Program Overview

Introduction to Real World Data in Cancer Clinical Research - Module BM6053

Brief Description

The purpose of this module is to upskill professionals who interact, manage, curate, or analyse cancer electronic health data and/or are engaged in cancer real-world evidence research. Real-world data describes health data collected outside of randomised controlled trials, typically as part of routine clinical practice. If analysed appropriately, real-world data can generate real-world evidence, which can offer insights into disease and the benefits and risks of therapeutic interventions as observed in a real-life environment.

Course Details

• Course Code(s): BM6053
• Available: Part-Time
• Intake: Summer
• Course Start Date: Summer 2026
• Duration: 6 Weeks
• Award: University Certificate of Study
• Faculty: Education and Health Sciences
• Course Type: Professional/Flexible

Fees

• 900 for EU and Non-EU students
• Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office.

Programme Content

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Critically assess secondary use of cancer data for research.
• Evaluate existing and emerging international clinical data standards for secondary use and analysis of cancer data, the use of vocabularies, ontologies, and organisations that govern data standards.
• Critically evaluate research use of cancer health data, differentiating data use in clinical practice, emerging cancer clinical trial designs, and real-world evidence research.
• Recommend strategies and best practices in secure sharing data for secondary analysis.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of emerging literature on the secondary use of cancer patient healthcare imaging, genetic, or genomics data and write a report that communicates these data and interprets the findings.
• Display a professional commitment to ethical data practice.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the pace of technological and computational research advances in cancer and gain an insight into the potential risks and benefits of federated data sharing and analysis.
• Present a patient record as it might be presented to a molecular tumour board.

Assessment

There is no final exam for this module. Students will be assessed through continuous skill-based assignments.

Weekly Time Commitment

12 hours

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have a minimum Level 8 honours degree, at minimum second-class honours (NFQ or other internationally recognised equivalent) in a clinical, healthcare, science, or computing or related discipline, or a minimum of 5 years relevant professional experience in healthcare informatics or related setting.

Other Funding

Find further information on funding and scholarships.