Molecular and Translational Haematology Course Guide

Module 1 - The Taught Module

Module 1 is a 12-week teaching block. Students will receive interactive, engaging sessions from leading experts in the field of haematological research. Topics covered in this module include:

• The role of the haematopoietic system
• Leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma and myelodysplasia
• Red cells, thalassaemias, haemoglobinopathies
• Automunity and cellular therapies
• Haemostasis and clotting

Module 1 Assessment

Module 1 is assessed via three pieces of in-course assessment which account for 30% of the overall BSc mark:

• Written Task (15% of Module 1)

Students will write a 1,000-word 'Critic at Large' article which will address topical or controversial area of scientific research. 

• Oral Task (15% of Module 1)

Students will give a 10-minute poster presentation critically evaluating an area of cancer research followed by 5-minutes of questions from assessors. 

• Data Management and Interpretation (70% of Module 1)

Students will undertake laboratory research and produce a results compendium analysing and interpreting the data, along with a scientific abstract and a lay summary. 

How is this Module Taught?

Module 1 provides a blend of face to face teaching on campus, lab work and online teaching. We aim to make our teaching as interactive as possible to promote student engagement and cohort building. 

The module includes 3 consolidation weeks without teaching, where students can work on assessments, associated self-directed learning, on-line modules and group work. The consolidation weeks will also provide an opportunity to meet with the Course Lead to discuss progress, issues and receive feedback on course work and progression.

Module 2 - Self-Directed Learning

Module 2 is a 5-week block which provides students with a collaborative experience of working with their peers to provide a critical synthesis of a scientific problem. Students will also work independently on a clinical case study involving a real patient, where they will investigate the science underpinning the patient's diagnosis and treatment.

Module 2 Assessment

Module 2 is assessed via two pieces of in-course assessment which account for 25% of the overall BSc mark:

Group Literature Review (25% of Module 2)

Students will work in groups of 4-5 to develop their team working, communication, critical appraisal and clinical translation skills through a literature review assignment that focusses on translation of basic understanding of cancer into patient-orientated research.

This assignment is submitted in 3 stages and is designed to mirror the process of submitting research to a scientific journal:

• Each group will produce a 3,500-word critical summary of a cutting-edge area of cancer research
• They will then produce a 1,000-word review of another group's critical summary
• Finally, groups will produce a revised critical summary addressing the peer referee group’s comments

Science in Context (10% of Module 2)

Students will be provided with a clinical case that forms the basis for an in-depth scientific exploration of the current and emerging evidence for either the underlying cause of the disorder or current treatment options. Students will be assessed via a scientific poster and poster presentation.

How is this Module Taught?

Module 2 is self-directed learning so there are guidance sessions but no taught sessions. For both pieces of Module 2 assessment, all students will be supported by an academic supervisor who is an expert in the field of study. 

Module 3 - Research Project

In Module 3 students will conduct a 14-week supervised research project resulting in a project write-up in the style of an academic research paper. Students will have opportunity for critical reflection on design of research, validation of approach, and robustness of data interpretation. 

Students will choose from a range of current and topical research projects. Examples of past projects include:

Clinical Projects

• Bleeding and thrombotic complications from Temporary circulatory support for cardiogenic shock
• Changes in depth of response after autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma and their importance for clinical outcome
• The non-malignant morbidity of HTLV-1

Laboratory Projects

• Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) defining the mode of action of an essential anticoagulant
• ADAMTS13 conformation: determinant of function and targeting as an autoantigen in TTP
• Functional analysis of the upstream promoter region of the EVI1 oncogene inEVI1+ myeloid leukaemia cells

Module 3 Assessment

Module 3 is assessed via two pieces of in-course assessment which account for 45% of the overall BSc mark:

Project Report (78% of Module 3)

Students will produce a 5,000-word project report.

Oral Presentation of Project (22% of Module 3)

Students will give a 10-minute oral presentation reflecting on their individual research journey and future research directions, followed by 5-minutes of questions.

How is this Module Taught?

All students will have a dedicated project supervisor who will be a senior academic at Imperial. The supervisor will guide support the student throughout their research journey. 

Additional support will be provided by the Module Lead, who will run regular project support sessions. Students will give a project progress presentation with their BSc Molecular and Translational Haematology cohort at regular intervals.