The Intercalated degree in Clinical Sciences provides training in translational research combining a broad teaching programme with the opportunity to undertake a 7 month project within a laboratory.
The degree offers 10 different modules for study and the student will choose 6 of these according to their interest. This honours degree should benefit you both in the short term, in relation to career progression, but also in the long term by broadening your understanding of academic medicine.
The learning for Major Disciplines in Clinical Sciences builds on that already provided in Clinical Sciences in the third year of the MBChB programme, which, in itself, builds on extensive learning about normal structure and function in the first two years.
In the BMedSc Clinical Sciences programme students are required to deepen and advance their understanding, becoming familiar with the major directions of current research in each of the major disciplines. Through the application of critical and analytical skills, they are required to identify the implications of research for the overall body of knowledge of the scientific disciplines in terms of both new knowledge and new uncertainties. This emphasis on the knowledge base of each discipline as a developing rather than a stable entity is reflected in the assessment criteria.
The course consists of:
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a research project which leads to a thesis to be submitted by mid-April. Students spend approximately 60% of their time on their research projects
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a choice of 6 out of 10 optional taught modules (10 credits each) in the various disciplines of Clinical Sciences
You will also follow an introductory module (Research Methodology) which will provide you with training in laboratory skills. Teaching will take place from September 2012. Students will work on their research project alongside the taught modules and complete a dissertation by April.
"With support from my supervisors, I applied for and was successful for a Royal College of Surgeons Intercalated Degree in Surgery Award to help fund my BMedSc year and research project. I think that the extended length of research time the BMedSc Clinical Sciences degree provides was a key factor in helping me to gain this support from the Royal College." Hannah Shereef
You will study a choice of 6 out of 10 optional taught modules (10 credits each) in the various disciplines of Clinical Sciences below:
1. Cancer Studies
This module focuses on the scientific basis of the causes and treatment of cancers. Specific characteristics of tumours will be examined from a cellular and molecular perspective. There will be analysis of current areas of debate within the field with particular emphasis on new developments.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
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Demonstrate an understanding of the factors that lead to the development of cancer and current treatments available.
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Utilise their knowledge of the molecular basis of cancer to understand the rationale of the current treatment strategies and the features of a cancer cell and how this leads to clinical disease.
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Identify areas of active research in this field and explain the application of methodologies being used.
2. Rheumatology & Orthopaedics
Musculoskeletal sciences embrace huge diversity that is fully represented in the new musculoskeletal module. From our work on the immunology underlying persistent inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that affects 1% of our population and costs the UK £600million per year in direct health costs, to understanding the critical mechanisms of failure and success in new hip replacement techniques, the huge breadth of research underlying clinical expertise present across medical and surgical musculoskeletal specialities in Birmingham will be explored.
Rheumatology lecturers will explore multiple facets of diseases including inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue diseases hrough themes of basic mechanisms, new predictive strategies in early disease, advanced imaging techniques, understanding new therapies that are revolutionising the treatment of arthritis, and understanding the challenges and shortcomings of therapeutic trials.
Lecturers from our orthopaedic centre of excellence, The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, will explore collaborative research in ageing and the immunology of joint replacement, through to cuting edge surgical and reconstructive techniques.
The module will use a mix of seminars, interactive sessions with group activities and interactive task setting with subsequent review sessions.
By the end of the module, the student should be able to:
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Demonstrate an understanding of current paradigms in the pathophysiology of inflammatory arthritis.
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Understand how developments in diagnostic techniques of serology, tissue biopsy and advanced imaging are improving the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory arthritis.
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Describe and place in a scientific and clinical context new therapies available for rheumatological and orthopaedic disease, and issues surrounding clinical trials of new therapies.
3. Haematology
Haematology is one of the most academically active disciplines within clinical medicine and many advances in clinical practice have been developed through haematological models.
Increasingly, haemato-oncology is dominating the haematology curriculum and most haematology trainees enter this area. However, one of the appeals of haematology is that it has breadth, as well as depth, crossing into areas such as autoimmunity, blood transfusion and blood coagulation.
This module has been designed to cover all the major themes of haematology at the current time. The lecturers will aim to take your level of knowledge beyond the current undergraduate understanding. It will be assumed that you have a working knowledge of the lectures given in year 2 and 3 as part of the MBChB curriculum.
By the end of the module, the student should be able to:
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Demonstrate an understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of the major malignant and non-malignant subtypes of haematological disease.
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Analyse how diagnostic approaches help to facilitate management of these diseases.
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Evaluate the current therapeutic approaches to haematological disorders.
4. Immunology & Renal Medicine
It is now appreciated that immune mechanisms underlie many of the disorders that are seen in clinical practice. This is an area of great research strength in Birmingham and is focussed around the MRC/UoB Centre for Immune Regulation. The module will address specific topics that are of current interest in the field including the anatomy of immune responses, inflammation, chemokine biology and immunology of ageing. Renal medicine is also a major clinical and academic strength at Birmingham and immune processes underlie many forms of renal disease. These two disciplines thus form a natural combination for this module. The teaching will address the features of basic and clinical research within immunology and renal medicine. The aim will be to extend and build on the teaching of these topics in the early years of Undergraduate medicine.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
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Demonstrate a detailed understanding of selected topics within immunology and manuscripts and develop ideas for designing research projects in this area.
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Demonstrate with examples an understanding of how the immune system is implicated in a range of clinical disorders and the modern approaches that are being made to investigate and manage these problems.
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Express a detailed understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical features of some of the major subtypes of renal disease including glomerulonephritis and chronic kidney disease.
5. Infection
The module will address current areas of interest in basic science and clinical management of infection. Building on undergraduate teaching, the aim will be to take a focussed interest on areas of local strength and contemporary debate in order to demonstrate the breadth and importance of this topic. Postgraduate topics in bacteriology and virology will be the major areas of interest.
By the end of the module, the student should be able to:
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Have an understanding of the molecular basis of infectious pathogens and the interplay between pathogens and their host.
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Appreciate and evaluate current approaches in the prevention, control and treatment of infectious disease.
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Have an appreciation of current techniques that are used in the study of infectiou therapeutics and the relative strengths of the different approaches.
6. Histopathology
This module addresses selected topics in Pathology focussing on recent developments in both diagnostic and academic pathology. One focus is to emphasise the importance of linking the conventional study of cells and tissues with newer research approaches and consider how these can be applied in key areas of medicine with the aim of delivering improvements in patient care.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
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Demonstrate an appreciation of how understanding the pathological basis of disease can help to direct the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Identify areas of current research within Pathology and explain the methodologies being used.
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Display the ability to critically analyse scientific literature in this field of research.
7. Anatomy & Trauma
An understanding of human anatomy is central to clinical practice and the module will focus on recent advances i nthe study of anatomy to allow a focussed and detailed study of specific regions. A major feature will be on how advances in radiology, information technology and microscopy are being used to inform knowledge of functional anatomy. Trauma is a major clinical problem and an area of local clinical and research strength. A particular focus is the national Centre for Trauma research. Lectures on the module will focus on selected areas in trauma medicine and address how anatomy is helping to support clinical advances.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
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Demonstrate an appreciation on how contemporary research within the field of anatomy can contribute to understanding of the pathogenesis of human disease.
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Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the anatomy of selected regions of the human body
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Demonstrate an understanding of, and critically evaluate how recent developments in trauma care have been driven and how traumatic injury is managed and topical debates in this area.
8. Endocrinology
Endocrine disorders are a major burden on health and an area of great scientific interest. The module will choose selected topics in this area in order to provide a detailed analysis of the underpinning basic science as well as the clinical management of the disorders. The strength of outstanding local research programmes in these areas will be a particular feature. Indeed, the desire to communicate areas of local research excellence is a major aim of the programme.
By the end of this module, the student should be able to:
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Understand the principles that underlie the pathogenesis of the major disorders of endocrine systems.
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Appreciate the application of modern techniques such as molecular and protein biology to key topics within endocrinology.
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Be aware of the current debates and questions concerning the management of disorders of the endocrine system.
9. Liver and GI Medicine
This module addresses the key areas in Hepatology and Gastroenterology focussing on recent developments and the underpinning basic science. The module will provide detail on the basic mechanisms underpinning diseas states as well as outlining the development of novel therapeutic strategies. A focus will be on the important contribution that local research teams have contributed to this effort.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
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Understand the underlying mechanisms which explain how liver and gastrointestinal disorders develop and be able to interpret/understand how different diseases are diagnosed.
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Have a basic knowledge of strategies currently used to treat liver and gastrointestinal disease and appreciate the mechanisms by which novel therapeutic agents act.
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Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the current research progress in an aspect of this field.
10. Evolutionary basis of clinical medicine
There is an increasing appreciation of the value of incorporating knowledge of evolutionary biology in biomedical research. This module will provide a synopsis of current developments in this field and focus on selected areas of particular interest. The importance of this work to clinical research and practice will be a central theme of the teaching.
Wherever possible the module will focus on areas of local expertise and excellence in order to develop the discipline of academic medicine on Campus.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
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Demonstrate a comprehension of the fundamental principles of human evolution and analyse current debates in this area.
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Evaluate how evolutionary principles are related to human clinical disorders.
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Criically examine how evolutionary understanding can help to guide research and treatment of medical problems.
This is the module list for 2012, but the programme continues to evolve and you should check the website regularly for any changes for next year.
Standard fees apply. Learn more about fees and funding.
The Association of Clinical Pathologists has a number of financial assistance schemes that can be applied for each year.
Scholarships
Learn more about our scholarships and awards
Birmingham CRUK Centre Award for Intercalating B.Med.Sci. (Clinical Sciences) students
The Birmingham Cancer Research UK (CR-UK) centre supports cancer research across campus and at local hospital partners. Part of the funding that the Birmingham CR-UK Centre receives is ringfenced to fund clinical training, the goal being to train the clinical research workforce of the future (one of the CR-UK 2020 goals). This year, the CR-UK Centre will utilise some of this funding to pilot a scheme to support the B.Med.Sci (Clinical Sciences) Intercalation course. This is a one year intercalated degree that MBChB students can choose to join after the 3rd or 4th years of their MBChB course. This intercalation offers 'Cancer Studies' as a module in the course and our aim is to attract the best research-orientated medical students into cancer research at the earliest stages of their career.
Award details
Personal bursary award: this will be awarded directly to the student. There will be a single personal award of £2,000 made to the intercalating student who achieves the highest mark in their Clinical Sciences examination in their 3rd year of study and who undertakes a cancer related project (1,2).
Notes
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In the event that the student receiving the Jean Shanks Award has selected a cancer related project, this student will receive the Jean Shanks Award and the CRUK bursary will be awarded to the student with the next highest mark in their 3rd year Clinical Sciences examination undertaking a cancer related project
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Cancer related projects are indicated as ‘Cancer Sciences’ in the discipline section of each project outline available online
Key dates
Applications for the intercalating BMedSci (Clinical Sciences) course must be received by Friday 1st February 2013. The successful student will receive an award letter confirming the personal bursary award available through the Birmingham CR-UK Centre Award once they have accepted their offer letter of a place on the intercalating B.Med.Sci. (Clinical Sciences) course.
The Birmingham Cancer Research UK (CR-UK) centre supports cancer research across campus and at local hospital partners. Part of the funding that the Birmingham CR-UK Centre receives is ringfenced to fund clinical training, the goal being to train the clinical research workforce of the future (one of the CR-UK 2020 goals). This year, the CR-UK Centre will utilise some of this funding to pilot a scheme to support the B.Med.Sci (Clinical Sciences) Intercalation course. This is a one year intercalated degree that MBChB students can choose to join after the 3rd or 4th years of their MBChB course. This intercalation offers 'Cancer Studies' as a module in the course and our aim is to attract the best research-orientated medical students into cancer research at the earliest stages of their career. Personal bursary award: this will be awarded directly to the student. There will be a single personal award of £2,000 made to the intercalating student who achieves the highest mark in their Clinical Sciences examination in their 3rd year of study and who undertakes a cancer related project (1,2). 1) In the event that the student receiving the Jean Shanks Award has selected a cancer related project, this student will receive the Jean Shanks Award and the CRUK bursary will be awarded to the student with the next highest mark in their 3rd year Clinical Sciences examination undertaking a cancer related project 2) Cancer related projects are indicated as ‘Cancer Sciences’ in the discipline section of each project outline available online Applications for the intercalating BMedSci (Clinical Sciences) course must be received by . The successful student will receive an award letter confirming the personal bursary award available through the Birmingham CR-UK Centre Award once they have accepted their offer letter of a place on the intercalating B.Med.Sci. (Clinical Sciences) course.
BMedSc Intercalated Awards
Up to 14 awards will be made to students from the University of Birmingham (medicine or dentistry programmes) who will be intercalating on any of the Birmingham BMedSc programmes. Each is worth up to £3000 and will be awarded following a competitive application process.
Some of the awards place conditions upon the type of work that will be funded. But, from the breadth of intercalating study undertaken in the past we expect that it will not be a problem to match particular awards with study areas. We would like to point out, however, that three of the awards have the condition that they must be used to support a student working in the field of infectious diseases. Please note that this aspect of study could be encompassed by any of the three main intercalating programmes. If no student qualifies no award will be made.
Only those students who achieve an overall year 2 mark of 65% or more will be eligible for consideration for an award. It is expected that decisions on awards will be made sometime in July 2013.
Submission
By the deadline date of 2nd July 2013, you must submit the following in electronic format:
A statement of no more than 200 words outlining why you wish to intercalate and how you perceive that this will benefit your future career.
A hypothetical research proposal (no more than 500 words). You may choose any area of clinical/medical research but you must identify a specific research question that you could address during your intercalation studies. The chosen area need not relate directly to your chosen intercalated programme (some students may lack confidence in the research methods employed within the discipline). Your proposal must include and take account of the following:
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Summary of published evidence that provides relevant background within the study area.
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Reasoned arguments to justify the importance and relevance of the proposed research topic with some suggestion of how it may impact on knowledge or clinical practice.
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An outline of how the work will be carried out. You will not be in a position to describe your methods / techniques / approaches in detail but you should be able to demonstrate that you are able to design a project that has a reasonable chance of success and that you appreciate the potential pitfalls and limitations in your study design.
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Take care to ensure that the study design provides a feasible and rational method for addressing the research question and that you do not require an unreasonable amount of resource to achieve your objectives. Thus, for example, in the context of a student project, it is neither feasible nor reasonable to suggest that you will organise and run a major clinical trial (with involvement of 100’s of participants). On the other hand, it is reasonable to have specialist support and, as described in the example project in the accompanying document, to recruit the support of three general practices for carrying out your study.
Please see the accompanying document for additional guidance on writing this proposal. The reference list is not included in the word limit but should be no more than 20 references.
Please note, depending on the intercalating programme, you may not have free choice in selecting your actual research project, though all programmes do provide choice.
Please submit your documents to: Ms Yvonne Palmer: y.palmer@bham.ac.uk
Decisions
Awards will be made by a committee comprising representatives of all three intercalating programmes who will consider both academic merit (year 2 mark) and the quality of the application (based on assessment of both points 1 and 2, above). It is expected that once an academic threshold has been reached, the decision will rest primarily on the excellence of the written submission.
Conditions of an award
All students must inform the admissions tutor for their programme if they are in receipt of funds to support their intercalation from any other source. It is not expected that a BMedSc Intercalated Award will be made to anyone who is in receipt of such funds.
The money will be paid, where possible, in equal monthly amounts over a 10 month period during the academic year.
Upon completion of the intercalating programme, a one-page summary of the achievements and benefits gained from the programme is required. This must also acknowledge receipt of the award.