Biomedical Sciences with Integrated Placement Year - U7UBIOSC

In this module, you’ll delve into the intricate cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable communication within the nervous system. You’ll gain a deep understanding of how neurons and glial cells work together to process and transmit biochemical signals, as well as how they interact with target tissues to regulate essential functions. 

Your studies will focus on the molecular and cellular levels, exploring intercellular and intracellular signalling along with the pathways and cascades involved. This detailed examination offers valuable insights into the fundamental processes that underpin nervous system communication, equipping you with a strong foundation in this essential area of neuroscience. 

In this module, you’ll delve into the development and organisation of the nervous system, examining its complexities through comparative studies of invertebrates and vertebrates. You’ll explore evolutionary concepts and analyse the nervous system at molecular, cellular, and organismal levels, gaining insights into how it develops, functions, and supports life. 

The module places a strong focus on the mammalian brain, offering a detailed understanding of its structure and function. Through this comprehensive exploration, you’ll uncover the intricate processes that shape the nervous system and its remarkable adaptations across different species. 

This module offers you a comprehensive introduction to modern biotechnology, covering foundational concepts and the tools used to address biological challenges. You’ll explore how biotechnology contributes to solutions for complex societal issues, including pandemics and vaccine production, biofuel development, food security, and the creation of therapeutics. Alongside this, you’ll engage in discussions about the ethical dilemmas that arise from the use of biotechnology in society.

Laboratory classes will give you hands-on experience in applying biotechnological concepts, reinforcing your understanding of core techniques. This practical approach, combined with in-depth exploration of biotechnology’s applications, equips you with valuable skills and insights into its pivotal role in tackling global challenges.

This module explores the fascinating world of microorganisms, focusing on how bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses survive and thrive as the predominant biomass on Earth. You’ll examine key themes in microbiology, including the discovery and diversity of these organisms, their replication and survival mechanisms, and their ecological roles and interactions. Topics will also cover disease-causing processes such as antibiotic resistance, alongside the beneficial effects of microorganisms, like probiotics and gut microbiota, and their applications in technology and society.

A key feature of the module is its emphasis on experimental techniques, such as genomics, used to study these themes. You’ll also participate in a lab-based practical, applying your knowledge to a specific focus area. This hands-on approach will deepen your understanding of the complex and essential roles microorganisms play in the natural world.

In this module, you’ll examine the intricate connection between human nutrition and physiological function, building on the foundational knowledge from earlier studies. You’ll explore how nutrients shape metabolic processes, influence body systems, and contribute to overall health. This advanced exploration will deepen your understanding of how the body processes and responds to dietary intake and how specific nutrients impact physiological functions. 

You’ll also investigate the role of nutrition in managing health conditions and preventing disease, integrating key concepts from nutrition and physiology. By bridging these areas, the module equips you with the tools to support evidence-based approaches in health and wellness, providing a comprehensive insight into the science behind nutrition’s impact on the human body. 

In this module, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts behind effective drug exposure and the toxicity of drugs and chemicals. You'll learn about the processes that affect the concentration of drugs reaching their targets within the body, such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Additionally, you'll develop basic quantitative skills for estimating and interpreting drug exposure parameters.

The module will also delve into the mechanisms and consequences of drug and non-drug toxicity on various body systems, and how toxicity can be assessed using different methods. Through interactive workshops, case studies, and practical exercises, you'll enhance your analytical and problem-solving skills, preparing you for a career in pharmacology, toxicology, and drug discovery.

In this module, you will explore how drugs are used to manage diseases affecting major body systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, metabolic, infectious and immune-related conditions. You’ll learn how drug actions relate to disease mechanisms and gain insight into how pharmacological strategies are developed and applied in clinical and biomedical settings.

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

• identify key drug classes and explain how they work in relation to specific diseases

• describe drug mechanisms at the molecular level and link them to therapeutic outcomes 

• critically assess scientific literature to draw evidence-based conclusions

You will also engage with materials covering complex health issues such as chronic illness, mental health, eating disorders and life-threatening conditions, building a deeper understanding of the real-world challenges in disease treatment.

In this module, you'll embark on a comprehensive exploration of the protein life cycle, from translation and folding to action and eventual degradation. You'll learn about the diverse roles of proteins, understanding how their structure enables them to function as enzymes, molecular machines, cellular receptors, ion channels, and transporters, which are key targets in pharmacology. Through selected examples, you'll uncover how proteins drive biological processes such as metabolism and signalling, and how disruptions in protein activity can lead to various diseases.

You'll delve into proteins as therapeutic targets, investigating drug-protein interactions and the use of proteins as industrial tools and therapeutic agents. By the end of this module, you'll grasp the core principles of protein science and understand how these principles underpin vital biological processes. This module will equip you with the knowledge to appreciate the significance of proteins in health and disease, and their applications in biotechnology and medicine.

This module will bring students up to date with the latest technological developments in molecular biology. We will discuss the impact of these technologies on scientific research and development, examining how scientists use these technologies to answer complex problems in biomedical sciences. A focus throughout will be on how the methods are applied and how the resulting data are analysed and interpreted.

This module delves into the transformative intersection of biology, data science, and computational techniques, showcasing how big data is reshaping modern biological research. You’ll explore the principles of bioinformatics and computational biology, learning how to analyse large-scale biological datasets using cutting-edge tools and algorithms. Key topics include data mining, machine learning applications in biology, and effective data visualisation methods.

In addition, the module addresses the ethical considerations of working with biological data, fostering a critical understanding of this rapidly evolving field. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, you’ll develop essential skills for navigating the complex world of biological big data.

In this module, you’ll examine the extensive ways human activities impact the environment and affect species health on a global scale. You’ll explore the distribution and biological effects of pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and microplastics. The module also investigates how habitat loss and human-wildlife interactions influence pathogen transmission, gut microbiome dynamics, and parasitic infestations, offering insights into the ecological consequences of anthropogenic changes.

You’ll delve into additional topics like the effects of natural toxins, volatile compounds, and climate-driven habitat shifts. Through case studies and critical discussions, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how human actions disrupt ecosystems and biological health, equipping you with the knowledge to address these pressing environmental challenges.

This module enables you to apply pharmacology, neuroscience and biochemistry to the process of drug discovery and development. You'll learn the drug discovery process, including an overview of the drug discovery/drug development process, target identification, high-throughput screening, target validation, safety pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics, linking through to clinical trials.

This will be linked to future/novel targets in cardiovascular disease, obesity, immune diseases, cancer, respiratory disease, and neurological disorders, for example. You'll gain an understanding of the impact of disease on pharmacokinetic aspects of drugs and how the pathophysiology of diseases can lead to new therapeutic targets. You'll also learn how to interpret in vivo drug data and determine human dose prediction. 

In this module, you’ll explore the biological processes of ageing and disease, and their impacts on human physiology, disease, and frailty.

Delve into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of ageing and their effects on whole body function, with a focus on age-related diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and liver diseases.

We’ll also investigate the interplay of nutrition and exercise in regulating human metabolism and mitigating disease risks. A key component examines the dual role of exercise and nutrition in influencing disease prevention and progression and serving as therapeutic interventions.

You’ll also have the opportunity to evaluate strategies to promote healthy ageing, and disease prevention and management.

This module explores the principles, applications and advancements in imaging technologies across biological and biomedical sciences. You’ll understand the theoretical knowledge and applications of imaging techniques used in research and industry. Emphasis is placed on critically evaluating the role of imaging in advancing our understanding of life sciences.

In this module, you'll delve into the intersection of anatomical sciences and innovative technologies, designed specifically for third-year students. You'll deepen your understanding of human anatomy while developing expertise in the use of cutting-edge tools and techniques. This module will provide you with a comprehensive overview of anatomical structures and functions, integrating advanced technological methods to enhance your learning experience.

By exploring the latest advancements in imaging and diagnostic technologies, you'll gain practical skills in applying these tools to anatomical studies. You'll learn how innovative technologies can be used to investigate and understand complex anatomical systems, preparing you for a career in medical research, healthcare, or related fields. This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to leverage modern technologies in the study of human anatomy.

This module explores advanced aspects of pathogen-host interactions, and how we can combat diseases through medical interventions.

You will learn the principles of vaccinology to prevent infection or disease and explore different therapies, including antibiotic alternatives, to treat bacterial infection.

We’ll deep dive into specific examples of pathogens from different groups of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and/or fungi that pose a significant threat today will be considered alongside vaccines and therapies, including their limitations and potential new solutions.

You’ll explore significant societal issues of physical activity, physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour, and its relation to health and chronic disease. This will include an epidemiological understanding between physical inactivity, health and disease, along with mechanistic insight into the effects of inactivity and sedentary behaviour.

You’ll also cover the psychological determinants of exercise and health in different populations. We’ll use psychological theories and to discuss health promotion and adherence, the relationship between physical activity, mental health and well-being, and evaluation of psychological interventions and public health programmes.

In this module, you'll integrate the scientific knowledge you've acquired throughout your degree, focusing on how this knowledge informs policy decisions and shapes societal outcomes through effective public engagement. You'll explore the intersection of science and policy, learning how to communicate complex scientific concepts to various stakeholders to foster positive societal impacts.

The module aims to further develop your transferable skills, including critical thinking, reflection, and presentation to both lay and professional audiences. You'll enhance your communication and teamwork abilities, learning to effectively convey scientific knowledge to different stakeholders. By the end of the module, you'll be well-equipped to use your scientific expertise to influence policy and engage with the public meaningfully.

This module examines the transformative power of genomics and its real-world applications, from revolutionising medicine and disease tracking to advancing conservation and evolutionary biology. You’ll explore how genomic technologies offer insights into healthcare innovation and trace the origins of species, shedding light on processes such as adaptation, speciation, and their relevance to modern populations.

The module also highlights the pivotal role of genomics in conservation, showing how genetic data helps monitor biodiversity, protect endangered species, and support ecosystem restoration. By connecting these diverse topics, the module demonstrates how genomics addresses critical challenges in human health, environmental conservation, and industrial applications, providing a holistic view of its impact across multiple fields.

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This module delves into advanced concepts of tumourigenesis and tumour progression, providing insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind tumour development. You’ll explore the multistep nature of tumour progression, its divergence from normal biological development, and key topics such as tumour immunology, tumour evolution, and the tumour microenvironment.

The module places a strong emphasis on cancer research, highlighting how understanding the fundamentals of cancer biology contributes to the creation of innovative therapies. You’ll also examine the biochemical foundations of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, offering a comprehensive view of how cutting-edge science drives advancements in cancer care.

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