Cancer and Cell Biology

This module equips you with the essential skills and knowledge to conduct independent scientific research, from critical literature evaluation to experimental design and data analysis.

You’ll study topics such as:
• Conduct an independent literature review to enhance critical analysis and understanding of research topics.
• Design a structured research proposal with clear aims, ethical considerations, and safety protocols.
• Develop practical lab skills through structured experiments, including data analysis and troubleshooting.
• Understand and apply statistical methods for data analysis.
• Gain an understanding of the ethical and appropriate use of artificial intelligence in research.
• Help identify and articulate your employability skills

Engaging with these core areas will prepare you for the demands of independent research and professional scientific practice.

This module aims to equip you with both practical skills and theoretical knowledge of laboratory-based research and examine the important issues that make good laboratory practice. Within the programme, this module will prepare you for the semester two laboratory module and the semester three independent research project.

You’ll study topics such as:
• Fundamental practical laboratory training (including reagent preparation, accuracy and precision in performing experiments, health and safety) which will be underpinned by subject module theoretical knowledge.
• A range of course focussed laboratory methodologies and, where appropriate, other practical procedures.
• Effective communication and presentation skills development via the preparation of visual and written work in an appropriate context.
• Introduction to ethical issues and foundations of scientific integrity forming the implications of good laboratory practice.
• Understand and apply fundamental statistical methods for data analysis.
• Employability skills and career preparation (including CV development, application process).

This module will provide students with an understanding of the major cellular and molecular changes that occur during cancer development.

 The module will outline the molecular regulation of normal cell function, providing understanding of both cellular and molecular biology at a theoretical level, supported by exploring experimental approaches used in the laboratory to probe the molecular basis of cellular behaviour.

 The module will develop to discuss the exact role of changes in molecular process using a number of specific tumour types.

You’ll study topics such as:
• Cell structure, subcellular organelles, subcellular transport
• Genomic organisation, structure and gene regulation
• Cell cycle & DNA replication, damage and repair
• Complexity and cellular diversity in the tumour microenvironment
• Cancer stem cell theory
• Tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes in malignant transformation
• The multi-step model of tumour formation
• Extracellular matrix, cancer invasion and metastasis

To provide the student with the opportunity to carry out a substantial research project over a period of eight weeks. The vast majority of projects will be lab-based, all within the bioscience and chemistry research areas. Projects will be appropriate to the specific degree programme on which the student is enrolled. This will be followed by a writing-up period during which the student will prepare an article-style written report.

You’ll study topics such as:
• Literature review, relevant to the area of study, using information databases
• Planning of an agreed research project
• Acquisition and demonstration of practical skills
• Critical analysis of research results
• Preparation of written report
• Oral scientific communication
• Contributing to a research community

Cancer therapy is becoming more personalised, with treatment regimens directed to specific features of a tumour. In this module, students will study how genomic and gene expression changes within cancer cells dictates which therapies might work, and just as important, which will certainly not work. Initially, non-targeted classical chemotherapy-based approaches will be studied, including antimetabolites, various DNA damaging approaches, and mitotic spindle inhibitors. Students will explore how biomarker discovery and genomic projects have identified molecular targets for more targeted therapies and these will be studied in detail.

The hallmarks of cancer constitute an organising principle to rationalise the complexities of this disease. Recognition of the widespread applicability of these concepts will increasingly affect the development of new treatment regimens. Students will discuss the hallmarks of cancer and evaluate how these are driving forward the new generation of targeted therapeutics.

You’ll study topics such as:
• Chemotherapy-based approaches.
• Radiotherapy-based approaches (external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, radioisotope therapy)
• Use of biomarkers in drug discovery and target identification
• Biopharmaceutical-based targeted therapies including immunotherapies and targeting of receptor tyrosine kinases
• Small molecule-based targeted therapies (proteasome inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, HDAC inhibitors, Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and Ras/Raf/Erk inhibitors)
• Acquired drug resistance mechanisms and clonality
• Immunotherapy (PD1/PD-L1 axis, CAR-T cells)
• Photodynamic therapy

Students will focus on the typical therapeutic approaches applied to a specific tumour type in the coursework and apply knowledge of a wide range of major therapeutic strategies to a broader range of clinical setting in the exam.