ObjectivesThe MSc Molecular Medicine course aims to provide you with specialist theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of cellular, molecular biology and genetics, and their application to the study of human diseases in the context to the scientific and clinical problem of human cancer. The course will focus on developing research skills and is designed to enable you to develop the ability to become an independent and creative scientist. Brunel University is research led and, through our enthusiastic, innovative and research-driven approach, the teaching on this course reflects the fast changing nature of biomedical research - with specific emphasis to human genome, molecular medicine and cancer research.
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements Applicants should have a recent UK honours degree (2ii or above) or equivalent EU or overseas degree in the field of Biosciences. Applications from health professionals eg doctors; nurses; MLSOs; and non-standard entry are welcomed. If English is not your first language an IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 230/750 score is a requirement. Applicants with IELTS 5.5 r equivalent may be accepted onto the programme but will be required to undertake pre-sessional and/or in-sessional English language courses as directed.
Academic titleMolecular Medicine and Cancer Research MSc
Course descriptionThis newly designed MSc course will be fully integrated into the research activities of the division of Biosciences, within either the Centre for Cell and Chromosome Biology or the Brunel Institute for Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics. Students undertaking their research dissertation will be under the direct supervision of a research active member of staff within one of the centres.
Research activity in Biosciences includes:
* The genetics of leukaemia, breast, prostate, lung and skin cancer
* The role of telomeres in the development of cancer, genomic instability and damage response
* Cellular mechanisms such as gene expression, splicing and DNA repair
* Genome and nuclear organisation in development, differentiation and disease
* Gene and stem cell therapies
* Hereditary neurodegenerative diseases
* Cellular, organismal and premature ageing
* Radiation biology and chromosomal abberations
* Biomaterials for wound healing and implants
* Immunobiology, complement, host:parasite interactions
* Genetics and Epigenetics of model organisms such as mouse, Drosophila, pig and snail
* Bone metabolism
* New therapeutic targets, drug resistance and genotoxicity
* Endocrinology
* Iron metabolism
Research in Biosciences is conducted in state-of-the-art facilities with access to all modern molecular genetics techniques and post-genomic technologies including automated DNA sequencing, microarray, proteomic analysis, bioinformatics, fluorescence in situ hybridisation, cell and tissue culture, real-time microscopy, 3 and 4-dimensional fluorescence microscopy with image analysis, confocal laser microscopy and RT-PCR.
Course Details
The course is offered on a one year full-time basis, taught over three terms, or on a two year part-time basis, taught over six terms. You will complete six modules in total. Four modules will each be taught over a two week period in a ‘block’ mode. These taught modules will not run concurrently allowing you to focus on one module at a time and will help promote better time management skills. All lecture material will be available via Vista and will be accessible from your home computer. There will be a Research Planning module to develop skills required for your dissertation. A unique Research Dissertation module will then be studied over a 9 month (full-time) or 18 month (part-time) period, to allow you to conduct a detailed investigation into a research question of your choice. If in full-time employment, and attending the course on part-time mode, it may be possible to conduct the research dissertation at the workplace.
Modules (All modules are core)
Research Planning (15 credits)
This module aims to develop knowledge and critical awareness of various research methods and appropriate methods of data analysis. You will enhance your skills of designing and evaluating research studies and data presentation.
Cytogenetics and Cancer (15 credits)
This module will teach up-to-date practical technologies, methodologies and skills used in clinical cytogenetics for the diagnosis of cancer.
Main topics of study: prenatal, postnatal and acquired chromosomal abnormalities; clinical sample type and referral reasons; karyotyping; genetic counselling and ethical issues; ethics associated with genomic studies; mmethodology of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH); diagnostic applications of FISH; other molecular techniques used in clinical cytogenetics and diagnosis including multi-colour FISH, Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (CGH), Microarray CGH; modern day light and fluorescence microscopy; digital imaging; fluorescence image analysis; FISH data analysis.
Genomic Technologies and Cancer Research (15 credits)
This module aims to provide an understanding of the modern biotechnology in functional genomics and cancer biology.
Main topics of study include: general knowledge of genomic and proteomic technology; microarrary technology; transgenic technology; drug discovery technology; RNA interference technology.
The Biology, Genetics and Treatment of Human Cancer (30 credits)
This module aims to provide a detailed understanding of cancer to include the epidemiology and causes of cancer, diagnosis and treatment. The module will provide detailed information of the genetic basis of cancer and demonstrate how the genome project has led to novel treatments for the disease.
Main topics of study: the multistage nature of cancer; oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes and specific metabolic pathways; epidemiology of cancer; principles of cancer diagnosis; basic methods of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery; the role of translational research in cancer genetics and therapy – development of new therapies; the causes, genetics and treatment of breast, colon and melanoma as specific models.
Intracellular Signalling and Cancer (30 credits)
This module aims to provide an understanding of the principles and current knowledge of the cellular signalling pathways that are misregulated in human cancers. Attention will be given to how knowledge of these signalling pathways and their targets can be used in therapeutic intervention in human cancer.
Signalling pathways resulting from activation of membrane, intracellular or nuclear receptors including G-Protein coupled receptor signalling; Wnt signalling; JAK/STAT signalling and cytokine signalling; Steroid signalling
Research Dissertation (75 credits)
The dissertation allows you to undertake an in-depth study from a choice of research topics and will normally be associated with one of the research centres within Biosciences. If in full-time employment, and attending the course on part-time mode, it may be possible to conduct the research dissertation at the workplace.
Special Features
* Through an enthusiastic, innovative and research-driven approach, our teaching will reflect the fast changing nature of the biomedical research (with specific emphasis to human genome, molecular medicine and cancer research).
* Brunel University is research led and students attending either course will have the opportunity to conduct a 9-month research dissertation as a part of the MSc course.
* Students will be given a choice of research topics and will be normally associated with one of the research centres within Biosciences.
* If in full time employment, and attending the course in a part time mode, it may be possible to conduct the research dissertation at the workplace.
Assessment
The course is structured around a programme of lectures, seminars, practical classes, directed reading and coursework. You will be assessed by written examination and coursework, laboratory reports, oral and poster presentation and dissertation thesis writing.
A Master’s degree is awarded if you reach the necessary standard on the taught part of the course and submit a dissertation of the required standard. The Pass grade for all modules and the dissertation is 50%. A Master’s degree requires 180 credits, of which 75 are accounted for by the dissertation. A Graduate or Postgraduate Certificate can be awarded if between 60 and 105 credits are gained in the taught part of the course. The name of the certificate will be determined by the actual grades achieved.
Teaching Methods
All modules will be delivered in a 'block, which means that each module will be delivered in a two week period.
Careers
Our graduates will be highly skilled in a variety of research methodologies and will be equipped for a range of career opportunities. These could include health-related professions; pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries, PhD study or research assistantships in cancer and genomic research.