Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Students undertaking Medical Biotechnology 2 should have a thorough understanding of diagnostics and therapeutics in the commercial environment of biotechnology. A comprehension of approaches and the applications used as therapeutic interventions in medicine is necessary for this understanding. This unit focuses on current state-of-the-art applications within therapeutic biotechnology as directed to novel drug discovery and drug optimisation and to the development of novel therapeutic strategies, such as gene therapy, transplantation and immunotherapy. It will prepare you for subsequent involvement in medical research and/or employment in medical laboratories.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to enable you to acquire a thorough understanding of current and emerging strategies for therapeutic interventions in the treatment of disease.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to demonstrate an:

1. Understanding of the applications of therapeutic biotechnology in treating disease systems.

2. Appreciation of the complexities of human disease therapies and the risks associated with treatment.

3. Awareness of the ethics of intervention technologies and their use in improving quality of life for disease sufferers.

4. Awareness of the regulatory requirements of intervention technologies and their application.

Content

The content of this unit includes:
Cell-based therapies
- tissue transplantation,
- regenerative medicine,
- stem cell therapies,
- cellular immunotherapies.
Epigenetics
Molecular-based therapies
- vaccines,
- microRNA.
Clinical trials
- ethical and regulatory obligations.
Drug discovery pipeline
- biomarkers,
- proteomics,
- industry case studies.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

In this unit you will attend a traditional lecture format comprising two hours of lectures per week. Lectures are coupled with a series of practicals that illustrate the technologies of molecular-based therapeutics and extend the lecture material. Workshops will extend the traditional teaching format and provide you with opportunities for deeper learning outcomes related to information retrieval, management and interpretation.

In this unit, students are asked to allocate to a block of practicals in either the first or the second half of semester. Students will then be automatically allocated to workshops in the other half of the semester by the Unit Coordinator. Workshops will be held at the same time as the practicals - thus they are mutually exclusive. For example, if you allocate to a 2pm practical class in the second half of the semester, you will automatically be assigned to a 2pm workshop in the first half of the semester. Room allocations for practicals and tutorials will be available on QUT Virtual.

Assessment

Assessment items and standards of attainment are designed to emulate techniques and processes in common use within the Biotechnology and Medical Research Industries. These assessments will facilitate individual feedback on critical thinking, technical competence and statutory compliance (with Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S))Formal assessments will provide students with feedback on critical thinking, technical (laboratory) competence and statutory compliance.

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: Theory: End-semester examination based on lecture material.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: Examination - progressive
Description: Summative. Theory: Progress examination based on workshop material for weeks 2-6, or weeks 8-12.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6 or 12

Assessment name: Log/Workbook
Description: Formative and Summative. Laboratory Notebook: You are required to maintain and submit GLP standard laboratory workbooks for assessment.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 4.
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Formative and Summative. Take Home Exam: You will be required to apply advanced information retrieval skills and critical thinking in a take home (i.e. open book) assignment, evaluating an emerging biotechnology with potential medical therapeutic and/or diagnostic applications.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 4.
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are no set texts or references. The nature of the content of this unit dictates that you continuously search for current material. You will be referred to relevant, particularly Web-based material and sites as appropriate.

Risk assessment statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to complete an online health and safety quiz prior to entry to the laboratory. A passing score of 9/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory. You may retake the quiz until this score is achieved. You are referred to the university's health and safety web site http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/index.jsp for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 11-Jul-2012