Teaching Responsibility

LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:

Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences

Learning Methods

Lecture

Practical

Workshop

Module Offerings

7105BSBMOL-JAN-CTY

Aims

To provide an overview of the application of techniques to disease diagnosis and therapeutic modulation.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate a reflective understanding of molecular and imaging techniques to aid disease diagnosis.
2.
Interpret and evaluate practical data.
3.
Critically evaluate the literature on ‘omics’ technologies and research techniques.
4.
Develop an appreciation of improving outcomes through a personalised medicine approach via targeted and personalised interventions.

Module Content

Outline Syllabus:Lectures: The module provides a critical appreciation of the techniques used to help identify and monitor disease and therapeutics. Topics to include: • Translational mass spectrometry – using extreme deep phenotyping (proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics) for the elucidation of disease mechanisms, novel biomarker discovery, the discovery of novel drug targets, evaluation of new therapeutics and to develop new test e.g. development of anti-diabetic medicines derived by proteomics. • Molecular diagnosis and treatment stratification for clinically important diseases such as cancer and HIV. • Molecular diagnostics for therapeutic drug monitoring (Warfarin, Abacavir etc.). Practicals: Characterisation of novel biomarkers by protein analyses. The practical sessions will involve the use of proteomics technologies (western blot analyses and mass spectrometry data) to identify and characterise novel biomarkers. These studies will explore how changes in protein expression related to disease diagnosis and progression can identify possible areas for therapeutic intervention and novel drug-targets. Students will be expected to research the literature and analyse global shotgun proteomic data to identify potential novel biomarkers, which they will further validate through gel electrophoresis. Determination of drug metabolising gene expression. The practical sessions will involve the use of RNA analyses (QRTPCR) to characterise cytochrome P450 gene expression to determine if the student is a poor or rapid metaboliser. These studies will explore how expression of different drug metabolising enzymes impacts therapeutic drug use and how this can be used to prevent adverse drug reactions. Students will be expected to research the literature, isolate and quantify RNA and analyse gene expression data. Workshops The workshops will focus on group discussions involving data interpretation/analysis and scientific communication.
Module Overview:
This module aims to provide an overview of the application of techniques to disease diagnosis and therapeutic modulation. To appreciate that a personalised medicine approach can improve patient outcomes via targeted and personalised interventions.
Additional Information:This module aims to give students an appreciation of current advances in disease diagnosis and therapeutics, including a personalised medicine approach.

Assessments

Centralised Exam

Report