Course Methods

The course consists of 5 modules given as lectures and hands-on practical sessions. Students undertake 4 compulsory modules (Research Conduct & Clinical Research Measures, Clinical Research Scenarios, Critical Appraisal, Research Project) and one speciality module (either *Human Nutrition, *Diabetes and Obesity, Translational Medicine) depending on the pathway. Details on the modules are below:

 * Human Nutrition and Diabetes and Obesity modules are the only two modules offered as short courses.

Research Conduct & Clinical Research Measures

Dates: October to November (6 weeks, 2 days per week)

Brief Description: In the Research Conduct & Clinical Research Measures module you will explore and investigate the challenges, considerations and regulatory framework around research in humans.  You will be introduced to key terms and tools for clinical research, and become familiar with Good Clinical Practice and the key steps to setting up a clinical study. You will gain an understanding of the need for statistical rigour and the principles of good clinical trial design and will also be able to highlight the key considerations in preclinical and clinical drug safety testing. You will appraise the uses of biomarkers and the science behind stratified medicine and will be able to justify the design of a first-time-in-human study.

Critical Appraisal

Dates: Journal Club (one per month)

Brief Description This module will allow you to develop skills to appraise research literature and judge its validity. You will also have an opportunity to utilise a variety of different checklists to appraise research. You will participate in group based activities including monthly journal clubs and the module is also supported by an online e-learning resource.

Clinical Research Scenarios and working in challenging areas

Dates: One block week (March)

Brief Description: The Clinical Research Scenarios module will provide you with the insight and tools to design and conduct research in challenging situations. At the end of this module you will develop confidence in clinical trial design and an understanding of the opportunities for clinical research in a broad range of different settings and the care needed in those situations.

Pathway specific modules (all run in parallel as a block week in January):

*Diabetes and Obesity - this pathway introduces modern investigative techniques including MRI and metabolomics and provides a deep understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of both types of diabetes, and obesity.

*Human Nutrition - this pathway provides a greater insight into the academic, clinical, practical, and regulatory requirements of human nutrition and introduces the latest in cutting-edge research.

 Translational Medicine - this pathway explores the challenges of research in non-drug interventional research, including regenerative medicine, and illustrate the use of humans as an experimental animal. You also have the opportunity to investigate why drugs fail in development.

The MRes programme is designed primarily for those with a Clinical or Biomedical background, including Healthcare Professionals.

The programme also aims to teach students the following  transferable skills:

• Explain concepts, principles and theories that underpin research projects.
• Plan, implement and organise a substantial programme of original research.
• Retrieve, analyse and assimilate complex information and communicate scientific ideas and results
• Collaborative mindset and Team working skills by including more active group learning into taught modules such as developing an ethics application, protocol and a grant writing workshop.
• Interpersonal and Communication skills are developed via monthly oral research presentations and a final oral exam for their research project, plus written communication is developed via tutorials, coursework and associated summative and formative feedback.
• Independent and Critical thinking which is encouraged and enhanced throughout the taught modules and primarily during the monthly journal clubs, research project and online critical appraisal toolkit. 
• Reflection and Resilience are primarily developed during the Research Project, monthly research in progress presentations and also supported via monthly tutorials.
• Commercial Awareness and Stake-holder management is enhanced via taught modules e.g. during the Research Conduct & Clinical Research Measures core module (e.g. drug or clinical trial design) and the Translational Medicine elective module (e.g. drug development protocol) and included as part of the Learning Outcomes.
• Workload and Time management is encouraged and enhanced throughout the taught modules and primarily during the Research Project, and also supported via monthly tutorials.
• Situational Judgement and Problem Solving is primarily developed during the Research Project, monthly journal clubs and group workshops.
• Persuasion and Negotiation is primarily developed during the Research Project in collaboration with the project supervisor.