MPhil in Translating Devices and Advanced Therapies Research

Teaching

Overview of the course

The course will be divided into three sections, each contributing a third of the final mark:

Section 1: In-person and online taught materials (multiple approaches to delivery of materials and mini assessments to ensure engagement), coursework and presentations

Section 2: Research project (literature review – including critical appraisal)

Section 3: Research project, data collection, presentation of results and analysis (written thesis and presentation)

Section 1: taught material, coursework and transferable skills

This will comprise lectures and tutorials, with the majority delivered in Michaelmas term.

Course-specific teaching includes approximately lectures and tutorials covering: (1) an introduction to medical devices and advanced therapies research, (2) pre-clinical development, (3) clinical evaluation, (4) regulatory and ethical frameworks, (5) scaling-up, implementation and enterprise.

Transferrable skills will be taught, including lectures and tutorials on research design and methodology, data collection, data analysis, statistical methodology, inclusivity, sustainability and social responsibility, communication, team building and training on planning, writing and delivering scientific oral and poster presentations.

Teaching will be delivered primarily by the course team comprising: course directors, teaching team, Biomedical Research Centre PIs and contributors, research fellows, early career researchers,, and senior technical staff, supported by post doctorate researchers and PhD students who have an interest in developing their teaching skills.

Transferable skills and researcher development training will include sessions delivered by the MRC Biostatistics Unit for statistics, 扒哥吃瓜 Clinical Trials Unit for trial design and analysis, 扒哥吃瓜 BRC Patient and Public Involvement in Research team for public engagement and research communication, 扒哥吃瓜 Enterprise for team building, Office for Translational Research to understand the funding landscape, and the University’s Researcher Development Programme for research integrity, preparing a poster, giving an oral presentation, time management and writing skills.

One to one supervision

Each participant will have an individual meeting with a course director termly to discuss learning goals and progress. Participants will be assigned to action learning sets of no more than 6 individuals to discussed shared and individual challenges, and to help develop and work on their projects in small learning communities. (senior team e.g. course directors). 9 hours per year are assigned to this.

Lectures

Approximately 90 hours of lectures will be provided during the course, with the course's limited intake allowing these to be interactive.

Practicals

Practical experience will be gained from completing a research project with an experienced principle investigator. During the research project we expect participants to gain knowledge and skills in experimental design, experimental skills, data collection, data analysis and presentation. This training will be via receipt of project-specific training and by ongoing critical review of project progress with a supervisor and other members of the research group.

Participants will be embedded in the team of the supervisor they are working with, and will spend 24-32 hours per week on the project, for 32 weeks.

Small group teaching

Student directed online skills learning through dedicated ‘flipped classroom’ taught materials will be consolidated with in-person interactive follow-up discussions. Small group work will allow participants to to work through key concepts and allow discussion relevant to particular areas of interest. Small group work accounts for approximately 32.5 Hours (13 hours online with the rest in-person).

Journal clubs

Journal clubs with fellow course participants will be facilitated by senior researchers, building presentation and critical appraisal skills. 10.5 hours (6 sessions) per year.

Literature Reviews

As part of the research project component of the course participants will be required to produce a literature review of the field providing background to, context for and the objectives of the research project. The course includes lectures on literature searching and evidence appraisal, with small group work to consolidate skills. All participants will be fully supported by the 扒哥吃瓜 Medical Library team in accessing the library's resources.

Posters and Presentations

As part of the course participants will need to present a paper at a journal club, pitch a medical device and/or advanced therapy in a ‘Dragon’s Den’-style session, and give an oral presentation in a conference-style setting. To prepare for these, the course incorporates teaching on the skills and techniques required to successfully present to both academic and lay audiences, in visual and oral formats, as well as the specific skills needed for a short, engaging pitch.

Taught/Research Balance

Predominantly Taught

Feedback

Frequent feedback will be provided to participants. In the first term this will be via small group sessions, and in terms 2 and 3 via regular meetings with a research supervisor and their team. Each participant will also have an individual meeting with a course director termly.

In addition to the formally assessed elements of the course there will be several activities where individual formative feedback will be provided:

Oral presentation at journal club. Each student will be given the opportunity to present a paper relevant to their research project during Lent or Easter terms. Formative feedback will be provided on content, clarity, delivery and ability to answer questions

Poster. Based on research project development ideas, presented at seminar in week 2 Lent term facilitating group feedback to the individual on poster layout and design, content and clarity.

Dragon’s Den pitch. Presentation of a medical device or advanced therapeutic proposal to a panel of varied experts/‘investors’. Formative feedback will be provided on clarity, strength of argument and delivery.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

In addition to the taught component of the course (October to December), participants will embark on an individual research project, which will form some of the course assessment. Participants will be provided with a range of potential research projects, working with principle investigators in a varied range of institutions, both within the 扒哥吃瓜 and beyond, including with relevant industry partners.

The research project will be assessed by written thesis comprised of two components:

1. A literature review of the field (max 3,000 words), providing the background to and context of the research project

2. The project outcomes (7,000) : aims, methods, results, data analysis, and discussion

Essays

Section 1 (33% final mark) will be assessed primarily through a 2,500 word essay, completion of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), and an oral presentation in a conference-style setting.

Written examination

There will be a biostatistics assessment in the form of a written examination.

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