BGM3065 : Biochemistry of Cancer and Chronic Diseases
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Craig Robson
- Lecturer: Professor Julie Irving, Dr Jon Sellars, Dr Catherine Arden, Professor Neil Perkins, Dr Jack Leslie, Professor James Allan, Dr Lindi Chen, Professor Steven Clifford
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Through lectures and seminars this module aims to;
• provide an understanding of the biochemistry and clinical aspects of a number of chronic human diseases.
• explain how knowledge of the biochemistry of a disorder can be used to develop rational drug design for its treatment.
• provide an opportunity for students to further develop their written skills and critical analytical skills.
• inform students about the genetic and molecular basis of cancer and its treatment.
• introduce current technologies used in cancer detection, diagnostics and molecular pathology and allow students to explore how these techniques are being applied to advance our understanding of cancer.
• facilitate an understanding of the problems associated with cancer treatments.
Outline Of Syllabus
The biochemistry and clinical aspects of a number of chronic human diseases will be explored to explain how knowledge of the biochemistry of a disorder can be used to develop rational drug design for treatment. Topics include:
• biochemistry of trace metal sensing and its relevance to disease.
• core mechanisms of metal-homeostasis (metallochaperones, metal-sensing transcriptional and translational regulators, metal-specific transporters and storage proteins) and provide some examples of the ways in which these processes fail in disease.
• NF-kB signalling in health and disease.
• G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling and disease.
• background to the biochemistry and molecular biology of cancer.
• cancer as a multi-process genetic disease.
• role of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes.
• roles of failures in the DNA repair mechanisms in causing cancer
• factors that lead to metastasis.
• experimental genetic models of tumour development.
• methods of anticancer treatment and the problems of drug resistance.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 27 | 1:00 | 27:00 | In person |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | In person - Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Essay Information Session - In person |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 0:30 | 2:00 | Seminars - In person |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 168:00 | 168:00 | Writing up lecture notes, revision and general reading. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will provide the students with essential information to achieve learning outcomes.
Seminars will provide additional information and develop the student’s critical skills.
The seminars focus on major topics covered in the lectures, providing in-depth knowledge of the
topics and opportunities for students to discuss topic areas where they require additional information or clarification is required.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 70 | Invigilated exam: The paper divided into 2 sections A & B relating to 2 strands. Students select one essay topic from each section |
Exam Pairings
| Module Code | Module Title | Semester | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Molecular Basis of Cancer | 2 | Exams to be scheduled at the same time. Shared lectures/topics will allow the same questions to be used by these 2 modules | |
| Cancer Biology and Therapy | 2 | Exams to be scheduled at the same time. Shared lectures/topics will allow the same questions to be used by these 2 modules |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 30 | Extended Essay 1 (max 2000 words) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written exam primarily assesses students' knowledge and understanding.
The essay, written after tutorial discussions, will develop the students' ability to assimilate and analyse complex scientific information and to develop their written skills. The feedback will allow students to improve on their essay writing skills in preparation for the final examination.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BGM3065's Timetable