Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module is designed to introduce students to the fundamental area of cell signalling pathways using various model organisms. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms of some key signalling pathways with a wide range of cellular responses, and how these pathways are underpinning for the development of new therapeutics, in a wide range of diseases including diabetes and cancer.

Outline Of Syllabus

There are 23 lectures given by 13 world-class research scientists strongly supported by the 'Cells, Genes and Mollecules' Theme of the Biosciences Institute, within the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University. who are experts in 'Cell Signalling' and members of the Cells, Gene and Molecules Research Theme within the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University. All are studying different aspects of cell signalling using a variety of techniques and model systems. Research into cell signalling pathways underpins the development of many therapies used for the treatment 0of cancer, inflammatory disroders and many other diseases. It can be used to identify new drug targets and also provide clinical strategies to best target these therapies and overcome problems of resistence. The lectures will cover the following seven fundamental areas of cell signalling pathways that will allow the students to gain a thorough understanding of their molecular mechanisms and how these can contribute to the development of new therapies or drug resistance:

1.       The NF-kB signalling pathway: The molecular mechanisms of NF-kB in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation and survival and cross-talk between the NF-kB signalling pathway and the p53 oncosuppressor.
2.       Cell signalling and drug resistance: Genomic repeat elements their role in cell signalling and drug resistance and their impact on human health.
3.       Immune cell signalling: The molecular mechanisms of immune cell signalling in cancer and immunotherapy. The manipulation of the immune response by bacteria in the development of disease, and the recent breakthroughs in exploiting these bacterial mechanisms to develop therapeutics.
4.       iPSC technology and its applications for disease modelling, drug discovery and cell therapy development.
5. Primary Cilia. The role of primary cilia in cellular communication, focussing on their involvement in key signalling pathways and their impact on cellular function and disease.
6. Introduction of the Wnt signalling pathway and its role in neuronal degeneration.
7.       Cell signalling in metabolism: The molecular mechanisms of insulin secretion and insulin signalling, and how these pathways are disrupted in type 2 diabetes.
8. Nutrient sensing pathways and their role in health and disease.
9.       Cell receptor signalling: Focusing on the hormone receptor signalling and the hippo pathway and their targeting in diseases.
10. Students will be introduced to the use of sophisticated single molecule microscopy in cell signalling, including case studies on the EGFR and transcription factors.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of this module the students should be able to:

1. Describe molecular mechanisms underpinning key cell signalling pathways that regulate critical cell functions and homeostasis.
2. Discuss how aberrant regulation of these pathways can drive or contribute to a range of human diseases.
3. Demonstrate how understanding of cell signalling pathways can be exploited in drug discovery by facilitating the development of new targeted therapies or the improved clinical application of existing therapies.
4. Evaluate the molecular mechanisms of cell signalling induced drug resistance and their implications.
5. Describe and formulate how the use of advanced research technologies and techniques, such as mass spectrometry, pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology and single molecule microscopy, can be used to study cell signalling and its clinical role in human disease.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module the students should be able to:

1       Interpret and understand data from the cell signalling literature.

2       Critically appraise the current literature in a selected topic and present an essay.

3       Perform short oral presentations on a selected topic of cell signalling.

4       Communicate ideas and information on the topic of cell signalling pathways to an audience of their peers both orally and in writing.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Knowledge and understanding are gained from the lectures. Intellectual skills are developed in the lectures and by the coursework. Key (transferable skills – communication, literacy, critical appraisal, data analysis) are developed during the lectures and by the coursework and practiced in the oral presentation, written work (essay) and formative assessment (online data analysis). Should public health circumstances dictate that it is necessary, in person sessions will be moved to online alternatives.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment methods are designed to encourage and test key skills required for a career in research. Specifically:

The 2000-word essay will assess the student’s knowledge, understanding and ability to extrapolate from the taught components of the module. This will also allow the student to demonstrate skills in writing and literacy, sourcing materials, critical appraisal of the literature and use of IT.

The oral presentation will allow the student to practice and demonstrate their communication and IT skills. It provides an opportunity for the student to present their ideas clearly and effectively to an audience of their peers. It also assesses the student’s ability to interpret and answer questions.

In the formative assessment the student will be asked to tackle a set problem in the area of cell signalling using an online bioinformatics database. This will provide a test of their analytical skills, while also providing a practical means to deepen their understanding of how cell signalling pathways function and can be studied in silico. Students will present their findings in a short abstract, further developing their writing and literacy skills.

General Notes

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