Medicine & Therapeutics

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

A degree or equivalent in Medicine, Pharmacy or a relevant science subject.

Overview

Lectures, tutorials and practical classes. Topics - absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs. Human drug metabolism - cytochrome P450. Induction/inhibition of cytochrome P450. Identification of cytochrome P450 at an early stage in drug discovery. Pharmacogenetics of human drug metabolism - implication for drug safety in clinical practice. Mechanisms of drug induced toxicity: reactive metabolites; glutathoine conjugate-mediated toxicity; cytoprotective mechanisms; agents conferring protection against drug toxicity - clinical applications; mechanisms of cell death; apoptosis and necrosis. Target organ toxicity. Toxicology of specified organ systems. Clinical biochemistry of drug toxicity. Pathology of drug toxicity. Haematological indices of drug toxicity.

Structure

2 x 1 hour lectures per week.
2 x lab practicals during weeks 1-2.

Assessment

Continues assessment 50% (essay (15%), practical 1 (10%), practical 2 (15%), presentation (10%); written examination 50%.

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr James McLay

Pre-requisites

A degree or equivalent at the prescribed standard in Medicine, Pharmacy or a relevant science subject.

Overview

Lectures and tutorials. Beta Adrenonreceptor Antagonists, Calcium Channel Antagonists, Lip Lowering Agents, Psychotic Illnesses and their treatment, Depression and its treatment, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/Angiotensin Antagonists, Adverse Drug Reactions, Drug Interactions, Antibiotic Drugs used in the treatment of Asthma, Pharmacy Aspects of Safe Prescribing and Delivery of Drugs, Formulary Management, Drug Delivery Systems, Patient Compliance.

Structure

2x 1 or 1.5 hour lectures per week.
4 tutorials throughout the module.

Assessment

1 written exam (75%)
2 assignments for continuous assessment (25%)

Credit Points

50

Course Coordinator

Dr Janet Kyle

Pre-requisites

The course is restricted to students on the MSc Human Nutrition and Metabolism, MSc Public Health Nutrition, or PG Diploma in Human Nutrition programmes. A second class honours degree or equivalent in biological sciences such as biochemistry, physiology, nutrition or medicine

Overview

Lectures, seminars and practical classes on dietary assessment, macronutrients, energy balance and metabolism, micronutrients, nutritional status and body composition, nutrition throughout the life cycle, and diet and disease

Structure

Approximately ten 1-hour lectures per week. Laboratory practical classes.

Assessment

Two 2 hour examinations (70%) and continuous assessment (30%)

Credit Points

0

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

A degree or equivalent qualification, at the prescribed standard in Medicine, Pharmacy or relevant Science subject (eg. Biochemistry, Biology, or Pharmacy).

Overview

Lectures, Basic Laboratory Techniques, Library Facilities and how to use them, Working in Teams.

Structure

1x 2-hour lecture once every two weeks.

Assessment

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

Overview of receptor pharmacology
Cellular communication
Basic Immunology, immunopharmacology
Drug targeting and gene therapy
Cancer biology, chemotherapy, chemoprevention and drug resistance
Molecular carcinogenesis
Clinical indices of malignancy
Clinical therapy

Structure

3 x 1 hour lecture per week; 3 x tutorials; 1 x practical class

Assessment

1 formative essay, 1 practical report (10%), 1 essay, 1 x 1.5 hour written examination (65%)

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Professor Gabrielle Hawksworth

Pre-requisites

IIi Honours degree in relevant discipline or MBChB

Overview

Human drug metabolism, induction/inhibition of metabolism, pharmacogenetics, molecular mechanisms of drug-induced toxicity, developmental toxicology, immunotoxicology, neurotoxicology, risk assessment, regulation of pharmaceuticals/pesticides, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, discovery toxicology, biomarkers in pre-clinical toxicology.

Structure

3/4 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour tutorial per week; 3 all-day practicals.

Assessment

1 two-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

5

Course Coordinator

Dr J S McLay

Pre-requisites

MBChB or good Honours degree in Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Biochemistry or a related discipline.

Overview

Aspects described above for selected drug groups e.g. beta adrenoceptor antagonists, Ca channel antagonists, lip lowering drugs.
Adverse drug reactions.
Drug interactions.
Drug delivery systems.

Structure

Oral presentations by students to peers with supporting summaries and references collated and distributed by lecturer.

Assessment

1.5 hour written examination (75%); continuous assessment essay (25%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

Basics of receptors, cancer biology and therapy, immunology, drug development and discovery, molecular biology, cancer treatment, cell signalling.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, 4 tutorials, 1 six-hour practical class

Assessment

1 two-hour written examination, 1 presentation, 1 practical report, 1 formative essay, 1 essay

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Georgina Hold

Pre-requisites

MBChB or equivalent and acceptance onto the Aberdeen Academic Foundation Program.

Overview

The content will cover a theoretical and evidence-based background to generic research skills within the context of clinical research. Taught by a multi-disciplinary team from the College of Life Sciences and Medicine, specific topics to be covered include:
- Epidemiology
- Data handling and statistics
- Questionnaire design
- Literature search strategies
- Critical review
- The role of ethics
- Scientific writing skills

Structure

Teaching for this course will be delivered in 2 parts. The first part of the course teaching will be provided through a taught research course which will be held in September/October 2010 (dates to be confirmed). This is a 3-day full-time course containing six 3-hour workshops (2 per day) comprising small group teaching and interactive learning. The workshops will cover ethics and good clinical practice training, scientific writing and how to prepare fundable grant applications. There will also be a workshop on critical review. Coursework relating to this taught course will be due in by 21 December 2010. However, a second critical review assignment comprising tutorials and additional coursework will be instigated in January 2011 and completed by end of February 2011.

The second part of the course will be provided through a taught research course which will be held in March 2011 (date to be confirmed). The workshops will cover epidemiology, data handling and statistics, questionnaire design and literature search strategies. This is a 1-week full-time course containing ten 3-hour workshops (2 per day) comprising lectures, small group work and interactive sessions, with coursework due in by 10 June 2011.

Participants are expected to draw on and share their personal experiences of the topics covered and small group activities will be a prominent feature of this course. Formal lectures will be used to introduce new material, but these will be complemented by focussed discussion, practical exercises and group work.

Assessment

Assessment will comprise preparation of research protocol for taught research course (20%), continuous assessment (60%) and oral presentation (20%). The continuous assessment marking will comprise:
1. Scientific writing assessment (10%)
2. Critical appraisal (20%)
3. Data handling assignment (20%)
4. Library based literature searching assessment (10%)

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr Julie Crockett

Pre-requisites

MBChB or equivalent and acceptance onto the Aberdeen Academic Foundation Program.

Overview

The content will cover a theoretical and evidence-based background to bench to bedside practical research skills. This will be followed by practical demonstrations of laboratory techniques and then students will undertake sample analysis using the various laboratory approaches in order to identify a series of 'patient' samples. This set of samples will have been generated by the course organiser and do not reflect genuine patient samples - there are no ethical considerations. Once laboratory analysis is complete, students will prepare reports summarising their findings. Taught by a multi-disciplinary team from the College of Life Sciences & Medicine, specific topics to be covered include:
- Laboratory safety
- Laboratory note keeping
- Practical demonstration of microbiology and molecular biological techniques
- Performing of the microbiology and molecular biological techniques by all students
- Data handling/results assimilation
- Scientific writing skills
- Scientific presentation skills

Structure

Teaching for this course will be delivered in 2 parts. The first part of the course teaching will be provided through a practical course which will be held in October 2010 (date to be confirmed). This is a 2-day full-time course containing three 3-hour laboratory sessions (two on day 1 and one in the morning of day 2) comprising small group teaching and interactive learning within the laboratory. The laboratory sessions will cover safety, effective note keeping, demonstrations of the various laboratory techniques within the course, performing of the techniques by the students and assessment of the laboratory findings. There will also be a tutorial in the afternoon of day 2 in which students will present their findings to a panel of senior academics. Coursework relating to this laboratory course (written summary and laboratory note books) will be due in by 21 December 2010.

The second part of the course will be provided in February 2011 (date to be confirmed). The second part will aim to build on the teaching undertaken in the first course and will provide training in different laboratory techniques. This is also a 2-day full-time course containing three 3-hour laboratory sessions (two on day 1 and one in the morning of day 2) comprising small group teaching and interactive learning within the laboratory. The laboratory sessions will cover safety, effective note keeping, demonstrations of the various laboratory techniques within the course, performing of the techniques by the students, assessment of the laboratory findings. There will also be a tutorial in the afternoon of day 2 in which students will present their findings to a panel of senior academics. Coursework relating to this laboratory course (written summary and laboratory note books) will be due in by end of March 2011.

Small group working and critical evaluation of the literature will be a prominent feature of this module. Practical demonstrations will be used to familiarise the students with various laboratory techniques, which they will perform independently (under supervision) on a series of samples. Once completed the students will be required to work within their groups to collate the laboratory data, compare it with the provided clinical observations and discuss between themselves and refer to the literature in order to define suggested clinical management. Once complete, each group will be expected to present the patient scenarios and individually prepare a written summary of each course.

Assessment

Assessment will comprise laboratory notebook keeping (10%), written summary (course 1 - 35%), written summary (course 2 - 35%) and oral presentation (20%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Paul Lochhead

Pre-requisites

MBChB or equivalent. Acceptance onto the Aberdeen Academic Foundation Program.
PgCert Medical Research Skills courses 1 and 2.

Overview

1 clinical audit
1 peer reviewed article (for example scientific review or case report)
The content and structure will vary depending on the clinical speciality in which the student is training.

Structure

All PgCert students are allocated clinical academic mentors at the beginning of the course. It is these academic mentors who will oversee the successful completion of this module. Over the course of the PgCert second year, opportunities to undertake the various aspects of this module will be identified and instigated. It is expected that in year 2, students will undertaken 1 clinical audit and write 1 peer reviewed article.

Assessment

Assessment will comprise:
- Clinical audit assessment (30%)
- Peer reviewed article (70%)

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather M Wallace

Pre-requisites

A degree or equivalent qualification in Medicine, Pharmacy or relevant Science subject.

Overview

Lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes. Receptor pharmacology, immunopharmacology, cancer biology, molecular carcinogenesis, chemotherapy and ethics.

Structure

3 x 1 hour lectures per week.
1 tutorial or seminar per week.
1 lab practical throughout the course.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (data handling practical, a multiple choice questionaire, cell culture practical, 3000 word essay (50%)); written exam (50%).

Credit Points

5

Course Coordinator

Dr MJ MacLeod

Pre-requisites

A degree or equivalent qualification, at the prescribed standard in Medicine, Pharmacy or a relevant Science subject (eg. Biochemistry, Biology or Pharmacy)

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The 1 week course will comprise lectures, tutorials and seminars. The curriculum will provide an in-depth look at pharmacovigilance using examples from both first and third world countries and will include detection of adverse drug reactions; causality assessment; prevention of adverse drug reactions including correct prescribing, prevention of drug errors and promotion of rational drug use; and communication of risk-benefit information to the general public.

Structure

5 x 1 hour lectures
5 tutorials/seminars

Assessment

1 assignment for continuous assessment (100%)

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr James McLay

Pre-requisites

A degree or equivalent qualification at the prescribed standard in Medicine, Pharmacy or a relevant Science subject.

Overview

Impact or particular disease states with reference to the pathophysiology, epidemiology, economic cost and current drugs available. Rationale for further drug development and clinical trials. End point measurements. Drug trial design. Critical analysis of 'key' publications on the treatment of disease. Clinical guidelines. Selecting a limited list of medicines. Pharmacovigilance. Ethics. Development of a new medicinal compound from pharmacology to pharmaceutical product.

Structure

2 x 1.5 hour lectures per week.
4 tutorials throughout week 15-22.

Assessment

2 written exam paper (60%)
3 assignments for continuous assessment (40%)

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Prof Gay M. Hawksworth

Pre-requisites

A degree or equivalent qualification, at the prescribed standard in Medicine, Pharmacy or a relevant Science subject.

Overview

Topics - Pharmacokinetic Principles, Applied Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Relevance of Pharmacokinetics, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Clinical Applications of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacokinetics of Asprin (Practical).

Structure

3 x 1 hour lectures per week.
2 tutorials during the module.
1 lab practical during the module.

Assessment

1 written exam (80%)
1 assignment for continuous assessment (20%)

Credit Points

5

Course Coordinator

Dr David Williams and Professor John Webster

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

Content will be dictated by the delivery of course material by available lecturers. The content would be broadly based on The Therapeutic aspects of Hypertension, stroke and Cardiovascular medicine. A clear line between the development of drugs in this therapeutic field and assessment of their safety will be emphasised.

Structure

7 one-hour lectures/tutorials (to be arranged).

Assessment

Continuous assessment essay/report (100%).

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Professor Gabrielle Hawksworth

Pre-requisites

First Class Honours degree in relevant discipline or MBChB.

Overview

Introduction to pharmacokinetics, clinical pharmacokinetics, industrial pharmacokinetics, population kinetics, toxicokinetics.
Practical - aspirin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, using human volunteers.

Structure

3/4 one-hour lectures, 1 hour tutorial per week. One 2.5 day practical. Problem solving sessions using WinNonLin.

Assessment

One 2h 20min written exam (allows reading time for paper) (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace and Professor Gabrielle Hawksworth

Pre-requisites

MBChB or good Honours degree in Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Biochemistry or a related discipline.

Overview

Theory of microarray analyses, proteomics, transcriptomics, PCR, protein blotting.
Metabolic profiling.
Key features in the design of a research project.
Basic epidemiology.
Risk assessment in drug development.

Structure

12 x 1-hour lectures and 2 x tutorials, 1 x practical class.

Assessment

100% Continuous assessment: essay (35%); practical (35%); presentation (30%).

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

Successful completion of all courses prescribed to date.

Notes

Overview

Each project is unique and depends on the interests of the student and ongoing research work within the department. All proposed research topics are reviewed before being offered to the students.

Structure

No formal teaching - one to one meetings with supervisor.

Assessment

100 continuous assessment (presentation, thesis and viva).

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather M Wallace

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

Drug discovery, pre clinical toxicology, safety pharmacology

Structure

12 x 1 hour lecture and 2 x 1 hour tutorial

Assessment

Continuous Assessment 100% 1 essay (60%) 4000 words and 1 presentation (40%)

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr H Wallace

Pre-requisites

Degree at 2II or above from an appropriate academic institution in a science discipline. For international students, appropriate level of written and spoken English.

Notes

Overview

The majority of the work carried out will be student directed. Guidance will be given via project supervisors and a series of informal tutorial sessions. Much of the early work will require library research. The students will be provided with a few key references to enable them to begin this task. The early part of the MSc programme will have already equipped the students will all the necessary skills required to tackle hard copy and on-line data and literature retrieval.

Structure

Assessment

100% continuous. A 6500 word extended essay.

Credit Points

25

Course Coordinator

Dr Keith N Stewart

Pre-requisites

Attainment at the appropriate level in the taught courses of the Diploma/MSc Clinical Pharmacology common programme.

Co-requisites

Restricted to students on the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacology Programme.

Overview

Each dissertation is distinct and dependent on the student's interests and the work being pursued by research groups within the department at the time. All proposed dissertations are reviewed by the course coordinators and committee before being offered to the students.

Structure

No formal teaching during the research period. Departmental seminar - 1 hour per week.

Assessment

Thesis (80%)
Defence of Thesis at Viva (20%)

Credit Points

Course Coordinator

Dr Keith N Stewart

Pre-requisites

A Pass in each of the taught courses of the MSc Clinical Pharmacology programme.

Notes

Overview

Each project is distinct and is dependent on the work being pursued by research groups within the department at the time. All projects are reviewed by the course coordinators and committee before it is offered to the students.

Structure

No formal teaching during the research period. Departmental seminar - 1 hour per week.

Assessment

Thesis (60%)
Oral Presentation of Work (20%)
Defence of Thesis at Viva (20%)

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Lindsey Masson

Pre-requisites

This course is restricted to students on the PG Human Nutrition and Metabolism programme. The Human Nutrition core course and the Human Nutrition and Metabolism taught course are pre-requisites.

Overview

Full-time literature review on a topic related to human nutrition chosen by the student in consultation with an appointed supervisor

Structure

Full-time research work as dictated by the specific project.

Assessment

Dissertation 100%

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

A pass in each of the taught courses in the MSc degree programmes for Drug Development and Drug Development and Bio-Business

Overview

Dissertation for candidates taking Postgraduate Diploma in Drug Development and Drug Development with Bio-Business

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

N/A

Notes

Overview

Research Project for Drug Development and Drug Development and Bio-Business MSc

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

70

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

Successful completion of all courses prescribed for MSc in Drug Development and Drug Safety.

Notes

Overview

Each project is unique and depends on the interests of the student and ongoing research work within the department. All proposed dissertation topics are reviewed by the committee before being offered to the students.

Structure

No formal teaching. One-to-one meetings with supervisor.

Assessment

Thesis (100%).

Credit Points

25

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather Wallace

Pre-requisites

Successful completion of MSc courses to date.

Overview

Laboratory based training with supervisor.

Structure

Day-to-day training and supervision with weekly supervisor-student meetings.

Assessment

Laboratory notebook (40%); written report (20%); presentations (20%); laboratory practical skills (20%).