Yellow background with world globe in foreground and icons related to medicine and life sciences

Medicine and Life Sciences will introduce you to new research techniques and subject content. 

In 2024 students will: 

  • Conduct practical experiments, collect and analyse data. 
  • Spend a day learning real clinical skills.
  • Encounter new concepts and systems in lecture-led teaching sessions. 
  • Work as part of a team to analyse case studies and construct a genogram. 
  • Develop their understanding of molecular biology theory and practice through a range of practical activities.

Download a sample 2024 Medicine and Life Science timetable.

2024 session outline

Medicine sessions

Urinary system (July only - tentative)

Following an introduction to the urinary system and its role in the body, students conducted a practical urine analysis using dipsticks last year. As a group, they developed management strategies for ensuring healthy kidney function.

Including:

  • Summarising the urinary system.
  • Studying the structure of kidney nephron and identifying the compounds absorbed/secreted in each area.
  • Understanding the process of urine production, transfer and storage.
  • Using urine dipstick testing to diagnose basic disorders.

Understanding Endocrinology and Diabetes (August only)

Hormones affect every organ in the body, and regulate important physiological processes including growth, metabolism, stress and reproduction. In 2023, students investigated what happens when certain hormonal systems go wrong, and how we can diagnose and treat endocrine disease.

Following this, they explored the connection between diabetes and obesity – what it is, how it develops and its impact on health.

From bench to bedside: Exploring the immune response to microbes

You will explore the fascinating world of host-pathogen interaction and the effectiveness of interventions that improve human health by preventing or controlling the spread of disease.  

Clinical skills (practical)

Led by a clinical lecturer, you will participate in a series of practical sessions based on vital medical skills such as:

  • ABCDE assessment
  • Measuring blood pressure
  • Measuring blood glucose levels
  • NEWS scoring
  • Basic life support
  • Heart scan
  • Neck scan
  • CPR
  • Becoming an emergency leader

Please note, this session outline is indicative only and is subject to change. 

Life Sciences

During the Life Sciences sessions, you will analyse genetically modified (GMO) Drosophila melanogaster fly strains with new artificial characteristics to identify and isolate the cloned genes responsible, using modern biological and biochemical methods.

You will be introduced to health and safety and handling micropipette’s (Gilson) and fly genetic theory before undertaking a variety of practical experiments including:

  • Identification of gene providing lacZ activity;
  • Identification of location of lacZ expression in modified fly larvae – demonstration;
  • Visualisation of Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP) plasmid containing strain;
  • Thermo-sensitivity assay;
  • Genomic DNA preparation;
  • PCR amplification of fly DNA;
  • Agarose gel electrophoresis.

You will then make sense of the results and identify the genotypes according to the Drosophila strains.

GSS medicine students

Students practice taking blood

Students conducting hands on experiments

Global Summer School students conducting hands-on experiments.

Undergraduate students teaching Global Summer School Student how to use equipment

Medicine and life science students listen to a lecture in the bio-lab.

Two young women experimenting in the lab

Medicine and life science students using real lab equipment.