organs such as the heart, liver, lung and kidney will be explored. Other areas that will be examined include tissue healing and regenerative medicine including stem cells, novel biomarkers of human disease (e.g. microRNA, proteins, extracellular vesicles) and the impact of genetics and aging upon disease. Methods to study of human disease will cover the use of clinical trials, genetic analyses, translational imaging modalities and novel technologies such as proteomics. The process of modern drug development including the use of high throughput screening assays will be examined. This course will provide a coherent and holistic perspective of the multiple areas of research and their contribution to current and future medicine.
The Scientific Frontiers in Medicine course will provide students with a broad appreciation of the range of modern medical research across a broad range of specialities. In addition, cutting edge research findings will be presented to demonstrate the approaches, methods and technology being used to address research questions by academic clinicians. The programme will use lectures and tutorials and offer opportunity for discussion.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 14 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 45,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
151 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
30 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course will contain a component of in-course assessment (poster or powerpoint presentation) worth 30%, with a single written exam worth 70% at the end of semester 1. The delivery of the in-course assessment or examination may need to be adjusted according to circumstances prevailing at the time regarding Covid-19. In order to pass the course, you must achieve at least 40% for the in-course assessment AND at least 40% for the exam.
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| Feedback |
The power point will be assessed during the power point presentation session and direct feedback provided to the student.
A structured questionnaire will be used to gather student feedback on the components of the course.
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| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles of modern medical research.
- Discuss and critically evaluate the different experimental and quantitative methodologies used to research and expand our knowledge of medicine including the role of experimental models of human disease.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how multiple biological factors (e.g. immune responses, genetics and aging) impact upon the development and progression of disease within individuals.
- Critically evaluate information from different approaches (e.g. studies of experimental models, genetic analyses of patient cohorts) to identify the underlying mechanisms that might contribute to disease pathogenesis, diagnosis or the efficacy of treatment strategies.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the use of cutting edge biomedical science (e.g. proteomics, imaging, stem cells) to drive advances in medical research and make effective use of information and communications technology to critically appraise relevant information from the medical research literature and present information to others.
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Learning Resources
Review articles
Original relevant research journal articles
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will have a broad overview of modern medical research and gain an understanding of important research issues and how they are dissected. Students will be able to evaluate and critically appraise biomedical and clinical research papers. Students will gain information and communication technology skills, manage their time effectively and work as part of a team in a professional manner. |
| Keywords | Medicine,Biomedical Science,Laboratory |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jeremy Hughes
Tel: (0131) 242 6683
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr James Hunter
Tel: (0131 6)51 4064
Email: |
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