Core Units
Professional and Evidence Based Practice
The overall aim of this unit is to ensure that the student has underpinning knowledge and gains the accompanying skills and attitudes to undertake the role of a Healthcare Science Practitioner within the NHS.
Project
This unit allows all final year students to plan and undertake either a laboratory based research project or a library based dissertation in an area of their own interest. Students have the opportunity to develop a research question, plan an appropriate investigation and undertake that investigation under the guidance of an allocated supervisor.
Option Units
Biomedical Cell Biology
The Biomedical Cell Biology unit explores the cellular processes, cell cycle control and cell signalling events that occur during cell/tissue repair and regeneration, ageing and senescence, and human disorders. The cellular dysfunction that results as a consequence of ageing and disease development will be discussed in relation to normal cell function. Appropriate examples of biomedical techniques and model systems utilised in cell biology research will be highlighted to illustrate key concepts of the unit. Implications for biomedical research and medicine will be investigated, together with ethical issues relating to the field.
Immunology and Immunological Disorders
This unit will develop knowledge in the field of Immunology with a particular emphasis of disorders of the Immune system including immunodeficiency, autoimmune disease, hypersensitivity, multiple myeloma and tumour immunity. The unit also covers the exciting field of cancer immunotherapy, and organ transplantation. This unit develops the students prior knowledge of the mechanisms of the immune system, previously covered in the level 5 Infection Science unit, as it demonstrates how their deregulation result in disease.
Haematology and Transfusion
This unit describes the pathogenesis of a variety of haematological disorders and the principles of transfusion medicine. This unit develops the students prior knowledge of haematological diseases and covers several haematological disorders, including the immune associated haemolytic anaemias, and haematological malignancies. It describes the use of “omic” technologies in patient diagnosis and treatment and the development of personalised medicine in haematology. The principles of transfusion medicine are taught, explaining the immunological basis of transfusion, the serious hazards of transfusion, pre-transfusion testing procedures and the role of transfusion for therapeutic purposes.
Medical Microbiology
Building on a background knowledge of genetics gained in years 1 and 2, this unit will consider topics such as genetic principles, gene structure, function & regulation, population genetics, techniques, genetic basis of health & disease and genetic approaches which may be used to treat these. The major topics covered in the unit are: Gene structure and genome organisation; molecular mechanisms involved in gene regulation; current and advanced techniques; bioinformatics; population genetics; evolutionary genetics; genetic basis of disease; genetic testing; genetic approaches to treating disease.
Genetic Science
The unit will cover current issues related to human genetics, particularly in relation to disease & the implications on public health. It will consider topics such as genetic principles, gene structure, function & regulation, population genetics, techniques, genetic basis of health & disease and genetic approaches which may be used to treat these.