Module Details - Cancer programmes

Details of all the Institute’s postgraduate taught modules are given below. Please refer to the individual programme content for a list of modules that feature on a particular programme.

Taught: Semester 1

Module Leader: Professor Louise Jones

This Module will introduce students to the terminology of pathology, provide an understanding of basic pathological processes and how they relate to human disease, and introduce students to basic histology and histopathology.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Dr Oliver M Pearce

This module covers a wide spectrum of novel therapies for cancer. Students will learn about key aspects of the tumour microenvironment, and their role in tumour growth, invasion, and treatment response.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 1

Module Leader: Professor Richard Grose

This module covers cell and molecular biology relevant to cancer, including: cell biology as it relates to cancer development and cancer therapy; the structure and function of DNA, RNA and proteins; the processes of carcinogenesis and how they relate to DNA damage and repair; how cells communicate with each other; key proteins and pathways regulating cell proliferation and cell death; the hallmarks of cancer; processes involved in invasion and metastasis; and an introduction to cancer immunology.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Dr Prabhakar Rajan and Dr Michelle Lockley

This module aims to provide students with a robust understanding of the cancer-specific epidemiology, pathology, diagnostics, imaging, and cutting-edge treatments relevant to contemporary clinical practice (expirative and ablative surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies) as well as outcomes. The scientific basis of cancer diagnostics and therapies will be outlined and lectures will cover major solid and haematological cancers.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 1

Module Leader: Professor Richard Grose and Dr Jane Sosabowski

This module covers an introduction to pharmacology and in depth coverage of the molecular and clinical pharmacology of established and novel cytotoxic drugs.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Professor Stephen Duffy and Dr Ivana Sestak

This module will introduce students to the epidemiological method, statistical methods, and the causes of cancer. Screening will be introduced both in terms of primary and secondary prevention of cancer, in particular for breast, cervical and bowel cancer. Students will also learn about the main modifiable environmental causes of cancer - tobacco, infection, diet, obesity and exercise - and ways of reducing them, and the use of drugs to prevent cancer development.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Dr Gunnel Halldén

This module covers all phases of the drug development process, from identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets through pre-clinical development to evaluation in clinical trials.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Professor Tatjana Crnogorac-Jurcevic

This module covers the latest advances in ‘omics’ technologies and their applications in both cancer research and clinics, and aims to provide students with a good working knowledge of this rapidly advancing field.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 1

Module Leader: Dr Delordson Kallon and Dr Mark Hopkins

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of molecular approaches to diagnostics in pathology. The implications of molecular diagnostics in the different disciplines will be emphasised for disease diagnosis and clinical management and where relevant, treatment.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Dr Andrejs Braun

This module covers the fundamental molecular and biological mechanisms that are involved in the development and progression of leukaemia and lymphoma. It will specifically address the impact of chromosome and gene abnormalities on the diagnosis, prognosis, risk stratification and management of patients using cytogenetic and genomic technology. Students will learn about the critical contribution of the tumour microenvironment towards tumour-promoting inflammation and tumour associated immune response, and the latest targeted therapy and immunotherapy approaches used to treat patients.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Professor Louise Jones

This module aims to provide students with detailed knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer development and to give an appreciation of the current ‘hot topics’ in cancer research and their relevance to cancer diagnosis and management.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Dr Tony Ford

This module aims to provide a comprehensive overview of paediatric and adolescent oncology, from disease aetiology to novel treatments, and equip students with a fundamental understanding of the subject area. Topics include: The aetiology of paediatric leukaemia; the molecular aspects of selected paediatric solid cancers; the principles of paediatric cancer therapy; and the treatment and psychology of cancer in adolescent patients.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 1

Module Leader: Professor Louise Jones and Dr Jane Sosabowski

This module will introduce students to the terminology of pathology and histology, and describe the pathological processes of tumour development.  It will also introduce students to the vital role that imaging plays in all aspects of the management of patients with cancer, including different imaging technologies, their application, and risks to the patient.

Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

Taught: Semester 2

Module Leader: Professor John F Marshall

This module will introduce students to the technical background and the practical skills required to perform a variety of basic cellular and molecular biology techniques.

Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% exam

Taught: Semester 1

Module Leader: Professor John F Marshall

This module will teach students both the scientific principles underlying many modern laboratory processes and also some bio-statistical skills for analysis of datasets. These skills will permit a more critical analysis of scientific literature.

Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% exam