Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research MSc

About the Course

This exciting Master’s programme aims to provide specialist theoretical and practical knowledge in molecular and cellular genetics for the study of human disease in the context of the scientific and clinical problem of human cancer.

If focuses on the development of research skills in medical genetics and human diseases, and is designed to enable you to develop the ability to become an independent and creative scientist, able to form useful working hypotheses and to analyse data appropriately.

Taught module will focus on how a greater understanding of these processes has created new avenues and targets for the therapeutic intervention for many human diseases.

 

Download Course Leaflet (PDF)

Aims

The 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 become an independent and creative scientist.

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.

Enquiries

Dr Chris Parris
Senior Lecturer and Recruitment Officer
Biosciences
School of Health Sciences and Social Care
Email biosciences@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 266293
Web Biosciences subject pages

Related Courses

• Molecular Medicine MSc

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.

Course Content

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.

You will take a Research Planning module to develop skills required for your dissertation. You will then study a unique Research Dissertation module 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.

Typical Modules (all 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; methodology 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.

Course Structure

Full Time

Autumn term	Credits	Spring term	Credits
Research Planning	15	Research Dissertation	75
The Biology, Genetics and Treatment of Human Cancer	30	Cytogenetics and Cancer	15
Genomic Technologies and Cancer	15	Intracellular Signalling and Cancer	30

Part Time Year 1

Autumn term	Credits	Spring term	Credits
Research Planning	15	Research Dissertation (start research dissertation)	75
The Biology, Genetics and Treatment of Human Cancer	30	Cytogenetics and Cancer	1

Part Time Year 2

Autumn term	Credits	Spring term	Credits
Genomic Technologies and Cancer	15	Intracellular Signalling and Cancer	30
Complete Research Dissertation

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.

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.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £7,000 full-time; £3,500 part-time

International students: £15,000 full-time; £7,500 part-time

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry 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.

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.