Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases – (M.Sc.)

This course aims to provide a thorough understanding and practical experience of molecular biology as it applies to infectious agents, particularly those that cause global health problems and problems in developing countries. It covers the application of molecular biology to studying all aspects of the agents, including their taxonomy, diagnosis, epidemiology and chemotherapy.

It aims to equip students with the specialised knowledge and skills necessary for a research career or, increasingly, commercial or management careers that demand knowledge of molecular biology.

Many graduates enter PhD programmes, become academic, hospital-based or industrial research assistants, or work for molecular biology companies.

The Ralph Neal Memorial Prize is awarded to the best student of the year. This prize was founded in memory of Dr Ralph Neal, a distinguished research worker who died in 1990 in tragic circumstances.

Objectives

By the end of this course students should be able to: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles underlying a wide range of molecular biological techniques and apply these techniques in practice; demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills in the areas of gene cloning, DNA sequencing, bioinformatics and studies of gene function; devise and critically assess molecular biological approaches to fundamental research, taxonomic studies, production of DNA probes and epidemiological tools, analysis of chemotherapeutic targets and vaccine development, and develop skills for further independent learning in the context of the molecular biology of infectious diseases.