Translational Medicine: Pharmaceutical Cancer MRes
ObjectivesThe aim is to improve and accelerate bench-to-bedside research, i.e. research that reduces the timeframe between emerging molecular, genetic and cellular discoveries and their application to the patient. As biotechnology becomes more sophisticated the scope exists to improve not only the targeting of medications, but their delivery and outcome prediction. To achieve this, a multitude of systems biology skills are required, including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics.
Entry requirementsEntry requirements: A minimum 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in the biomedical sciences. International candidates must have obtained the equivalent of a 2:1 in a related degree from a reputed University. Candidates on the undergraduate medical programme must have satisfactorily completed years 1-4 of the MBChB with no failure at any examination. For St Andrews students this includes their 3 year degree programme and the following 2 years spent in Manchester (years 3 and 4 of the Manchester programme) Students with evidence of previous advanced study, research or professional experience may be accepted by the University as qualification for entry
Academic titleTranslational Medicine: Pharmaceutical Cancer MRes
Course descriptionNOTE: The MRes in Translational Medicine has 2 pathways:
-Translational Medicine: Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine (option A) -Translational Medicine: Pharmaceutical Cancer Translational Medicine (option B)
Applicants must select their preferred pathway through the MRes at the online application stage. However, there will be the opportunity to switch pathways following induction to the MRes, should students decide to alter their route through the course.
Translational Medicine is driven by the objective of improving clinical outcomes from molecular and cellular discoveries - to the benefit of the patient. Enhancing `bench-to-bedside' research encourages faster throughput of basic science to applied clinical care and is, therefore, of critical importance to the development of healthcare delivery.
The MRes in Translational Medicine (MRes TM) is designed to encourage a focused group of high-calibre science and medical students into the field of translational medicine. The growth in importance of translational medicine as a branch of medical science has been significant in recent years as efforts to connect basic research with patient care have multiplied. Across the healthcare industry translational medicine is pivotal to the advancement of emerging therapies relating to improved pharmaceutical targeting, biomedical technologies and integration with clinical trials.
It is expected that graduates on the MRes programme will progress into PhD research within the biosciences or leading industrial placements with major biomedical and pharmaceutical enterprises.
Module details
There are four core course units. These are taken regardless of the pathway selected:
-Research design and implementation
-Quantitative technologies for Translational Medicine
-Data analysis
-Delivering a Translational Medicine strategy in a matrix structure
Applicants must also choose the modules in either option A or option B below. This ultimately determines which pathway applicants will follow:
Option A: Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine
5A: Genetics, genetic epidemiology and genomics
6A: Transcriptomics and functional genomics
7A: Proteomics
8A: Metabolomics
Option B: Pharmaceutical Cancer Translational Medicine
5B: Assembling a pre-clinical strategy for a new candidate drug
6B: Assembling an early clinical strategy for a new candidate drug
7B: Assembling a Translational Medicine strategy for a new anti-cancer drug
8B: Pharmaceutical Translational Medicine: putting it all together