Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

This course will enable students to develop a critical understanding of the development, validation and use of biomarkers in medical research. Students will explore the practical issues in the use of biomarkers and the translational value for disease prevention or clinical management of disease.

This course will be delivered over a 5 week block with ca.5 hours of seminars/practical classes per week.

None

None

None

Written Assignment 80%

The student will be asked to provide a written assignment comprising of an in depth review (with evidence tables and critical appraisal) of the methodologies and experimental designs used in translational studies of biomarkers.

Reflective Notebook 20%

The student will also be asked to produce a reflective notebook based on attendance and participation in seminars and labs.

This course aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the development, validation and use of biomarkers in biomedical research; with particular emphasis on the practical issues and translational value for disease prevention or clinical management of diseases.

The course also aims to develop the students' proficiency in the analysis and critical evaluation of the data in the literature in different subject areas allied to clinical medicine.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically discuss the choice of biomarker for a defined biomedical research question and appraise practical issues relative to measurement in biological samples.

2. Critically evaluate the research data in the literature that rely on the use of biomarkers, with emphasis on the evaluation of the translational value of the findings.

3. Critically appraise the literature to determine key steps in the choice, development, validation and implementation of biomarkers in biomedical research.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.