BMS5005 - Regenerative medicine and stem cells - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

School of Biomedical Sciences

Coordinator(s)

Dr Julia Young

Unit guides

Offered

Clayton

  • First semester 2017 (Day)

Synopsis

The aim of this unit is to introduce and develop students' understanding of multiple stem cell types, incorporating both historical and current research and clinical/commercial perspectives.

Four major themes will be presented:

  1. Embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells ii) adult stem cells

    iii) cancer stem cells

    iv) clinical and commercial applications.

    Topics within these major themes will cover both research and clinical/commercial aspects.

    The practical component of this unit will present students with the opportunity to interact with leading researchers in the stem cell and regenerative medicine fields, explore the important ethical issues associated with stem cell research, and apply their knowledge to prepare a funding proposal focused on a stem cell project, as well as a major report encompassing all major aspects of the unit.

Outcomes

  1. Identify, evaluate and effectively communicate key concepts and results and their implications from high impact recent publications in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine research;
  2. Prepare a cohesive human ethics application covering a project focussed on research using human materials or for human clinical applications;
  3. Evaluate key future research directions for stem cell and regenerative medicine research, and develop scientific, clinical and/or commercial arguments to underpin funding applications;
  4. Identify, evaluate and justify appropriate approaches for stem cell-based therapeutics for specific disease states.

Assessment

Journal Club style presentation - 10%

Human ethics application (1,000 words) - 20%

Grant application (1,500 words) - 20%

Major written report (3,000 words) (HURDLE) - 50%

Workload requirements

Average: 6 contact hours per week on-campus. This covers 3 lectures and one single 3 hour practical time. Over the Semester an average of an additional 6 hours of private study per week will be required

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this unit but a background of study in biomedical, biotechnology, medical or allied health sciences is required for admission into the unit.

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in course M6003