Precision Medicine (Cancer) MSc (PGDip, PGCert)

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Course structure 

The Precision Medicine (Cancer) MSc is typically completed full-time in one year, but can be taken part-time over two years. The teaching approach integrates systems, enquiry and case-based learning and is structured to include both taught modules, a placement and a project.

To be awarded the MSc, you must obtain 180 M-level credits: 120 credits from taught and subject-specific modules, and 60 credits through the completion of the project.

Syllabus

Modules

Core modules

• Cancer: Bench to Bedside

  This module provides you with an overview of the fundamental biological processes underlying cancer and develops your knowledge of the treatment possibilities provided by our understanding of how cancer works at a biological level. You will cover areas such as risk factors and diagnosis, radiotherapies, immune therapies, psychosocial oncology and in vivo and in vitro cancer models, and get an insight into the journey from diagnosis to treatment to remission.

• Psycho-oncology

  This module will include an introduction to psycho-oncology and the importance of quality of life (QoL) measures in clinical trials. You will explore the psychological impact of cancer on patients and their families and learn how to conduct sensitive interviews and interventions to help patients. You will also learn how to effectively communicate with healthcare workers and patients and how to evaluate and contextualise the tools used for assessing QoL in patients.

• Omics for Diseases: Theory, Practice and Applications

  This module covers the theory, practice and application of omics at the genomic, proteomic and metabolomic level. You will learn about the types of omics currently on the market and the use of omics technologies in basic research, medicine and pharmaceutical sciences for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of diseases. You will gain hands-on experience with genomics and proteomics datasets and at the end of the module present a poster discussing recent advances in omics.

• Precision Medicine

  During this module, you will gain an introduction to precision medicine, with themes including omics strategies, genetic testing such as DPYD tests, precision medicine in different cancers and recent breakthroughs. The module includes sessions on specific areas of cancer such as lung cancer EGFR, colorectal cancer mismatch repair and ovarian PARP inhibitors.

• Precision Medicine Project

  This project module is based around independent study, requiring you to collect and analyse your own data and report on your findings, but you will also have a supervisor to support and guide you. Examples of previous projects include: the role of stress on cancer metastasis to the bone; glucocorticoid antagonism on breast cancer metastasis to the brain; cortisol and cancer initiation; and ADRB2 polymorphisms and drug resistance in breast cancer.

• Research Methods

  During this module you will be able to evaluate your research skills and training needs, develop research skills and strategies and design a research project proposal relevant to your specialist interests or professional practice. You will also develop your awareness of, and apply, relevant ethical and regulatory requirements.

Options*

• Oxidative Stress and Human Disease

  This module highlights the role of oxidative stress in normal human physiology and in the development of conditions and diseases. You will examine the basic biochemical mechanisms involved in oxidative stress and injury and discover how the human body can protect itself against this. You will also explore the development of pharmacological interventions which have the potential to reduce oxidant injury, for example antioxidant enzyme mimetics and oxidant injury pathway inhibitors.

• Monitoring Signalling Molecules in Neuroscience

  This module provides you with an overview of signalling mechanisms and how they may be altered through pharmacological intervention, ageing and disease. You will explore the theory, capabilities, limitations and applications of the techniques used in monitoring signalling molecules in vivo and in vitro, including amperometry, fast scan cyclic voltammetry and microdialysis. You will also learn to understand, interpret and critically evaluate the latest scientific literature in this field.

• Ageing: Pathology and Prevention

  This module will explain the current understanding of the causes and features of the degenerative pathology associated with ageing. You will look at the fundamental biology of ageing and the physiological changes that occur with age, for example regarding tissue function and bone density. You will also explore the application, discovery and development of interventions to promote healthy ageing, including lifestyle, nutrition and supplementation.

• Understanding Age-Related CNS Disorders

  This module will provide you with an insight into current research aimed at understanding the mechanisms that drive CNS ageing and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Through discussing primary scientific literature, you will develop an understanding of the future targets for treating a range of CNS diseases, be able to critically evaluate the potential clinical uses of these targets and develop the necessary skills to critique the literature.

• Regenerative Medicine and Medical Devices

  Regenerative Medicine and Medical Devices will introduce you to the field of regenerative medicine, medical implants and diagnostics. Areas covered include conventional medical implants and devices and personalised regenerative medicine approaches in cell-based therapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering. You will explore the factors influencing biocompatibility of materials in relation to specific clinical applications and expanded to conventional implants, cell carriers and nanobiomaterials as vectors/carriers for genes and drugs.

• Clinical Microbiology in the Post-Antimicrobial Era

  Clinical Microbiology in the Post-Antimicrobial Era will cover the complex factors influencing microbial pathogenesis, the clinical presentation of infectious disease and microbial resistance to antibiotics. You will explore aspects of infection management practice and the use of rapid diagnostic methods to accelerate appropriate treatment of infection. You will also learn to critically evaluate current thinking regarding organism and host factors which affect pathogenesis of infectious agents.

• Techniques in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Analysis

  In this module, delivered as series of laboratory and computational classes, you will gain a range of experimental techniques in chemical and pharmaceutical analysis. Featured techniques could include differential scanning calorimetry, high pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

• Placement/Internship

  This module is designed to support your career development and enhance your experience by developing your competencies, skills, network and experiential learning through hands-on experience in omics. You will gain an overview of omics strategies used in precision medicine, learn how to use the relevant instruments and understand how omics can be applied to the discipline of precision medicine.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Staff profile

Dr Melanie Flint, course leader

Dr Melanie Flint is a Reader in Cancer Research and is the leader of a stress and breast cancer program and section head for Therapeutics at the University of Brighton. She is currently co-leader of Brighton and Sussex Cancer Research Network and a member of the Cancer Translation Advisory Group Steering Committee.

Melanie trained in the Women’s Cancer Research Centre, at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and remains an Adjunct Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh. Her work is currently supported by Cancer Research UK, the Rosetrees Trust and the Boltini Trust. And her work on stress and cancer has been supported by National Institutes of Health, Team Verrico, Breast cancer Research Trust, Wendy Will Case Cancer Fund and the PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Initiative.

Find out more about Dr Flint and her work.

Specialist facilities 

Facilities available to students on this course include:

• dedicated molecular biology lab with access to qPCR equipment and dark room facility
• a specialist image analysis suite with electron microscopes, a confocal microscope, atomic force microscopes, and other general light and fluorescent imaging equipment
• a genomics/proteomics facility for analysis of genes and proteins using microarray platforms
• nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry.

Click to view a virtual tour of some of our facilities.

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

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