Module: Immuno- and Onco-Therapeutics

Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Immuno- and Onco-Therapeutics
Module Code	BE558
School	School of Biotechnology
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Achilleas Floudas Semester 2: Achilleas Floudas Autumn: Achilleas Floudas
Module Teachers	Paul Cahill Denise Harold Janosch Heller Achilleas Floudas
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Repeat examination

Description

In this module students will study key immunological and molecular pathways involved in immune disorders and cancer. The students will then be introduced to the scientific process that leads to the identification of targets for the development of novel therapeutics including introduction to emerging technologies. Importantly the students will further develop their critical thinking skills by studying examples of successful and disastrous novel therapeutic development cycles. This module is paired with a patient focused workshop during which students will have the opportunity to interact with patients and hear their experiences and impact that novel therapeutics have made in their quality of life. This will be an interactive module with the introduction of case based learning and live polling applications.

Learning Outcomes

1. Systematic understanding of mechanisms of pathology in immune disorders and cancer
2. Critical awareness of how novel therapeutics alter molecular pathways in immune disorders and cancer, focusing on the impact to the patient.
3. Appreciate the emerging need for targeted therapeutics, improved patient stratification and precision medicine
4. Study examples of successful and disastrous therapeutic development in order to enhance critical thinking and assessment of risk.
5. Introduce emerging technologies (for example, artificial intelligence) and interdisciplinarity that accelerate the development of novel therapeutics.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Workshop	2	One interactive workshop with patients and patient advocacy group representatives in order for students to appreciate the impact of novel therapeutic development
Lecture	12	In-person lecture
Tutorial	10	In-person Tutorial
Independent Study	99	Reference to reading material
Assignment Completion	2	No Description
Workshop	2	No Description
Lecture	12	No Description
Tutorial	10	No Description
Independent Study	99	No Description
Assignment Completion	2	No Description
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Immuno- and Onco-therapeutics
Introduction to Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases; Introduction to Cancer; Introduction to Precision Medicine; Clinical Trials in the Precision Medicine era; Targeted Therapeutics for Inflammatory Diseases, Inherited Diseases and Cancer; Development of novel therapeutics for Inflammatory Diseases, Inherited Diseases and Cancer

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
In Class Test	This will consist of an online closed-book exam; sample questions will be provided to students in advance of the exam	20%	Week 6
Group assignment	The students will be divided into groups in order to review cases of successful or unsuccessful novel therapeutic development cases from therapeutic target identification to drug design and clinical trial. The students will then have to present the rationale that led to the particular clinical trial and apply critical thinking in order to assess the strengths and shortcomings of the study and ultimately propose better alternatives. Each student will be given a role (ie clinician, patient, preclinical data scientist, trial manager) and the students as a group will have to produce a 1500-word report and give a 15-minute presentation with each student participating within their given role.	30%	Week 23
Oral Examination	Individual oral exams (5-10 minutes) will be used to assess the deep knowledge and understanding of students covering the modules content by using challenge or problem-based questions	50%	Week 26

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Francesco Pezzella,Mahvash Tavassoli,David Kerr: 2019, Oxford Textbook of Cancer Biology, Oxford University Press, 9780198779452
Hans-Peter Deigner,Matthias Kohl: 2018, Precision Medicine, Academic Press, 9780128053645
Robert R. Rich: 2012, Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice by Robert R. Rich, 9780723436911

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

GCBPT	Graduate Certificate in Biotherapeutics
GDBPT	Graduate Diploma in Biotherapeutics
MBPT	MSc in Biotherapeutics

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