Experimental Medicine MSc drafted draft

The programme is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in experimental medicine, whether it is in academia, clinical practice, industry or government. The MSc in Experimental Medicine will also provide an excellent platform for progression to PhD programmes either in Queen’s or worldwide.

Students will develop a strong fundamental understanding of high quality biomedical research, including experimental design and execution, data management and interpretation, and scientific communication, including publishing, presentation, and use of social media.

The MSc in Experimental Medicine offers comprehensive research training, with access to over 60 research groups in the Wellcome Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine (WWIEM) and state-of-the-art research facilities.

Semester 1

Semester 1 comprises 3 months of intensive teaching, which includes essential and advanced experimental medicine research skills followed by a module on Clinical Translation'.

SCM8145 Fundamental Research Skills in Experimental Medicine – 20 CATS

This module will teach the skills that embed excellence and rigour into the scientific approach to a research question. Active researchers will teach students the core skills of designing and methodological approaches to testing a research hypothesis. Taught elements will include database searches and approach to systematic reviews, basic principles of laboratory and clinical research design, regulatory requirements governing research, public involvement with science, data analysis, presentation, dissemination and communication of science. Students will have the opportunity to undertake additional training in Good Clinical Practice, or training in animal handling procedures for a Home Office personal licence.

SCM8180 Advanced Research Skills in Experimental Medicine – 20 CATS

It provides a detailed theoretical and practical introduction to advanced research skills in Experimental Medicine. This will be a state of the art Module. It will provide a depth of knowledge of the research process and practical skills for the design and conduct of research studies, including data collection and analysis.

Topics, which will be covered in this Module:

• Preclinical Research Experimental Design.

• Advanced human cell culture, including stem cells.

• Advanced Imaging Training such as confocal microscopy.

• Single Cell RNA Sequencing

• Multi-dimensional parameter analysis of cell populations

• Bioinformatics

• Statistics

• Organoids / 3D Culture Systems

• 3D Printing

• Microfluidics

• Proteomics and Metabolomics

Demonstrate knowledge on advanced research skills

Design an experimental plan to investigate a research question.

Describe research methodology used to culture human cells, perform advanced microscopy and flow cytometry.

Explain single cell RNA sequencing data.

Describe uses of organoids/3D culture systems, 3D printing, and microfluidics in research.

Critically evaluate current scientific literature in the field

SCM8181 Experimental Medicine towards Clinical Translation – 20 CATS

It provides detailed theoretical and practical introduction of Experimental Medicine towards clinical translation. It focusses on state-of-the-art methods on the research and clinical translation related to vascular, respiratory and infection/immunity related diseases. Current therapeutic approaches are also covered together with potential future strategies based on cutting edge translational research. The full spectrum of translational experimental medicine is covered from animal and human models of disease through to the design and implementation of clinical trials.

Topics to be covered:

Gene Therapy /CRISP/CAS9

Drug development / repurposing

Stem Cells / Reprogramming- Cell based Therapies

Harnessing the immune system for therapeutics

Pharmacokinetics / Pharmacodynamic studies

Vaccine Development

Developing new ways to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance

Exploiting omics for therapeutics

Harnessing the Microbiome

High throughput drug screening

Biomarker discovery

Commercialisation

Clinical Trials

Demonstrate understanding on state-of-the-art methods on the research and clinical translation related to vascular, respiratory and infection/immunity related diseases.

Discuss vascular, respiratory, immunology and inflammation related disorders, and the current clinical needs and emerging research developments shaping future practice.

Critically evaluate the use of in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo models to support clinical translation.

Explain and critique the therapeutic approach to designing a new intervention (vaccine/therapeutic) or diagnostic tool.

Know and explain basic concepts behind clinical trials

Critically analyse relevant current scientific literature

The remaining period will provide a unique opportunity to focus on an extensive research project chosen from a large panel of projects offered by Principal Investigators in the WWIEM in one of the above themes. This period will be interspersed with monthly training to develop project-specific transferable skills, such as oral and poster presentation, and scientific writing.

Dissertation

You will write up your dissertation during the summer months

ACCREDITATION

You will have an opportunity to obtain a formally accredited certificate of training in good clinical practice (GCP) via the Infection and Immunity module. For those employing animal models as part of their research projects, training leading to a UK Personal Animal License will be provided.

FACILITIES

Students will be taught and mentored within the Wellcome Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine (WWIEM), which is a brand new purpose-built institute (~7,400 m2) at the heart of the Health Sciences Campus. This building represents a significant investment (~£32m) by the University and boasts state-of-the-art research facilities which are supported by the world-leading research-intensive faculty, ensuring that all of our postgraduate students are exposed to a top-quality training experience. In addition, there are also four Core Technology Units, including cutting-edge bioimaging, the latest genomics facilities, mass spectrometry, and state-of-the-art animal handling and disease models.