Dr Katherine Chapman

PM-003 Introduction to Molecular Biology

This module will provide the learner with an introduction to molecular biology, classification of species and its applications in medical science. The concept of evolution and sexual reproduction and development will also be covered, and the processes of inheritance and genetic variation, particularly with regard to evolution and natural selection. This module will be supported by a practical session and essay with academic support on a topic relevant to the medical applications of molecular biology.

PM-007 Foundation Skills Development 1

This module introduces students to various academic and practical skills required for study in Higher Education. This module will provide students with the skills to work safely within a laboratory environment, understanding key health and safety issues (from risk assessments to COSHH forms). Students will also be provided with a range of laboratory skills, such as accurate pipetting, standard curve construction, spectrophotometry, and the ability to perform technical/biological replicas for data accuracy. This module will develop foundational data analysis and mathematic skills associated with laboratory research. Finally, students will be provided with a range of academic skills on literature searching, referencing and plagiarism, communicating information, presenting, and writing. Through a combination of workshops and practical sessions, students will gain insights into various skills that will be useful throughout their studies at Swansea University and beyond.

PM-138 Skills for being a Medical Scientist

The aim of this module is to provide students with an initial experience of what it is to be a modern medical scientist, from the initial experimental planning, to performing experiments within the laboratory with data acquisition and analysis and finally to the communication of scientific findings to a wider audience. Students will develop basic skill sets in the four most important research skill areas of practical laboratory skills, data analysis, collaboration and communication. The module will be both theoretical and applied, where the student will be instructed in methods essential for data acquisition and data analyses but will also actively participate in the laboratory, using broadly applicable experimental techniques. In addition, students will learn about health and safety within a laboratory environment and the current ethics regulations surrounding the use of humans, human tissue and animals within medical research. Furthermore, students will develop their communication skill sets not only through essay writing but also will develop their oral presentation skill set and their collaboration skills through a group presentation and tutorial classes.

PM-138C Sgiliau ar gyfer Gwyddorau Meddygol

Nod y modiwl hwn yw darparu¿r sgiliau sylfaenol sydd eu hangen ar fyfyrwyr ar gyfer ymchwil labordy ym maes y gwyddorau meddygol cymhwysol. Bydd y modiwl yn cynnwys gwaith damcaniaethol a chymhwysol: caiff y myfyriwr ei hyfforddi mewn dulliau sy¿n hanfodol ar gyfer caffael data a¿i ddadansoddi, ond bydd hefyd yn cymryd rhan weithredol yn y labordy, gan ddefnyddio¿n fras y technegau arbrofol perthnasol. Byddant hefyd yn datblygu sgiliau nad ydynt yn dechnegau arbrofol yn eu hunain, ond sydd er hynny, yn sylfaenol i¿r broses wyddonol, megis, 'mathemateg y labordy¿, cyrchu gwybodaeth, cyfeirnodi, moeseg ac iechyd a diogelwch.

PM-163 Population Genomics and Clinical Applications

Population genomics is the study of genetic variation within populations and involves the examination of changes in the frequency of alleles and genotypes across space and time. Concepts such as natural selection, genetic drift, gene pool, genetic diversity, migration, and environmental diversity all contribute to creating genetic diversity within sub populations. Students will be taught these key concepts along with the real-life sub population examples where genotype variation has led to the diversity in genetics. Such as, the prevalence of disease in the specific populations, the evolution of genetically distinct populations and the genomics behind genetic diversity in sport. This module will take you across the world in multidisciplinary topics and show how genomics is weaved throughout, to create the strengths, weakness, and purely, what makes us who we are.

PM-226 Human and Medical Genetics

The course is designed to introduce fundamental concepts in the study of human genetics with particular reference to the application of the principles to medicine. The course covers the role of genetics in human health and disease and methods for the detection of genetic variability in human populations.

PM-254 Doctors, patients & the goals of medicine

The educational intention of the module is to allow the student to consider the contemporary practice of Medicine within the United Kingdom. This will include understanding the professional regulation, financial constraints and societal and personal challenges, within which medicine and other healthcare activities are practiced.

PM-267 Pharmacogenomics: Genes on Drugs

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how a person¿s genomic information can affect their response to drugs and therapeutics, predicting if a patient will respond badly, too much or too little to a chosen therapy. This is the underlying principle of `personalised medicine¿, ensuring the right patient, gets the right drug, at the right time. Within this module, students will look at the principles of pharmacogenomics, namely the variation in genomic sequences from patient to patient which can alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutics. In this module, students will learn about the role of pharmacogenomics in chemotherapy, gastrointestinal drugs, cardiovascular drugs, respiratory drugs, neurological drugs and drugs used in the treatment of infectious disease.

PM-269 Population Health & The Art of Research 1

This module introduces students to the philosophical underpinnings, and practical applications of population health research. It has been designed to enable students to develop a real-world understanding of a range of epidemiological and qualitative research methodologies used to investigate population health problems, and an appreciation of the importance of ethics when conducting population health research in practice.

PM-284 Employability Skills and Placement Year Preparation

Employability Skills is a non-credit bearing module that is designed to prepare students for a Placement Year or their future career path. This module will focus on the underpinning and fundamental requisites required to gain, enter and progress effectively through a work placement. The module will offer personal and practical support in the application of the Placement Year or broader workplace experience. TB1 ¿ This will comprise of 5 taught sessions that will allow students to recognise and develop employability skills; understand how to reflect and maximise the placement experience or other workplace experience. TB2 ¿ Fortnightly one-to-one meetings with a careers consultant for support and guidance in securing a placement, checking on the application progress and completing Placement Year paperwork and DBS checks (if required).

PM-317 Genetics of Cancer

This module extensively explores the molecular and genetic foundations underlying key aspects of cancer, including angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell signalling, DNA damage, molecular pathology, invasion and metastasis, inflammation, and the Warburg effect. Expert insights will be shared by a consultant gastroenterologist and a consultant pathologist during select lectures. This approach aims to offer students a well-rounded understanding that integrates academic knowledge, research insights, and practical clinical expertise. Additionally, the module seeks to broaden students' perspectives by dedicating a final lecture to an individual who shares firsthand experiences of living with cancer. This unique session provides students with valuable insights into the human aspect of the disease, fostering empathy and a deeper appreciation of the patient's journey. An appreciation for the way in which an individual¿s own genome can influence diagnosis, prognosis and treatment is also included.

PM-342 Advances in Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the science of how drugs act on the body and how the body acts on drugs. Pharmacology investigates the chemical and physical properties of drugs, how those properties confer actions on living tissues and how those actions affect health and disease. In this module, students will build upon their previous pharmacology knowledge and look more in depth at how the body interacts with drugs (pharmacokinetics) and how the drug interacts with the body (pharmacodynamics). In this module, students will study the drugs and therapeutics currently used in clinical practise and the underlying mechanisms of action of these drugs. Students will learn about the beneficial, therapeutic effects of drugs, but also some negative consequences of drug administration, such as toxicity, addiction and microbial drug-resistance. Additionally, students will learn about the cutting-edge therapies currently in development for treating disease.

PM-344 Capstone Project

The aim of this module is to provide a capstone experience to students¿ learning, through participating in their own enquiry-based research project, with guidance from an academic supervisor. The project may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, but it will always involve a research question that is drawn from the literature, and focused on a topic relevant to the life sciences. It will ask a research question and involve the critical analysis of research findings. Students will refine their oral and written communication skills to a graduate level through an oral presentation and dissertation on their research findings and conclusions.

PM-354 Cancer Pharmacology

Cancer remains a significant cause of mortality in the modern world. Current and emerging chemotherapies, and the rationale, experimental, and clinical evidence of the pathways or molecules targeted will be explored. Causes of treatment-related side effects, and the therapies used to address these, will be discussed along with the mechanisms that lead to anti-cancer drug resistance.

PM-401 Science Communication

This module will encompass a range of communication modes, from presentation of science to the general public to critically analysing a scientific paper. The module will be run as a series of online seminars to prepare, firstly, for a short 3 minute thesis-like presentations to both a professional and non-professional audience. This will be complemented by preparation of short, New Scientist-style articles by each student on the topic of their presentation. Students will be assigned a topic that is appropriate to their degree title. In the latter half of the module, the focus will be on skills-training for writing a scientific paper, preparing the ground for their project dissertations.

PM-S00 Year Abroad for Biomedical Sciences

This module is for students on BSc biomedical sciences programmes, including BSc Genetics and Biochemistry programmes, BSc Medical Sciences and Population Health, BSc Pharmacology, BSc Microbiology and Immunology and BSc Data Science and Population Health taking the intercalary study year at an overseas institution.

PM-X00 Placement Year

PMGM17 Post Graduate Taught Masters Dissertation

The module is for students to build on their previous knowledge, skills and experience by undertaking a laboratory based or suitable non-laboratory based project on a specific subject related to genomics.

PMGM21 Pharmacogenomics & Stratified Healthcare

Pharmacogenomics and stratified health care ensure that healthcare professionals offer the right treatment, for the right person, at the right time is a fast-developing area. `Personalised medicine¿ is the buzzword of the moment, with advances in pharmacogenomic testing enabling more effective, targeted therapies to patients in the field of asthma, analgesia, oncology and beyond. Continued understanding of the genomic basis of drug response will reduce drug-related adverse effects, save costs, and ensure a better therapeutic outcome. This module will provide a comprehensive overview of the analytical strategies and techniques used in pharmacogenomics and explore some of the challenges and limitations in this field. The module will also provide an overview of the different type of pharmacogenomic biomarkers currently in use or emerging and the current feasibility of delivering `personalised medicine¿ in the clinic.

PMNM20 Science Communication

This module will encompass a range of communication modes, from presentation of science to the general public to critically analysing a scientific paper. The module will be run as a series of online seminars to prepare, firstly, for a short 3 minute thesis-like presentations to both a professional and non-professional audience. This will be complemented by preparation of short, New Scientist-style articles by each student on the topic of their presentation. Students will be assigned a topic that is appropriate to their degree title. In the latter half of the module, the focus will be on skills-training for writing a scientific paper, preparing the ground for their project dissertations.

PMNM20J Science Communication

This module will encompass a range of communication modes, from presentation of science to the general public to critically analysing a scientific paper. The module will be run as a series of online seminars to prepare, firstly, for a short 3 minute thesis-like presentations to both a professional and non-professional audience. This will be complemented by preparation of short, New Scientist-style articles by each student on the topic of their presentation. Students will be assigned a topic that is appropriate to their degree title. In the latter half of the module, the focus will be on skills-training for writing a scientific paper, preparing the ground for their project dissertations.