Translational Medicine: Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine, MRes

Contents

Core Course Units:

1. Transferable Skills and Research Methods and Quantitative Technologies
2. Data Analysis and Medical Systems Biology

Option A Course Units:

Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine option comprising:

• Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, Transcriptomics and Functional Genomics
• Proteomics and Metabolomics

Option B Course Units:

Pharmaceutical Translational Medicine Modules comprising:

• Assembling a Pre-Clinical Strategy and an Early Clinical Strategy for a New Candidate Drug
• Assembling a Complete Translational Medicine Strategy for a Candidate Drug

The students' progress through the taught units will be assessed by a combination of verbal presentations, written reports and tutorials.

Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods for Translational Medicine:

As an alternative to the MRes, students who wish to undertake only the taught part of the programme, i.e. two core modules and the two modules for either Option A or B, can apply for entry onto the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods for Translational Medicine programme.

Teaching and learning

The MRes involves two compulsory components:

• Course Units: Structured taught elements covering core units and then options of either (a) Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine or (b) Pharmaceutical Cancer Translational Medicine
• Research Placements: Two placements, including a presentation, progress reports and a final dissertation presented in the form of a scientific poster and journal article

Research placements may be set within an academic setting, such as the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, or an industrial setting, including AstraZeneca, depending on the career aspirations of the student.

Examples of research projects :

• Using silk as a biomaterial for nerve regeneration
• Species variability in metabolism as a translational factor influencing susceptibility to adverse drug reactions in man
• Evaluation of disease-focussed combination strategies in 3D cell culture systems
• Inhibitors of IAPP Aggregation and Toxicity. New Therapies for Type II Diabetes
• Understanding the role of PPARs in formation of the gut barrier
• 3D anatomical reconstruction and molecular mapping of the atrio-ventricular ring tissues in human embryonic heart and adult rat heart
• Influence of Dietary Fats on the Assembly of the TLR4 Immune Surveillance Complex
• Analysis of key Growth Factor and Survival signalling pathways in pre-clinical xenograft models
• Identification of genetic variants predisposing to autoimmune idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Progression and assessment

The MRes employs a wide range of teaching and assessment methods to promote a stimulating, challenging and dynamic environment.

Students are assessed through oral and poster presentations, journal clubs, workshops, literature review, written reports and a dissertation.

The dissertation following the research placements will constitute the majority of the final weighted mark.

Facilities

The MRes is cross-disciplinary and therefore offers research placements across a number of renowned settings within the university and industry, such as the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre or Astra Zeneca .

The MIB is a new purpose-built research centre equipped with state-of-the-art facilities promoting interdisciplinary, challenge-oriented research at the interface of the biosciences.

Students on the MRes would therefore benefit from this unique environment and the wealth of facilities available. In terms of providing young investigators with the opportunity to thrive in interface biosciences the MIB has few equals.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Support Office.

Accreditation

Modules for Continuous Professional Development accredited by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom