Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Workshop | 2 x 2 Hour Workshops |
| Lecture | 30 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Workshop | 1 x 3 Hour Workshop |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 3 Hours | 60% |
| Semester Assessment | Workshop/practical report (1000 words maximum plus appropriate figures) | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Case study - group work (c3000 words - at discretion of students, meeting minutes and peer effort assessment) | 20% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 40% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Discuss the biochemistry and the molecular biology of human disease.
2. Discuss the pharmacological options for treating specific diseases and the mechanisms by which these treatments work.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the issues involved in developing and/or testing drugs intended for human use.
4. Analyse and present experimental results to a professional standard.
5. Supplement and integrate primary sources with the taught material.
Brief description
This module focusses on drugs and their modes of action. The course is built around a framework of clinical conditions and other health and fitness issues, to investigate how drugs work and how they are used. We highlight current medical approaches and consider challenges and the opportunities afforded by new research and technologies.
Content
Following a brief introduction to some key pharmacological principles we will focus on drugs in the context of specific systems in the human body. Diseases of the systems selected will be outlined with a particular focus on the biochemistry and molecular biology of these conditions. Other aspects of the healthy functioning of these systems may also be discussed. Focusing on the molecular biology of health and disease allows us to discuss the latest research in these areas, and the range of illnesses chosen will highlight significant new developments in our understanding of both the disease and its treatment
For each system/disease the pharmacological options will be discussed with an examination of the mechanisms by which the drugs work, the evidence for their efficacy, and the problems associated with their use (and abuse as appropriate). Throughout there will be a significant critical focus on the primary literature so that students encounter real data and understand the limitations and problems of studying drugs intended for humans.
As well as encountering a wealth of experimental data in the lectures, you will also have the opportunity of analyzing relevant data yourselves and developing skills in presenting and discussing the results to a professional level.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Processing, analysis and presentation of experimental or workshop data. |
| Communication | Preparation of professional workshop and case study reports. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | |
| Information Technology | Use of software to analyse and prepare data for presentation. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | |
| Problem solving | Data interpretation for case study . |
| Research skills | Use of online bibliographies and search engines to source literature for practical and case study reports. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Analysis of biochemical and clinical data. |
| Team work | Demonstration of pro-active team membership via production of professional minutes and/or reflection on team contribution. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6