Biomedical Sciences with Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

The aim of this module is to introduce the biochemical reactions that occur within the human body, framed in the context of human health and disease.

This module will introduce you to key cellular and sub-cellular concepts associated with biomedical sciences. You will encounter the cell as the fundamental, yet dynamic, unit of life. The module aims to describe the relationship between structure and function, and how the characteristics of cells facilitate their activities and allow them to contribute to the activity of tissues.

This module will provide you with the fundamental scientific skills that will form the foundations for your success throughout your degree and into your career beyond. Many scientists are involved in the direct generation of data; be it physiological measurements of blood glucose levels pre- and post- exercise; the activity of an enzyme in a biochemical assay; or the rate of growth of a pathogenic bacterium on a particular food source. Therefore, understanding the basic principles of how to process this data is essential, and equally as important is knowing how to correctly use the scientific instruments available in the laboratory to generate the initial data.

This module will provide you with the essential knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and physiology of principal human organ systems. You will begin by developing an understanding of how physiological systems are maintained within normal parameters, called homeostasis. The physiological and scientific principles underlying all the major human organ systems will then be covered. There will be an emphasis on the relationship between structure and function and on cause-and-effect mechanisms, integrating comparisons between healthy and disease states. Clinical examples of disease will it be used to underline physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms.

This module will provide you with an introduction to the field of Genetics. An understanding of genetics is fundamental to understanding biological processes, and the role of genes in health and disease. This module will discuss modes of inheritance, how information is encoded in DNA, how this information is translated, and the impacts of mutations on genetic conditions.

This module introduces students to the fundamentals of the microbial world. Students need to understand the important principles of how microorganisms function and survive before advancing to the topics where we explore the roles of microorganisms in disease.

This module is designed to give you the necessary skills and knowledge required to design, execute and disseminate a research project in the biomedical sciences and clinically-related research fields.

Disruption of normal cellular and biochemical processes has an impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing. In this module, you will investigate cellular and tissue function, and assess the investigative methods used for determining abnormalities at a biochemical and cellular level. These will include biochemical methods for detection of biological molecules. The module aims to bring together the ability to represent data in an appropriate manner and assess the impact on an individual’s health. This will allow the information to be presented in a case specific manner, and information tailored to explain a specific individual and their health, and where appropriate to diagnose and monitor conditions. This will look at the principles of tests to investigate and determine the function and dysfunction of organs and systems and the changes seen in disease. 

This module will build on the knowledge and skills developed at level 4 and will explore the scientific foundations of pharmacology. You will use this underpinning knowledge to examine how the pharmaceutical industry designs and develops novel drug entities to treat the underlying pathophysiology of common diseases.

This module will provide you with an introduction to the components of human blood, the functions of the different cell types, and the disorders that affect them. This module will also include the techniques for diagnosis and monitoring of blood disorders, the interpretation of clinical and laboratory data, and the essential features of modern clinical and laboratory haematology.

This module will build upon the level 4 Microbiology module, by introducing you to the different types of microorganisms that infect humans and cause disease.

Many graduates will go on to work in bioscience related areas, whilst others will embark on careers outside this field. Some of you on this course will be undecided on a choice of career at this stage. This module is intended to introduce you to the variety of careers that bioscience graduates can choose from and at the same time develop wider employability skills. You will learn about the key roles and responsibilities in these careers, as well as the skills and qualifications needed to compete for these jobs. You will gain knowledge of the additional qualifications and skills needed to embark on a broad range of careers available in the biosciences, as well as careers in related areas such as law, business, media, and education. Several invited speakers will give you information on key competencies and skills in specific roles. Suggestions for speakers in specific careers from you will be encouraged and accommodated wherever possible. During the module you will be able to identify any qualifications/ skills they will need to attain to successfully work in this area. 

The Research Project will provide you with experience of how information is reviewed, and how novel information is acquired, analysed and presented. You will be involved in the initial planning of the project, the continual project development, and responsible for the communication of the research findings. It is an opportunity to apply the theoretical, research, and academic skills that you have acquired throughout the programme to answer novel questions. The project enables you to demonstrate initiative and creativity in your approaches to examining a specific problem or question.

An understanding of a disease at the cellular and molecular level is important for those working in the biomedical sciences. This module is designed to explore the molecular, biochemical and cellular changes in human disease and how this has contributed to the development of novel diagnostic tools and of knowledge-based treatment strategies. It will also provide you critical-thinking skills to explore human health and diseases through reference to primary research articles, and reviews.

This module aims to look at the conditions that are known to be the main cause of morbidity and mortality nationally and globally according to the Office of National Statistics and the World Health organisation. It is important that individuals are able to recognise key symptoms of the condition and the underpinning physiology accounting for these changes. They should also be able to identify key literature about the incidence, treatment and prevention of the disease from the literature.

The Medical Pharmacology module builds up on the concepts delivered in BMS4004 Human Physiology module (level 4) and BMS5004 Fundamental Principles of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery module (level 5). This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental concepts of medical pharmacology and covers drugs acting on the major organ systems of the body, including the cardiovascular, renal, nervous, gastrointestinal, respiratory and endocrine systems. The content of the module will further introduce students to drugs used against inflammation, fever and pain whereas cancer pharmacology session will focus on the mechanisms of action of major classes of anti-cancer agents.

Modern healthcare providers are constantly striving to provide better patient care, improved diagnostics and treatments for current and emerging diseases. However, in order to comply with financial pressures and an expanding, increasingly mobile global population, healthcare improvements must be efficient, cost effective and sustainable. Underpinning these improvements are new technologies and contemporary approaches that provide more rapid and rigorous diagnostics and therapies. Research within the Biosciences has had a substantial part to play in these developments, with advances in DNA sequencing, genetic engineering and drug discovery for example, leading to significant medical breakthroughs.

In this module you will learn about the impact of infectious disease outbreaks around the world and the epidemiological strategies used to monitor and prevent them. You will explore the microorganisms that are the causative agents of disease, learn how infection is transmitted, study the impact on human health and the current strategies to combat disease.

This immunology module is designed to review topical aspects of advanced immunology with emphasis on the regulation of the immune response, and the role of dysfunctional immune systems in the aetiology of a variety of disease states.

Topics include antigen processing and presentation, transplant rejection, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity, cell migration homing and extravasation, cytokines, mucosal immunology and autophagy.

The World Health Organisation stated recently that “There is ample evidence that pinpoints to neurological disorders as one of the greatest threats to public health”. This module is designed to introduce you into the exciting world of neuroscience, by giving you a clear understanding of basic principles of neuronal (inter)action, learning and memory, emotion and motivation, necessary for your contribution to research in brain disorders like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s’ disease, epilepsy, dementia, anxiety and depression.

This module will build upon the basic understanding obtained in the modules, Introduction to Human physiology, Fundamentals of Cell biology, Pharmacology and Research methods, and will equip you to critically appraise recent developments in brain disease research across all levels of analysis, and evaluate various exciting therapeutic approaches.

Globally, it is estimated there will be 2 billion people over the age of 60 by 2050. In the UK around 18.2% of the population were aged 65 years or over at mid-2017, compared with 15.9% in 2007; this is projected to grow to 20.7% by 2027. This presents new and challenging issues in healthcare making it vitally important to understand how to manage to complexities of ageing. Many chronic diseases have age as a major risk factor, for example, in the UK women aged 65-74 are five times more likely to have COPD than those under 35, and men ten are times more likely.