ADVANCED BLOOD SCIENCE
| SHE Level | 4 |
| SCQF Credit Points | 20.00 |
| ECTS Credit Points | 10.00 |
| Module Code | MHC523568 |
| Module Leader | Mark Williams |
| School | School of Health and Life Sciences |
| Subject | Biological and Biomedical Sciences |
| Trimester |
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Pre-Requisite Knowledge
Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Systematic and Cellular Pathology -720
Summary of Content
This module will provide a multi-disciplinary view of blood science with relevance to specific conditions of the blood, subsequent clinical outcome and bio-markers.
Syllabus
-240 Therapeutic drug monitoring Assay and interpretation of values in on-going drug therapy; identification of agent and treatment in chemical intoxication; drug abuse. Haematology and Transfusion Science Iron deficiency Anaemia, Megaloblastic anaemia; Red cell membrane disorders, Haemolytic anaemias including immune mediated destruction of blood cells and Coagulation disorders. Molecular haemopoiesis including haemopoiesis, differentiation and development, regulation by cytokines, cytokine signalling and oxygen dependent transcriptional regulation of EPO production. Haematological Malignancy Haematological malignancies (Acute leukaemia), Chronic Myeloid Leukaemias: The haemopoietic stem cell, clinical presentation, molecular biology, therapeutic options, Imatinib, drug resistance, future directions. Clinical Immunology Principles of Organ Transplantation including the Immunosuppression Role of Histocompatibility Antigens in Transplantation. The Principles of 'in -vitro' measurement of Effectors of the Immune Response Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy - clinical applications, side effects, current methodologies including vaccines, antibody and viral based therapies. Detection and Monitoring of Neoplasms Framing the problem: the need for easier but more reliable ways to detect and monitor cancers using biomarkers. What are biomarkers? The range of possible biomarkers in blood: from single analytes to complete gene-expression or protein profiles of blood cells. Biomarkers for cancer: detection and diagnosis, patient stratification for therapy, treatment response monitoring, assessing toxicity and efficacy. Biomarkers to guide and inform drug discovery and development. Barriers to biomarker adoption: legislative criteria, translation to clinical practice, health economics. The future of blood biomarkers for monitoring neoplasms .
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:1. Describe therapeutic drug monitoring, interpretation and the clinical effects2. Discuss key features of haematological malignancies, their current therapies and future strategies3. Relate the pathophysiology of anaemias and other disorders of the blood.4. Explain key aspects of blood science practices in the clinic and the laboratory.5. Recognise current radiotherapy and immunotherapy approaches.6. Describe the detection, monitoring and treatment of neoplasms utilising biomarkers and novel therapies.
Teaching / Learning Strategy
Students gain knowledge and understanding as a result of guidance through a formal lecture programme and extensive private study supported by tutorial sessions. Enquiry based learning will be undertaken as a student-centred learning package and a data interpretation exercise. Lectures and tutorials will support broader learning via photographic and video illustration and podcasts Data interpretation and analysis sessions are an integral part of the module and students will be encouraged to critically interpret data reported in scientific publications. In preparation for the coursework exam, an online practice session is given. The students are asked to carry out this exercise in a set time period and use peer review and assessment to provide each other with feedback. Support is given via model answers as guidance in critical analysis. The SCL topic is presented through a guided reading programme and students construct their own notes by accessing the literature and answering a series of specific questions in an essay.
Indicative Reading
Recommended texts:- -360? Therapeutic drug monitoring: newer drugs and biomarkers. Dasgupta, Amitava, 2012. (E-book in library. -360? Janeways Immunology. Kenneth Murphy. 8 th Edition, Garland, NewYork, 2012. -360? Roitt, Brostoff and Male. Immunology, 6 th Edition, Mosby, London 2002. -360? Transfusion medicine and hemostasis: clinical and laboratory aspects Second edition. Author Beth Shaz. 2013. E-book in library. -360? Mollison's blood transfusion in clinical medicine: Author: Klein, Harvey G., Publisher:John Wiley and Sons, Inc.,Pub date:2014. E-book in library. -360? Lecture Notes on Clinical Biochemistry. Beckett G et al. 9 th edition Blackwell 2013 (Full text, Clinical Biochemistry also available as E-book). -360? Clinical Biochemistry: An Illustrated text. Allan Gaw. 5th edition 2013 Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. -360? Harmening D.M. Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practices, 5 th Edition, Davis, 2005. -360? Cancer immunotherapy: immune suppression and tumor growth Second edition. <http://ilink.gcal.ac.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=exKqF7yMLz/GCAL/131240161/123> George C Prendergast. 2013. E-book in library. ? Experimental and Applied Immunotherapy. Jeffrey Medin. 2011. E-book in library. Additional Recommended Reading Students are directed to literature sources such as 'Current Opinions in Immunology', 'Immunology Today', and 'Clinical Science', all of which are available via the web. They are also provided with further specialist references during lectures.
Transferrable Skills
The students should acquire personal transferable skills such as the ability to retrieve information from scientific papers, critically analyse data presented in papers and carry out a programme of independent study. They should also gain the ability to consider different experimental approaches used to analysis scientific hypotheses.
Module Structure
| Activity | Total Hours |
|---|---|
| SCL | 31.00 |
| Lectures (FT) | 30.00 |
| Tutorials (FT) | 10.00 |
| Assessment (FT) | 9.00 |
| Independent Learning (FT) | 120.00 |
Assessment Methods
| Component | Duration | Weighting | Threshold | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework 1 | 2.00 | 18.00 | n/a | Data AnalysisEach section is word limited |
| Exam (Exams Office) | 3.00 | 70.00 | 35% | Unseen written exam |
| Coursework 2 | 2.00 | 12.00 | n/a | SCL |
