Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research

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This exciting Masters programme aims to provide specialist theoretical and practical knowledge in molecular and cellular genetics for the study of human disease in the context of the scientific and clinical problem of human cancer.

If focuses on the development of research skills in medical genetics and human diseases, and is designed to enable you to develop the ability to become an independent and creative scientist, able to form useful working hypotheses and to analyse data appropriately.

Taught module will focus on how a greater understanding of these processes has created new avenues and targets for the therapeutic intervention for many human diseases.

Aims

The course aims to provide you with specialist theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of cellular, molecular biology and genetics, and their application to the study of human diseases in the context to the scientific and clinical problem of human cancer. The course will focus on developing research skills and is designed to enable you to become an independent and creative scientist.

Through our enthusiastic, innovative and research-driven approach, the teaching on this course reflects the fast changing nature of biomedical research, with specific emphasis to human genome, molecular medicine and cancer research.

Careers

Our graduates will be highly skilled in a variety of research methodologies and will be equipped for a range of career opportunities. These could include health-related professions; pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries, PhD study or research assistantships in cancer and genomic research.

The course is offered on a one-year full-time basis, taught over three terms, or on a two-year part-time basis, taught over six terms.

You will complete six modules in total. Four modules will each be taught over a two-week period in a block mode. These taught modules will not run concurrently allowing you to focus on one module at a time and will help promote better time management skills. All lecture material will be available via Vista and will be accessible from your home computer.

You will take a Research Planning module to develop skills required for your dissertation. You will then study a unique Research Dissertation module over a 9 month (full-time) or 18 month (part-time) period, to allow you to conduct a detailed investigation into a research question of your choice. If in full-time employment, and attending the course on part-time mode, it may be possible to conduct the research dissertation at the workplace.

Typical Modules (all core)Research Planning (15 credits)

This module aims to develop knowledge and critical awareness of various research methods and appropriate methods of data analysis. You will enhance your skills of designing and evaluating research studies and data presentation.

Cytogenetics and Cancer (15 credits)

This module will teach up-to-date practical technologies, methodologies and skills used in clinical cytogenetics for the diagnosis of cancer.

Main topics of study: prenatal, postnatal and acquired chromosomal abnormalities; clinical sample type and referral reasons; karyotyping; genetic counselling and ethical issues; ethics associated with genomic studies; methodology of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH); diagnostic applications of FISH; other molecular techniques used in clinical cytogenetics and diagnosis including multi-colour FISH, Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (CGH), Microarray CGH; modern day light and fluorescence microscopy; digital imaging; fluorescence image analysis; FISH data analysis.

Genomic Technologies and Cancer Research (15 credits)

This module aims to provide an understanding of the modern biotechnology in functional genomics and cancer biology.

Main topics of study include: general knowledge of genomic and proteomic technology; microarrary technology; transgenic technology; drug discovery technology; RNA interference technology.

The Biology, Genetics and Treatment of Human Cancer (30 credits)

This module aims to provide a detailed understanding of cancer to include the epidemiology and causes of cancer, diagnosis and treatment. The module will provide detailed information of the genetic basis of cancer and demonstrate how the genome project has led to novel treatments for the disease.

Main topics of study: the multistage nature of cancer; oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes and specific metabolic pathways; epidemiology of cancer; principles of cancer diagnosis; basic methods of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery; the role of translational research in cancer genetics and therapy development of new therapies; the causes, genetics and treatment of breast, colon and melanoma as specific models.

Intracellular Signalling and Cancer (30 credits)

This module aims to provide an understanding of the principles and current knowledge of the cellular signalling pathways that are misregulated in human cancers. Attention will be given to how knowledge of these signalling pathways and their targets can be used in therapeutic intervention in human cancer.

Signalling pathways resulting from activation of membrane, intracellular or nuclear receptors including G-Protein coupled receptor signalling; Wnt signalling; JAK/STAT signalling and cytokine signalling; Steroid signalling

Research Dissertation (75 credits)

The dissertation allows you to undertake an in-depth study from a choice of research topics and will normally be associated with one of the research centres within Biosciences. If in full-time employment, and attending the course on part-time mode, it may be possible to conduct the research dissertation at the workplace.

A recent UK first or second class Honours degree in the field of Biosciences. Other qualifications including equivalent internationally recognised qualification or relevant experience from health professionals (eg doctors; nurses; MLSOs) will be assessed on an individual basis and a request for completion of an online biological test in molecular and cell biology may be required.Entry criteria is subject to change.English Language Requirements * IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas) * Pearson: 51 (51 in all subscores) * BrunELT: 60% (min 55% in all areas)Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.Our International Pathways and Language Centre offers a range of foundation and pre-masters courses to provide you with the academic skills required for your chosen course. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.