MRes Medical Sciences / Course details

The Clinical Masterclass course unit is a 15 credit unit specifically designed for  intercalating medical students, Integrated Clinical Academic Trainees (Academic fellows enrolled on the MRes Medical Sciences) and medics enrolled on other MRes Alliance Courses.

As noted before, there are several generic skills necessary in becoming a successful clinical academic scientist. This unit contributes further to the personal and professional development in these domains. The unit will consist of a series of seminars, workshops and e-learning. Areas covered will include clinical research design and methodology, advanced GCP, research governance & the regulatory framework for research, the Human Tissue Act, practical clinical ethics, patient and public engagement and involvement in research, diversity/equal opportunities in research/cultural competence, academic career development and pathways, personal effectiveness, and leadership (Practitioner, Partner and Leader roles).

Aims of the course unit

This unit aims to build on the earlier research methods unit undertaken by the students and will provide in-depth experience, knowledge and skills training required for effective clinical practice and success with a strong emphasis on clinical academic research.

Good Clinical Practice Training: All students will be expected to obtain a GCP certificate during the course. For students undertaking research with patients, this certificate should be obtained early in the academic year. Other students can undertake training during the clinical masterclass module. Options for obtaining a certificate include attending an in-person free course (students are advised to discuss this option with their supervisor) or through accessing the e-learning GCP resource (http://courses.epigeum.co.uk/gcp/) to which the University of Manchester subscribes and undertake the 5 online teaching modules available with an integrated formative assessment. 

Clinical Research Design and Methodology: Students will attend a series of lectures covering various aspects of clinical research design and methodology including clinical trials, observational studies and pharmacoepidemiology.  For assessment, the student will be asked to write a brief clinical trial protocol, which will be reviewed and assessed.

Clinical Research in Practice: Students will attend an interactive session at the NIHR Clinical Trials Facility (CTF) which will include a tour of the facility as well as interactive sessions discussing “live” clinical studies currently underway at the facility. Topics covered will include practicalities and challenges of undertaking clinical research as well as ethical issues and implications of these studies. Further sessions in this unit will include a more detailed session on clinical ethics and an interactive session on patient and public engagement and involvement in research.  For assessment, students will be given a clinical study protocol and asked to complete a restricted number of sections of an ethics application alongside a brief essay (500 words) on ethical implications within their own research or area of research interest.

Personal effectiveness and academic career development: This half day interactive session will cover academic career development, including a discussion around academic pathways, clinical pathways, foundation and fellowship applications. For assessment, students will write a 500 word reflective essay focusing on academic career development, including the role of the MRes in academic clinical training, which will be reviewed and assessed.

The unit will consist of a series of lectures, seminars, workshops and e-learning.

Clinical Research Design and Methodology: The student will be asked to write a brief clinical trial protocol (no more than 4-5 pages), which will be reviewed and assessed.

Clinical Research in Practice: Students will be asked to complete selected domains of an application for ethical approval. You will then be required to write a 500 word written essay focusing on ethical implications specific to your research or area of research interest.

Academic Career Development: For assessment, students will write a 500 word reflective essay focusing on academic career development, including the role of the MRes in academic clinical training, which will be reviewed and assessed.

There are 3 summative assessments in this module and written feedback is provided to all students for each assessment.