Taught Component

• The MSc consists of nine taught modules.
• There will usually be nine teaching days per term.
• The nine taught modules will be spread over two years, with 4.5 modules taught in each year.

Summer exams for 1st year trainees

Trainees will sit one essay paper and one short answer question paper comprising a choice of one from two essay questions and five short answer questions (three clinical/analytical and two calculations) from each of the four completed modules (3,7,8,9) covered in the year. Both papers will contribute to the final MSc mark.

Summer exams for 2nd year trainees

Trainees will sit two essay papers and one short answer question paper comprising a choice of one from two essay questions and five short answer questions (three clinical/analytical and two calculations) from the following five modules (2,3,7,8,9) covered in the year. All papers will contribute to the final MSc mark.

End of term assessments

Assessments shall be set at the end of the Autumn and Spring Terms.  They shall consist of an essay paper and a short answer question paper.  The essay paper consists of a choice of two from four questions on topics covered during that term.  The short answer paper consists of ten short answer questions (both calculations and clinical/analytical questions). The calculation won’t necessarily relate to topics covered during the term. These assessments will not contribute to the overall MSc mark but they will be used in the overall assessment of the trainee..

Past examination papers

Examination papers pre 2008 may be found a http://www.wmtc.org.uk/examinat.htm

Plagiarism

The University of Birmingham has a strict anti-plagiarism policy, details of which may be found in the course handbook

Ethics Approval

>It is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that ethics committee approval is sought, where required, for any research projects undertaken by the trainee.

Mitigation

Under achievement in examinations and late submission of project and / or dissertation work owing to genuine mitigating circumstances will be viewed sympathetically.  Details of the mitigation process may be found in the Course Handbook and trainees must contact Dr Glenn Matthews, University lead for the course (g.m.matthews@bham.ac.uk) as soon as possible, as retrospective mitigation cannot be submitted.

Website

Course website www.wmtc.org.uk

Course dates  (provisional)

1. Autumn Term 2010: Dates on website
2. Spring Term 2011: 14/1, 21/1, 28/1, 4/2, 11/2, 25/2, 4/3, 11/3 exam 25/3
3. Summer Term 2011: 29/4, 4/5, 6/5, 11/5, 13/5, 20/5, 3/6, 10/6, 17/6, exam 1/7

                          

Clinical / Biochemical

The immune response, autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency states, , renal calculi, infertility, pregnancy, Downs screening, fetoplacental function, free radicals, cytokines and the acute phase response

Analytical / Managerial

Medical ethics, counselling, evidence-based medicine, sources of information

1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the immune system and the immune response
2. Demonstrate a knowledge of the mechanisms of autoimmunity
3. Evaluate the role of the laboratory in the provision of a immunology service
4. Evaluate the role of the laboratory in the investigation and management of renal calculi
5. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the biochemistry of pregnancy and the problems associated with the pregnant patient
6. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the role of free radicals in disease and their measurement
7. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the manner in which clinical governance impinges on the delivery of clinical biochemistry in a healthcare environment

                          

Clinical / Biochemical

Oncology incl. tumour markers, biochemistry of the elderly, provision of specialist services such as paediatric biochemistry, obstetric services, screening, clinical biochemistry of intensive care, trauma

Analytical / Managerial

Data handling and laboratory information systems: management topics such as purchasing equipment, staff selection, budget handling use of time. Laboratory staff organisation and communication

1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of oncogenesis and the use of tumour markers in screening, monitoring diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
2. Evaluate the laboratory’s role in the investigation of prostatic, breast and neural crest tumours.
3. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the effect of extremes of age on biochemistry results
4. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the metabolic response to trauma
5. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of information systems and their application to the manipulation of data
6. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the manner in which issues of equipment procurement, staff selection, laboratory reengineering, clinical governance, provision of specialist services and laboratory budgeting impinge on the delivery of clinical biochemistry in a healthcare environment

                          

Clinical / Biochemical

Inborn errors of metabolism, basic genetic principles, screening, methods of treatment,
Understanding of selected disorders including Cholinesterase deficiency, amino acid disorders involving phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, and homocysteine. Renal tubule transport disorders cystinuria, Hartnup disease, organic acidurias, Glycogen storage disease, galactosaemia, erythrocyte defects, mucopolysaccharidoses, and cystic fibrosis.

Analytical / Managerial

Instrumentation and point of care testing, electrophoresis, effects of drugs on analytical methods,, finance and the NHS, writing papers/reports/business cases etc

1. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the laboratory investigation of the sick neonate
2. Demonstrate an understanding of genetics and the role of the laboratory as applied to single gene disorders
3. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the manner in which financial, operational and structural elements of Healthcare management impinge on the delivery of clinical biochemistry in a healthcare environment
4. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the principles and practice of an agreed range of analytical methods including point-of-care testing.

                          

Clinical / Biochemical

• Carbohydrates and diabetes, mechanisms of insulin action, classification of diabetes, investigation and treatment of diabetes, assessment of diabetic control, complications of diabetes, hyperosmolar coma, ketoacidosis, hypoglycaemia
• Lipid metabolism hyperlipidaemia investigation and treatment

Analytical

Methods of protein separation, principles of dry chemistry, laboratory assessment of abnormal lipid metabolism, ultracentrifugation, apolipoprotein estimation

1. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of glucose metabolism and how it is disordered in Diabetes
2. Evaluate the laboratory’s role in screening, diagnosis, monitoring and management of diabetes mellitus and insulin-resistant syndromes
3. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the causes of Diabetic complications
4. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the structure and function of lipids and their role as risk factors
5. Evaluate the laboratory’s role in the investigation of hyperlipidaemia and CHD risk assessment
6. Discuss myeloma, haematological malignancies and the investigation of paraproteinaemia
7. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the principles and practice of an agreed range of analytical methods.

                          

Clinical

General endocrinological principles and specifically the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid/ adrenal and gonadal axes: the adrenal medulla is included. Bone metabolism and the involvement of hormones and minerals. Bone pathophsiology.

Analytical

Specimen collection and storage, hierarchy of analytical methods, laboratory instrumentation and methodology

1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the mechanisms that maintain calcium homoeostasis and the causes and consequences (biochemical and clinical) of their failure.
2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of bone structure and physiology; the scientific investigation of bone disease and use of markers of bone disease
3. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the general mechanisms of hormone action and an ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to specific cases.
4. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the structure and function of specific hormonal pathways and their roles in health and disease
5. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the principles, instrumentation, safe practice and advantages / disadvantages of an agreed range of analytical methods.