Course description
This 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.
Clinical Cytogenetics (15 credits)
This module will teach up-to-date practical technologies, methodologies and skills used in clinical cytogenetic laboratories.
Main topics of study: the technologies and methodologies used in modern cytogenetics and their application in clinical diagnosis; problem solving within FISH methodology; analysis and interpretation of digital images; presentation of clinical data; working effectively in groups using good laboratory practice.
Genomic Technologies (15 credits)
This module aims to provide an understanding of the modern biotechnology in both genomics and proteomics, especially the application of microarray technology.
Main topics of study: general knowledge of genomic and proteomic technology; microarrary technology; transgenic technology; drug discovery technology; RNA interference technology.
Genomic and Molecular Medicine (30 credits)
This module will introduce you to the principles of translating the knowledge generated through the human genome project into clinical practice.
Main topics of study: organization of the human genome: recent advances; Hap-Map project; genome wide association studies (GWAS); specific examples of recent use of GWAS to study human diseases; exploring molecular mechanisms of human genetic disease arising as a result of dysfunctional DNA damage responses; mouse models of human diseases resulting from dysfunctional DNA damage responses;
telomere maintenance and human disease; mouse genome project; principles of gene therapy.
Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease (30 credits)
This module aims to provide an understanding of the principles and current knowledge of the signalling pathways that are misregulated in a variety of human diseases. Attention will be given to how knowledge of these signalling pathways and their targets can be used in therapeutic intervention in human disease.
Main topics of study: 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 and105 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.
