Masters | Postgraduate Course - Translational Medicine: Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine MRes, PG Cert Course Details within University of Manchester

MRes/PgCert (MRes 12 months full-time)

Translational Medicine is driven by the objective of improving clinical outcomes from molecular and cellular discoveries – to the benefit of the patient. Enhancing ‘bench-to-bedside’ research encourages faster throughput of basic science to applied clinical care and is therefore of critical importance to the development of healthcare delivery.

The MRes in Translational Medicine (MRes TM) is designed to encourage a focused group of high-calibre science and medical students into the field of translational medicine. The growth in importance of translational medicine as a branch of medical science has been significant in recent years as efforts to connect basic research with patient care have multiplied. Across the healthcare industry translational medicine is pivotal to the advancement of emerging therapies relating to improved pharmaceutical targeting, biomedical technologies and integration with clinical trials.

The aim is to improve and accelerate bench-to-bedside research, i.e. research that reduces the timeframe between emerging molecular, genetic and cellular discoveries and their application to the patient. As biotechnology becomes more sophisticated the scope exists to improve not only the targeting of medications, but their delivery and outcome prediction. To achieve this, a multitude of systems biology skills are required, including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics.

The MRes involves three compulsory components:

• Graduate Training Programme (GTP): Induction to the University, basic research methods and transferable skills.

• Course Units: Structured taught elements covering core systems biology methods/techniques and then options of either (a) interdisciplinary molecular medicine or (b) pharmaceutical translational medicine.

• Research Placements: Two placements, including a journal club, progress reports and a final dissertation presented in the form of a scientific poster and journal article.

The MRes is research intensive and therefore 75% of the course provides independent research opportunities within an appropriate research group. Students will be matched to a research group according to their core research interests and provided with subject-specific training alongside the transferable skills available at Faculty level. Students will join research teams led by renowned field experts from the biosciences and trained in current research practices using state-of-the-art equipment and analysis tools.

Laboratory experience is gained through two research placements, one lasting 15 weeks, the other 20 weeks with the option of either a university or industrial setting. The intention is that students remain in the same research group for both placements, providing the scope to become an integrated part of the team and gradually increasing the depth and complexity of research. Each project is formally summarised separately and assessed throughout the year.

The option is available for the placements to be set within an academic setting, such as the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre or an industrial setting, including Astra Zeneca, depending on the career aspirations of the student. Assessment is through presentations, group participation, written reports and a dissertation.

It is expected that graduates on the MRes programme will progress into PhD research within the biosciences or leading industrial positions with major biomedical and pharmaceutical enterprises.

AstraZeneca sponsored fee bursaries are available for UK/EU applicants seeking September 2010 entry - please visit the MRes website for further details or contact Dr Philip Padfield at philip.v.padfield@manchester.ac.uk

Further information is available on the MRes website(s).

http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/mres/TMPharmCancerMRes/

http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/mres/TMInterMolecMRes/

A Certificate option for the Translational Medicine course is also available. Further information can be found at:

http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/TMPharmCancerPGCert/

http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/TMInterMolecPGCert/

There are four core course units:

1. Research design and implementation
2. Quantitative technologies for Translational Medicine
3. Data analysis
4. Delivering a Translational Medicine strategy in a matrix structure

Following successful completion of the core units, there is the option to specialise in either:

• Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine
• Pharmaceutical Translational Medicine

Option A: Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine

5A: Genetics, genetic epidemiology and genomics

6A: Transcriptomics and functional genomics

7A: Proteomics

8A: Metabolomics

Option B: Pharmaceutical Translational Medicine

5B: Assembling a pre-clinical strategy for a new candidate drug

6B: Assembling an early clinical strategy for a new candidate drug

7B: Assembling a Translational Medicine strategy for a new anti-cancer drug

8B: Pharmaceutical Translational Medicine: putting it all together

Applicants should normally possess a degree (usually minimum 2:2) in either a biological subject (e.g. biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology etc) or in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine from a recognised university. Flexibility on entrance requirements will be applied to candidates with proven appropriate extensive research or professional experience.

Candidates on the undergraduate medical programme must have satisfactorily completed years 1-4 of the MBChB with no failure at any examination. For St Andrews students this includes their 3 year degree programme and the following 2 years spent in Manchester (years 3 and 4 of the Manchester programme).

Students with evidence of previous advanced study, research or professional experience may be accepted by the university as qualification for entry.

AstraZeneca sponsored fee bursaries are available for UK/EU applicants seeking September 2010 entry - please visit the MRes website for further details or contact Dr Philip Padfield at philip.v.padfield@manchester.ac.uk

The MRes in Translational Medicine (MRes TM) is designed to encourage a focused group of high-calibre science and medical students into the field of translational medicine. The growth in importance of translational medicine as a branch of medical science has been significant in recent years as efforts to connect basic research with patient care have multiplied. Across the healthcare industry translational medicine is pivotal to the advancement of emerging therapies relating to improved pharmaceutical targeting, biomedical technologies and integration with clinical trials.

Students are assessed through presentations, group participation and written reports.

This course will appeal to focused, high-calibre science and intercalating medical students, who want to pursue a career in Translational Medicine at the interface of the biomedical sciences.

Many students will progress into PhD research within the biosciences, a career in academic medicine or take up positions with leading pharmaceutical or biomedical companies.

Applications are welcomed at any stage although early application is encouraged.

FTE Category A Staff Submitted 4* 3* 2* 1* U/C
39.13 10% 60% 30% 0% 0%