Course Catalogue

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In the dissertation project, students plan and conduct an independent research project, audit or critical review of the literature in the selected topics in the area of Molecular Pathology, current and future diagnosis, clinical and scientific research. Students produce a written dissertation and the conclusions from the research will be presented and discussed.

Meetings with supervisors weekly (or at similar intervals).

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Students are required to complete a research project, audit or critical review of literature in the area of Molecular Pathology.

■ The resulting dissertation should be approximately 8,000 words. (70%)

■ An oral presentation of the dissertation work is made at the end of the work. (30%)

The course provides opportunities for students to conduct an independent research project, audit or critical review of the literature in the selected topics in the area of Molecular Pathology, current and future diagnosis, clinical and scientific research. Students produce a written dissertation and the conclusions from the research will be presented and discussed. The course also aims to develop the students' proficiency in demonstrating a knowledge, skills and attitude to effectively participate in the research projects in molecular pathology.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically analyse and evaluate published literature on the relevant areas of research.

2. Make use of web-based literature search engines, library resources and databases to consult publications and retrieve related material.

3. Interpret and evaluate the molecular data for the molecular pathology diagnosis.

4. Identify an appropriate research question, demonstrating an understanding of the ethical and regulatory issues involved, and taking in to account resources (expertise, time, equipment, budget) available.

5. Organise and present a research project, critically assessing the limitations of the project and the contribution it makes to current knowledge.

6. Carry out a defined group of practical skills. In laboratory projects these will include the use of certain apparatus and the appropriate handling of human subjects or tissues, or of animal preparations; in dry projects, the skills will be of information retrieval and handling.

7. Communicate effectively with peers, clinicians, scientists and other health professionals, from different disciplines to deliver tasks in research.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.