Postgraduate Course: Technical Advances in Diagnostics (EMND11033)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course aims to promote an understanding of the principles of operation and application of the major immunological and molecular diagnostic methods. Evaluating
the application of diagnostics, both clinically and from a practical perspective, this course enables the technological innovations in this area to be considered at a Global and One-Health level. |
| Course description |
Advances in diagnostics technologies, their utility and the research methods and approaches that underpin biomarker identification technologies are fields that have advanced significantly in recent years. For many diseases the prospect of improved diagnostics capabilities in both laboratory and at point of care (POC) is fast becoming reality. Whilst the global burden and impact of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease is steadily increasing this course focuses on infectious diseases, both for diagnosis and for prognostication, and where relevant for directing treatment.
Whilst these diagnostic advances provide the ideal OneHealth opportunity for students from both human and veterinary/animal health backgrounds to come together and consider these applications across their respective disciplines, the course opens by firstly considering the importance of diagnostics in global health and also
introducing the range of diagnostics utilised. A point of care (POC) thread runs vertically throughout this course with both laboratory and POC applications for various platforms considered. The role of diagnostics in refining the use of antimicrobials across human and veterinary species is a key theme. Towards the end of the course consideration is paid to the area of biomarker discovery and other future perspectives relevant to the area of diagnostics.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Students will be required to have regular access to a networked computer, and will be responsible for providing their own computing equipment and consumables. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
| Course Start Date |
22/05/2023 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Online Activities 25,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
43 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% coursework
Formal summative written assessment will constitute 60% of the student's grade. Online discussion will contribute further to the final mark. In combination with the submission of electronic course assignments, these elements will provide the remaining 40% of the final mark. |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided with 15 working days of the assessment deadline for each submitted piece of coursework. Feedback will be comprehensive and feed forward to allow the student to continually improve. Students will be encouraged to seek further feedback, clarification where necessary and where appropriate verbal, recorded group feedback will be provided. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the main diagnostic technologies, including immunodiagnostics and molecular diagnostics; and understand their applications globally, both clinically and where relevant from a practical perspective.
- From a Global Health context, have a detailed awareness of the effect that improved diagnostic capabilities would have on public health and where relevant animal health and production.
- Be able to describe and communicate effectively to a range of audiences the technological innovations in in point of care diagnostics the impact that these have.
- Applying knowledge and understanding describe and critical analysis the role that diagnostics have in addressing antimicrobial resistance.
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Reading List
| Essential, recommended and further readings are drawn from a wide range of sources. Where relevant, for the recommended and further categories, these are highlighted as having a human focus or veterinary/animal focus giving students the opportunity to adapt their reading and further studies along lines of interest or existing experience that they may have. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course will provide opportunities for students to improve and develop their skills in critical analysis. Communication skills will be developed through discussion boards and by communication of research in a written assignment.
Students are encouraged to use their personal and intellectual autonomy to evaluate ideas, evidence and experience from an open minded and reasoned perspective. |
| Special Arrangements |
Computer access/internet.
This course will be taught entirely online, using the virtual learning environment of Learn as the delivery platform. Course materials are protected by a secure username and password. These access details are made available to registered users only.
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| Keywords | Diagnostics,immunodiagnostics,molecular,PCR,lateral flow,point of care,AMR,Biomarker |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Emily O'Reilly
Tel:
Email: emily.o'reilly@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Jenn Liedtke
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: Jennifer.Liedtke@ed.ac.uk |
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