| Unit name | Pharmacology Research proposal |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHPHM0002 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Usowicz |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
PHAR20001 Principles of pharmacology 2A PHAR20002 Principles of pharmacology 2B Introduction to Industrial study Industrial Research Project |
| Co-requisites |
20 cp Concepts and Skills (pharmacology) 20 cp Pharmacology of ion channels and synaptic transmission 20 cp Receptor signalling and non-drug therapies 20 cp Pharmacology of the nervous system |
| School/department | School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Students learn to plan a higher research-level investigation lasting 3 years, as in a standard project grant. Students read into the current scientific literature on a topic that goes beyond that covered in lectures covered in the co-requisite units, and formulate and write a proposal in the format of a Wellcome Trust project grant. This is carried under the guidance of a supervisor who is not an expert on the focused proposal field, using through weekly meetings. Prior to work on the research proposal, students practise assessing current literature on a given subject that relates to, but goes beyond, the teaching in co-requisite units, and present their findings (in pairs or threes) to academic staff as a Powerpoint presentation in a MSci symposium. The unit aims to build on the research and analytical skills in pharmacology that the students have acquired during their year in industry. Students use these skills and those acquired in co-requisite units to plan and cost a long-term research project.
Mainly self-directed learning under the supervision of an academic member of staff, through weekly meetings.
Formative: Students given an oral/Powerpoint presentation in twos or threes on an area of current pharmacological research that they have investigated in detail. They are given oral feedback on their presentations, usually by their personal tutors, in a meeting held the following day.
Summative: The research proposal is written as a Wellcome Trust project grant application (80%), with strict limits on page number and font size. Each proposal is read by two members of staff. All students are examined orally (~20 minutes) by the two assessors. MSci students also sit a 2 hour exam (20%) consisting of questions that test the ability to integrate material from all units in the final year, their research project and their year in industry.
Reviews and primary articles from the current scientific literature.
