Translational Medicine: Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine (MRes )

The Masters by Research (MRes) in Translational Medicine provides high-quality research and training skills for students who want to use state-of-the-art biotechnologies to rapidly translate disease research into improved clinical healthcare. With advances in technology, graduates are now faced with heightened expectations in order to conduct effective bioscience research. Employers demand skill-sets comprising biological, medical, physical and computational characteristics and the MRes is designed to provide this breadth of training.

The core aim is to train the next generation of scientists able to 'fast-track' biological and scientific data into advanced therapies and diagnostics tools. Our understanding of the molecular basis of disease and drug mechanisms has improved dramatically in recent years, yet there is a distinct shortage of individuals able to apply this knowledge into effective clinical benefit.

The MRes Translational Medicine (Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine) provides intense training in 'omics' skills and techniques such as genetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. The training in metabolic techniques is novel for a UK course, and teaching on the integration of different omic platforms and data in a systems medicine strategy is unique. With its extended 35 week research project and broad training in biotechnology for medical healthcare, this MRes provides an excellent platform to progress into PhD research, or for a career in academia or the Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Industries, or as a clinical academic.

The MRes has substantial interdisciplinary focus; training comprises four taught modules before students undertake an extended 35-week research project within the University of Manchester, AstraZeneca or one of the Greater Manchester Teaching Hospitals. A wide choice of projects are available (view the list of example projects ) allowing individuals to focus on areas of interest such as the use of gene expression profiling, proteomics, metabolomics, stem cell research, tissue culture or pharmacogenetics in the biology of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke or diabetes.

The MRes is one-year full time, so provides the ideal opportunity to experience the challenges of multidisciplinary research first-hand before committing to further training. Over 85% of our graduates secure further research (PhD), Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Industry or medical training posts upon completion.

• Course structure flow diagram (PDF, 66 KB) - sequence of the course components

The four taught modules run throughout the first semester, and are taught using a variety of face-to-face, workshop and e-learning approaches, as outlined below:

Research Methods unit

• Communication skills; including poster and oral presentation skills
• Dissertation skills; critical appraisal of the scientific literature, abstract writing, academic writing and reference management
• Study design; key concepts in study design, ethics and research governance
• Statistical Analysis

Practical Skills unit

• Practical techniques workshops (covering, for example, cellular techniques, protein techniques, nucleic acid techniques)
• Theoretical introduction to quantitative research methods; biological sample collections and use, clinical phenotype, cells and tissues, imaging and imaging biomarkers, introduction to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.

Genetics and Genomics

• Genetics; understanding human genetic variation and its impact on disease susceptibility and response to therapeutic treatment
• Transcriptomics and functional genomics; in relation to disease pathogenesis, measurement and statistical analysis, new and emerging technologies

Proteomics and Metabolomics

• Proteomics; protein structure, theoretical basis and experimental technologies for qualitative and quantitative proteomics experiments, data interpretation and proteomics databases
• Metabolomics; experimental design, analytical technologies and data analysis for metabolomics datasets

  The research project runs throughout the second semester and has two main elements.

Research Project 1 (10 weeks) involves writing a comprehensive literature review and formulating a research project proposal.

Research Project 2 (25 weeks) involves hands-on practical experience in a laboratory and integration within a research team. The project is assessed by submission of a dissertation, poster presentation and an assessment of research performance.

Students' progress through the taught units will be assessed by a combination of verbal presentations, written reports and workshops.

Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods for Translational Medicine:

As an alternative to the MRes, students who wish to undertake only the taught part of the programme can apply for entry onto the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods for Translational Medicine programme.

For further details of course content please contact:

Dr Janine Lamb, Course Director

janine.lamb@manchester.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)161 275 1619

or

Dr John Curtin, Deputy Course Director

Tel: +44 (0)161 275 5203

john.curtin@manchester.ac.uk