Course syllabus for Molecular Medicine

Molekylär medicin

Specific entry requirements

Pass on all courses on term 1 and 2 and also at least 5 credits from the courses on term 3. Furthermore: passes in the courses of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Cell Biology, Tissue Biology and Pathology, Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology with Toxicology.

Outcomes

At the end of the course the student shall be able to: •Describe basic functions and molecular mechanisms at the level of the cell and organ in relation to the whole human body; •Relate the above to the development of disease and treatment; •Describe the application of molecular medicine in practice; •Reflect on the course contents and analyse specialised information relating to one of the topics.

Content

This course focuses on the molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases. Part 1: Disease mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment (2 credits) The gastrointestinal system, including the metabolic control of food intake, satiety, digestion and absorption of nutrients, inflammatory bowel diseases. Regulation of blood pressure by the kidneys and hypertension. Atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. The coagulation system. The metabolic syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus. Asthma, allergy and inflammatory diseases of the lung. Function of the adrenal cortex and thyroid gland. Regulation of pre- and post-natal growth and development, including embryo development. Endocrinology of the reproductive system. An insight into the areas covered by each of the laboratory medicine disciplines clinical immunology, clinical chemistry and clinical microbiology, the hypotheses considered and the laboratory techniques used. Part 2. Laboratory practicals and clinical demonstrations (6 credits) Part 3. Integration of theory and practice (7 credits) Integrating theory and practical training from the course.

Teaching methods

This is an advanced course requiring students to be familiar with the most common methods of work used at university. Learning is encouraged through the active acquisition of relevant information from appropriate sources by the student. Teaching will be in the form of expert lectures, seminars, group-based work and laboratory practicals.

Examination

Part 1. Examination through completion of written assignments that are handed out at the start of the course. The assignments comprise essay questions covering different course topics. They are to be handed in before the end of the course according to the times specified in the schedule. The grading scale is U/G (Fail/Pass). Part 2. Examination through observation of the student’s laboratory skill, participation in demonstrations, and through completion of a laboratory report (performed as group work). The grading scale is U/G (Fail/Pass). Part 3. Examination through a final written examination at the end of the course containing both essay and short-answer questions. The grading scale is U/G/VG (Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction). The final grade for the whole course is based on the grade for Part 3. Assessment criteria will be announced at the start of the course. The grade is set by the examiner who is appointed by the Head of Department. Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam: A student who does not pass the examination on the first occasion is offered a maximum of five additional opportunities to sit the examination. If a student has not passed the examination after a total of four attempts then it is recommended that the student retake the whole course at the next opportunity. Following this the student is permitted to sit the examination on another two occasions. A student who fails the examination on six occasions is not permitted to sit the examination again or to retake the course. Participation in an examination is defined as an occasion on which a student attends an examination, even if the student submits a blank examination paper. If a student has registered to sit an examination, but does not attend the examination, this is not defined as participation in the examination. If the content of the course changes or if the course ceases to run (following approval by the Biomedicine Programme Committee), a total of six opportunities for taking the examination will be offered during a two-year period after the course runs for the last time. Compulsory attendance There is compulsory attendance of the introduction to the course (first day), laboratory practicals, clinical/laboratory demonstrations, and group work. Failure to attend obligatory parts of the course may be compensated for by completion of appropriate assignments, decided on in agreement with the course leadership and judged on a case-to-case basis. Course components will not be registered in LADOK until the compulsory parts (or their replacements) have been completed and passed.

Transitional provisions

After each course there will be at least 6 opportunities to sit the examination within a two-years period.

Other directives

The course language is English. The course will be evaluated in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Education. A mid-course evaluation will be held with student representatives and the course leaders.