Practical Project
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ONCG3003 | Cancer and Stem Cells | 3 | 40 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- ONCG3003
- School
- Cancer and Stem Cells
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 40
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module provides students with direct experience of research in cancer sciences and develops of the practical skills required to conduct a research project. The diverse set of projects on offer reflects the wide range of cancer-related research activities carried out within the School of Medicine and other Schools within the University. The students will design, plan and perform a research project under the guidance of an academic supervisor. They will read and critically analyse the scientific literature relevant to their project. They will collect, analyse, and interpret data of many different types including in some cases bioinformatic data or other types of non-laboratory data. They will write a dissertation based on their reading of the literature and the data that they have collected and/or analysed. They will also produce a poster that summarises the results of their work and present the poster in a conference-type setting.
Target Students
Students studying Cancer Sciences BSc U6UCANCS (B131) and Cancer Sciences MSci U7UCANCSY (B130).
Co-requisites
Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:
- Angiogenesis and Tumour-Host Interactions (ONCG2001)
- Cancer Cell Genetics (ONCG2002)
- Colorectal Cancer and Ovarian Cancer (ONCG2003)
- Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer (ONCG2004)
- Epidemiology of Cancer and Population Genetics (ONCG2005)
Classes
The module will comprise a number of activities that will vary depending on the type of project and the data that is being collected and/or assessed and analysed. All of the projects will include analysis of the background literature through library work to collect and collate literature and appraisal of relevant material. All of the students will also complete a written dissertation including a literature review and a detailed report of the research undertaken as well as a poster that describes their project. Other activities could include practical work in the laboratory and/or clinical setting, analysis of existing data such as RNA sequencing data or cancer genomics data, preparation and testing of teaching material, analysis of epidemiological data, or a mixture of the above.
Assessment
- 10% Assignment 1: ​Practical techniques assessment (supervisor appraisal)
- 20% Presentation 1: Poster presentation (5 mins presentation, 5 mins questions)
- 70% Dissertation: 6000 word written dissertation
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To develop the research skills and experience of the student through the planning and completion of a defined research project To develop knowledge within a contemporary research area in Cancer Sciences.Learning Outcomes
1. Intellectual skills
Students should be able to demonstrate a good understanding of:
- How established research methods are used to develop evidence and knowledge in cancer sciences
- The techniques and approaches that are applicable to their project area.
- The ethical considerations, constraints and procedures appropriate for their research project.
- The relevance and interpretation of an appropriate statistical approach to their chosen project.
- The wider background and relevant literature relating to their chosen project.
2. Professional / practical skills
Students should be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct an extended research project.
- Show competence, including safe and professional practice, in technical, laboratory, clinical, data recording, data handling, search and appraisal, and other skills relevant to their chosen project.
- Demonstrate ability to systematically search and compile relevant published material related to the chosen project.
- Demonstrate the ability to produce a coherent and concise report of the project that includes: a critical review of the background literature, a clear account of the research question/s, approach, rationale and methods used, appropriate analysis and interpretation of the results or outcomes, and conclusions drawn from these.
3. Transferable / key skills
Students should be able:
- Communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences in writing and via presentation and discussion.
- Use word-processing, bibliographic and statistical IT packages to manage research literature, create reports and analyse data relevant to their chosen project.
- Plan and carry out independent work to deadlines.
- Exercise problem-solving, initiative, personal integrity and responsibility, and critical thinking in their research.
- Formulate and test research questions and hypotheses.
- Critically evaluate written and numeric information, drawing justified conclusions from the evidence.
- Perform research methods relevant to their chosen project.
- Demonstrate effective, safe and reliable conduct of the project including self-management and teamworking.