Genomic technologies are transforming the Biomedical sciences. Recent developments in DNA sequencing are creating unprecedented opportunities in molecular diagnostics, personal medicine and (infectious) disease prevention. There is a clear need for genomics specialists that can analyse and interpret genome data in a (bio)medical context.
This is an interdisciplinary programme with teaching provided by Life Sciences and Computer Science research active academics as well as other experts in the field. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of how changes in the genome relate to human disease. You will be trained to pursue a career in medical genomics in academia and industry.
This programme has a strong applied and practical focus. Hands-on learning provides you with the skills needed for a successful career in medical genomics.
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This programme will provide you with a solid understanding of the structural complexity of genomes and how mis-regulation of genes can result in disease. In conjunction, specialist classes will provide you with practical skills in genome wide disease identification and molecular diagnostics.
Computational tools and statistical techniques for genome research and diagnostics will be introduced using real-life data-sets and will specifically focus on computer coding, data handling and the analysis of large sequential data-sets.
A strong link between research and teaching ensures you will develop good practical skills in medical genomics, preparing you for the job market.
You will gain a good understanding of molecular biology principles. The programme also aims to teach good computing skills, including computer languages and the statistical analysis of big data. This will involve the design, planning of genomics experiments.
In this module, you will be equipped with the theoretical and algorithmic basis for analysing large, multidimensional genomics datasets.
This module aims to give you a comprehensive understanding of molecular biology techniques in genomics.
The aim of this module is to provide you with the latest theory and practice of molecular diagnostics so you can gain a thorough understanding of the scope of molecular analysis technology used in the analysis and their use in diagnosis.
The module aims to give you a thorough understanding on how evolutionary processes affect the genome and what can be concluded from such changes.
The module aims to give you a detailed understanding of the structural complexity of genomes, their maintenance, and the intricate regulation of gene expression via molecular interactions and biochemical modifications.
This module explores the ethical issues present in the rapidly developing area of genetic technology, including genetic testing and selection, genetic engineering, and the concept of genetic disease.
This module comprises an individual research project where you will have the opportunity to work with a research supervisor in a project of your chosen field.
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
This programme is taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, computing workshops and investigative laboratories. You are encouraged to actively engage with your learning. Group work is prominent in many modules and there will be opportunities to discuss and explore work with peers, academics and the technical team.
This programme will be delivered in a blended learning format using live interactive teaching sessions via a number of learning platforms e.g. Kaltura newrow Adobe Connect or Zoom. These sessions will be recorded so that you can return to this learning in your own time and study at your own place. Learning may be supplemented by pre-recorded lectures, demonstration of laboratory techniques or data analysis activity where students can access the information at any point. Practical sessions will either be virtual or on campus where this is possible in light of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak. This wide range of teaching and learning approaches are used to build up your skills and knowledge.
You will take part in online problem-solving discussions, critical debates and exercises, online workshops, and in-class activities. You will supplement all this with your own guided and independent reading. The mix of delivery modes will be varied and suitable to the content being delivered.
The programme has a strong practical element, with an emphasis on developing computational skills needed for a successful career in medical genomics and in gaining hands-on experience of genomic techniques. Access to on campus activity is subject to ongoing and further Covid-19 restrictions and virtual laboratories and pre-recorded lab and practice demonstrations will be used to facilitate your learning.
Middlesex is committed to equipping and accommodating learners fully online where they cannot reach campus, and where a second lockdown is in place. In such event, the fully online scenario will be in place to provide and support students’ learning.
Assessment is diverse and includes portfolio-work, writing a scientific paper, analysing genomic data, preparing a poster and presenting results. Additionally, you will submit a dissertation on your major research project and undertake a viva related to the work. The project will be supervised by a member of academic staff but you will be strongly encouraged to work with external partner institutions in the UK or overseas (subject to the appropriate risk assessment). In this case, you may also have a mentor based at the external institution.
We are back on campus for the majority of teaching in Autumn 2021, as long as restrictions allow. Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
In case of any changes to government guidance, we‘ll be ready to move to teaching with more restrictions in place and continue to give you an excellent learning experience. In this scenario, on campus teaching should continue although more of your course will take place online.
The table below gives you an idea of what your learning will look like across a typical week. Some weeks might be different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information may change slightly as we receive further guidance from the government. You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start.
Scenario A: Without social distancing | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 5.6 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 5.6 hours |
Tutor set learning activities | Average hours per week, per level: | 6 hours |
Scenario B: With social distancing and/or with restrictions on travel to campus | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 5.6 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 5.6 hours |
Tutor set learning activities | Average hours per week, per level: | 6 hours |
The hours allocated above do not include supervision hours for dissertations or hours for students undertaking practical projects. Hours may also vary week by week due to timetabled laboratory sessions.
Outside of these hours, you’ll be expected to do independent study where you read, listen and reflect on other learning activities. This can include preparation for future classes. In a year, you’ll typically be expected to commit 1800 hours to your course across all styles of learning. If you are taking a placement, you might have some additional hours.
Read more about our scenarios for returning to campus and what they might mean for your teaching and learning experience, and how you’ll be able to access student support.
Future plans for teaching
We’re developing our plans for in-person on campus teaching following government advice to keep you safe. If more restrictions are put in place in the future, or there is another lockdown, we’ll deliver your learning and support fully online for a temporary period. We’ll make alternative arrangements for any required placements if they can’t go ahead as planned. We’ll always give you notice of any changes that we make.
Definitions of terms
Support
You’ll have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you’ll have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You’ll have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
More on teaching for your subject in 2021/22
Read our guide to what you can look forward to when you study your subject with us including more information about your teaching experience this autumn.
As a graduates of this programme you will have a solid background in Medical Genomics. The field is fast developing and graduates with a specialisation in Medical Genomics can, for example, find work in:
There are a number of key areas that are in need of researchers trained to do genome scale analyses, and with the recent announcement that the 100,000 genomes project is set to be extended to analyse 5 million genomes within 5 years, this demand is likely to increase exponentially.
Dr Timmermans’ research aims to link the evolution and maintenance of biological diversity to changes in genomes. He uses genomic techniques to gain understanding of the genetics underlying phenotypic divergence.
Dr Roberts gained a PhD from the University of Glasgow where she investigated the molecular events surrounding steroid-induced skeletal growth retardation. Following this, she moved to the University of Sheffield where she investigated epigenetic biomarkers which were able to predict cancer progression. She has since coordinated research projects both at KU Leuven in Belgium, where she researched the role of epigenetics and autophagy in critical illness-induced bone loss, and at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry where she used genome-wide molecular profiling to identify epigenetic biomarkers associated with inflammation and immune suppression in critically ill patients. Dr Roberts currently coordinates a research track investigating the epigenetic regulation of aberrant cellular behaviour and subsequent skeletal tissue morbidity. She has a particular interest in the role of epigenetics and autophagy in the regulation of osteosarcoma metastasis and chemoresistance.
Dr Roulston obtained a Master of Science (Clinical Microbiology) from Queen Mary, University of London in 2011 and completed his PhD from the UCL Eastman Dental Institute. His thesis investigated the utilisation of optical methods for the mapping of microgradients in environmental parameters in dental biofilms. He holds State Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Biomedical Scientist and is currently the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Young Ambassador of Science for the United Kingdom. He regularly participates in public outreach and engagement activities and is a member of a number of microbiology and dental research societies, including Microbiology Society, Society of Applied Microbiology, British Society for Oral and Dental Research. Dr Roulston's research interests include clinical microbiology, advanced microscopy techniques, biofilms and their role in infectious disease (particularly dental pathologies and prosthetic joint infections), microbial proteomics and molecular microbiology.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: 13 September 2021
Duration: 1 year full-time
Code: PGC180
