During this course students will appraise the diverse modern technologies available for diagnosis of infectious and non-transmissible diseases. Working in small groups students will then critically research the limitations of current diagnostics for a selected disease, devise a new diagnostic device or test that would overcome these limitations, and present their findings.

Three week full time course: Introductory lectures, group work, private study and ongoing reflective portfolio, one seminar to report on progress per week, final presentation session of posters

Drug Discovery

None

Summative Assessment

Students are assessed individually with a reflective portfolio, summarising their participation and contribution to the group work, and an assessment of the skills developed during the course (30%). Each group of students will prepare a poster showing their evaluation of the current diagnostic, and their proposal for an improved diagnostic device or methodology (70%), aimed at a specific and appropriate target audience. A group mark will be awarded for the poster that is the same for all students in the group.

The course aims to provide students with an opportunity to evaluate the diverse modern technologies available for diagnosis of infectious and non-transmissible diseases. Working in groups, they will then research current diagnostic technologies and devices for a selected disease, assessing the limitations of the current diagnostic tests, and will devise a new diagnostic device or application of methodology to overcome the limitations and improve diagnosis.

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

i) critically evaluate available diagnostic methodologies;

ii) discuss regulatory standards for diagnostic tests, the registration of diagnostic devices in Europe and other markets, and licensing and protection of intellectual property;

iii) select and critically investigate diagnostic tests available for a specific disease, identifying the strengths and limitations of the current approaches;

iv) develop and appraise solutions to overcome the limitations of current tests;

v) summarise and present their conclusions in the form of a poster in a style appropriate for a target audience of a biotechnology company looking to invest;

vi) work effectively in autonomous groups, and reflect critically on their role and performance within the group.

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