Molecular Medicine MSc

About the Course

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 a variety of human diseases. 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.

 

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Aims

The 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 a variety of human diseases. 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.

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 and molecular medicine.

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

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.

Course Structure

Full Time

Autumn term	Credits	Spring term	Credits
Research Planning	15	Research Dissertation	75
Genome and Molecular Medicine	30	Clinical Cytogenetics	15
Genomic Technologies	15	Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease	30

Part Time Year 1

Autumn term	Credits	Spring term	Credits
Research Planning	15	Research Dissertation (start research dissertation)	75
Genome and Molecular Medicine	30	Clinical Cytogenetics	15

Part Time Year 2

Autumn term	Credits	Spring term	Credits
Genomic Technologies	15	Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease	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 and105 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 mature students 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.