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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Deanery of Biomedical Sciences : Biomedical Sciences

Postgraduate Course: Cancer Biology 1 (BIME11166)

Course Outline
SchoolDeanery of Biomedical Sciences CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits80 ECTS Credits40
SummaryThis research subject area for the MSc by Research Integrative Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) covers the broad range of basic and translational cancer research. Students will select a 20 week practical laboratory placement in a related research specialism (including Cancer Cell Biology, Cancer Stem Cells, Bioinformatic Analysis of Cancer and Cancer Diagnostics) and complete a 10,000 word research project report. This will be underpinned by a specialised taught element providing core skills and training required for biomedical sciences research.
Course description This course is an elective research theme for the MSc by Research in Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) Programme. The taught element will cover cutting edge research topics within the Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre which include genetics, cancer cell biology, drug discovery, diagnosis and prevention.
Cancer arises due to a complex combination of genetic and molecular changes within a cell that ultimately cause increased cell proliferation, decreased death and changes in differentiation, metabolism and cell motility. The integrated approach to this theme will consider all aspects of cancer biology including genetic susceptibility, treatment and prevention, molecular drivers of cancer initiation, growth and metastasis and new approaches to cancer drug discovery. Our aim is to give a sound introduction to the most up to date information on this subject area and to cutting edge approaches for investigating molecular changes in cancer cells such as super resolution imaging, proteomics and metabolomics. The laboratory placement will provide a sound introduction to the most up to date information on these subject areas and to current and advanced approaches for investigating molecular pathways in cancer, such as super resolution imaging, proteomics and metabolomics.

The course includes a mandatory taught element to provide both essential research skills and training for biomedical science and specialised content related Cancer Biology. There will be 3 contact hours per week to include key training activities such as courses in experimental design and data analysis, use of bioinformatics, programming, modelling, sessions on science communication, presentation skills and project planning and research subject specific content.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Blocks 1-3 (Sem 1-2)
Course Start Date 20/09/2021
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 800 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 36, Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 19, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5, Formative Assessment Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 16, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 714 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 100%
One 20-week project write up maximum 10,000 words
Feedback Feedback will be provided to students throughout the programme, by staff involved in the core taught element, peer group activities and by individual supervisors overseeing the research projects. Formative assessments will ensure core skill development and maximise student-supervisor interaction in project development and analysis, as well as peer and supervisor feedback. In addition each research project includes formative assessments that will be independently marked and will include formal feedback.

Two anonymous markers provide feedback on the summative research project assessment.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Ability to devise an independent research project
  2. Develop detailed knowledge and understanding of a specific subject area of interest
  3. Acquire a range of core experimental research, and generic/transferrable skills.
  4. Acquire skills in ICT, numeracy, data presentation and statistical analysis of experimental results
  5. Develop written and oral presentation skills and demonstrate ability to communicate science to a range of audiences
Reading List
Resources will be made available within LEARN
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Project planning and time management
Independent learning
Critical evaluation and analysis
Communication, numeracy and IT skills
Accountability and working with others
Laboratory and analytical research skills
KeywordsMolecular biology,cancer,pharmacology,genetics
Contacts
Course organiserDr Lesley Stark
Tel: (0131) 332 2471
Email: Lesley.Stark@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Fiona Brodie
Tel: (0131 6)51 5997
Email: Fiona.Brodie@ed.ac.uk
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