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BMedSci Molecular Therapeutics

This pathway through the popular BMedSci programme provides students with the opportunity to specialise in pharmacology and therapeutics to first degree level as an adjunct to their medical studies and a preparation for a potential future career in academic medicine.

The field of clinical therapeutics is becoming increasingly scientific, molecular and mechanistic in approach with new therapies based upon strategic intervention in well-defined biological pathways. Practitioners and researchers therefore require increasingly specialist knowledge in molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and chemistry.

This one year intercalated degree will provide a framework of expertise in this discipline and practical experience in clinical and basic science laboratory research. Students are able to choose an exciting research project working with international leaders in cardiovascular, clinical pharmacology and inflammation research. 

As a result of their project, significant numbers of our students are able to publish in research journals and present their work at scientific and medical conferences.

Students who undertake core modules in pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology and who take one of the four offered option modules in either clinical pharmacology, inflammation therapeutics, vascular pharmacology or immunology will be eligible to be awarded a BMedSci (Hons.) Molecular Therapeutics degree.

Research Centres within the William Harvey Research Institute have an international research reputation in the field of molecular therapeutics, particularly in the areas of cardiovascular disease and inflammation and you will be encouraged to become fully integrated members of their respective research teams.

Structure and timing

Summary for 2011/12 with unit values and approx dates
1	Molecular Medicine (core unit)	1 unit	Autumn term
2	Bioscience & Biomedical Informatics (core unit)	1 unit	Autumn term
3	Molecular Therapeutics Pharmacology and Toxicology (core unit)	1 unit	Autumn term
4	Clinical Therapeutic Pharmacology and Ethics (core unit)	1 unit	Autumn term
5	Plus one taught option from: Clinical Pharmacology Inflammation  Therapeutics  Vascular Pharmacology Immunology	1 unit	Spring term
6	Project linked to the above taught options	3 units	Spring term

Summary of course units

Required Units

MT1/MM1. Core course unit 1 - Molecular Medicine

Course Organiser: Dr Patsy Munroe

The aim of this module is to teach the rapidly advancing field of molecular medicine. This will include the topics of chromosome structure, gene structure and expression.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of molecular techniques for the analysis of clinical problems such as cardiovascular disease and pre-natal diagnosis. There are a number of laboratory practicals to introduce DNA technologies, etc.

MT2/MM2. Core course unit 2 - Biosciences & BioMedical Informatics

Course Organiser: Prof David Perrett

This module will explore fundamental concepts and methods in the Biosciences, from the dual perspective of the bioanalytical principles and techniques employed and the related methods of statistics and information technology used in data acquisition, statistical analysis and interpretation.

Laboratory and computing practicals link with various aspects of the course. Emphasis will be placed on developing informatics and other computing skills. Additionally, it will be concerned with issues and skills employed in assessing, gathering and communicating biomedical information.

The overall aim is to build a framework of concepts, methods and practical skills, through a balance of teaching and practical work, which will also be applicable directly to the conduct and assessment of ensuing project work.

MT3. Core Course Unit 3 Molecular Therapeutics and Toxicology

Course Organiser: Prof A Johnston
The aim of this module is to teach basic principles of molecular pharmacology with emphasis on current research methods and developments in drug design. Areas covered will include mechanisms of drug action, pharmacokinetics, drug development and testing, receptors, cell signalling and toxicology

MT4. Core Course Unit 4 Clinical Therapeutics & Ethics

1. Clinical Therapeutics (0.6 cu equivalent)
   Course Organiser: Dr Martin Carrier
   
   By the end of the course students will have gained an understanding of recent advances in drug development and use including immunotherapy and gene therapy with particular reference to cardiovascular and bone and joint diseases. Students will also have the opportunity to attend clinics and research seminars and visits to other pharmaceutical organizations are planned.

2. Ethics and Law in Medical Research (0.4 cu equivalent)
   Course Organiser: Prof Nick Goulding and Dr Miran Epstein
   
   This module will explore ethical and legal questions posed by contemporary medical research. Its aims are twofold. First, students will understand the philosophical and historical background to the Helsinki Declaration, along with its relation to statute and case law concerning informed consent. Second, students will be able to apply this understanding to clarifying ethical and legal debates about particular types of medical research, especially those within reproductive medicine, genetics and research on animals.

Optional Units

From 2010-11 we are adding greater flexibility of choice of projects for Molecular Therapeutics students.  You can choose or design your own project and then choose one of the flexible option module teaching programmes in clinical / cardiovascular pharmacology, inflammation therapeutics or immunology on offer during the spring term.

MT5. Clinical Pharmacology

Course Organiser: Professor Shu Ye and Dr Andy Webb , Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Charterhouse Square

The aim of this course is not to cover the whole of clinical pharmacology but will concentrate on those areas in which there have been exciting advances is research over the past few years.

The main areas taught will be human vascular pharmacology, the genetics of cardiovascular disease and the pharmacology of inflammation. Emphasis will be put on the link between basic scientific understanding of disease mechanisms and how this understanding is able to identify new targets for drugs to combat disease.

The following projects were among those undertaken in recent years:

• Nitric Oxide and beetroot juice
• The genetics of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease 

MT6. Inflammation Therapeutics

Course Organisers: Dr Mike Seed and Prof Nick Goulding WHRI, Charterhouse Square

Inflammation is central to many disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases are a major source of disability; for example in rheumatoid arthritis. This module will examine the scope of inflammatory disorders, the causes of inflammation, how to treat it and how it should be assessed both experimentally and clinically.

The principal aim is to understand the mechanisms and treatments of common chronic inflammatory disorders.

The objectives will include: defining the pathogenetic mechanisms; determining the mediators of inflammation; and evaluating how therapeutic intervention can modulate the inflammatory response.

The following projects were among those undertaken by BMedSci students in recent years:

• Capsaicin as an inflammatory adjuvant in the mouth
• Annexin I and antiinflammation
• Methods for protecting chondrocytes and cartilage against damage

MT7. Immunology

Course Organiser: Prof R Mageed, Bone & Joint Research Unit, Charterhouse Square

Students will acquire knowledge in immunology, animal models of disease, immunomodulation in cancer, autoimmune diseases using biologicals and gene therapy approaches.

Experimentally they will learn molecular biology methods including DNA isolation and cloning, cell culture, gene expression, cell signalling, cell transfection, immunological assays such as cell proliferation, ELISA of cytokines and therapeutic genes and use of viral vectors.

MT8. Vascular Pharmacology

Course Organiser: Dr Martin Carrier, WHRI, Charterhouse Square

This option module has not been designed as a comprehensive overview of vascular pharmacology, but rather as an introduction to a number of important areas of pharmacology being actively studies within the William Harvey Research Institute. These include, myocardial infarction, shock, vascular inflammation, diabetic vascular disease, and atherogenesis.

Within these areas the underlying molecular mechanisms will be explored together with an understanding of the research tools used to study them. In each case the application of novel and future therapeutics will be included.

In all cases the emphasis will be on understanding the disease process and how this can be prevented, reversed or cured, using drugs and other therapeutic modalities.