MMB8018 : Biomolecular Research in Health and Disease
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Paula Salgado
- Lecturer: Dr Sergey Melnikov, Dr David Bolam, Dr Debbie Hicks, Dr Josana Rodriguez Sanchez, Dr Christopher Duncan, Dr Suzanne Madgwick, Professor Wyatt Yue, Professor Matthias Trost
- 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
How does biomolecular research really work?
What is the “research process”?
How do you go from a research idea to experiments to successful publication?
How do you work out the molecular mechanism of disease?
What are the current state-of-the-art biomolecular techniques?
How do you take fundamental research to the bedside?
In this module, we aim to:
• Engage students with the research process, from conception through to publication, by lectures from active researchers describing their own published work, how they developed the idea and what led to successful publication
• Develop students' ability to clearly present biomolecular science in oral and written form
• Enhance student's knowledge of a variety of methods and techniques that allow the study of molecular, genetic and cell biology in a range of health and disease scenarios – from cancer to fertility, from pathogens to drug discovery.
Outline Of Syllabus
The course will comprise a series of lecture materials, seminars and workshops that discuss novel concepts within biomolecular research:
RNA in gene regulation
Carbohydrate-protein recognition in gut microbiota
Innate antiviral immune signaling
Molecular mechanisms of cancer
Protein complexes in cell polarity
Cell cycle biology and fertility
Surface structures in bacterial pathogens
Drug target identification proteomics
Drug discovery for novel targets
A range of different methods to study biomolecules in health and disease – from fertility to cancer and pathogens, from cell biology to drug discovery - will be covered in the interactive sessions, presented by researchers active in these fields.
Intended learning outcomes include an understanding of these methods but, importantly, a deeper engagement and perception of the research process, from ideas to the process that brings findings to publication as peer reviewed articles.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Preparation of Assessed Group Presentation on Paper |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | Preparation & Submission of 2000 word Essay |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 25:00 | 25:00 | Creation of powerpoint file |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Present in Person: Group presentations and discussions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 9 | 2:00 | 18:00 | Present in Person: Seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | Additional Reading & Reflective Learning |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 48 | 1:00 | 48:00 | Preparing Notes from Lectures & Reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Present in Person: Introductory session to outline the module |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Present in Person: Essay preparation discussion |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Sessions will be interactive encouraging students to question concepts and ideas and to develop critical analytical skills when interrogating the wider literature. The development of this expertise will underpin the capacity of the students to undertake private study.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | 70 | 2000 words; article for general scientific readership describing an original paper selected from lecture presentations |
| Report | 1 | M | 30 | Design a graphical abstract for a research publication |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | PiP: Group oral presentation (Present in person) ; 15-20 minutes comprising presentation and critique of an original research paper. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The report on the content of a research paper describing a recent advance in biomolecular research tests the students’ analytical skills, their capacity to interpret experimental data and their ability to explain complex scientific principles, approaches and findings in terms accessible to a more general audience. The graphical abstract makes the students aware of the need for clear representation of scientific ideas in an accessible format and provides a skill which students will use in their future career. The group presentation develops insight into the process involved in generating data for high-quality scientific publications as well as developing ability to appraise critically data in biomolecular research
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MMB8018's Timetable