| Module Title |
Immuno- & Onco-Therapeutics |
| Module Code |
BIO1030 (ITS: BE558) |
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Faculty |
Biotechnology |
School |
Science & Health |
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NFQ level |
9 |
Credit Rating |
5 |
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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.
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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.
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| Workload | Full time hours per semester | | Type | Hours | Description |
|---|
| 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 |
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| Section Breakdown | | CRN | 10171 | Part of Term | Semester 1 & 2 | | Coursework | 0% | Examination Weight | 0% | | Grade Scale | 40PASS | Pass Both Elements | Y | | Resit Category | RC1 | Best Mark | N | | Module Co-ordinator | Neil Conlon | Module Teacher | Denis Collins, Janosch Heller |
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| Assessment Breakdown |
| Type | Description | % of total | Assessment Date |
|---|
| 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;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment
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Pre-requisite |
None
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Co-requisite |
None |
| Compatibles |
None |
| Incompatibles |
None |
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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
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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
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Indicative Reading List
Books:
- Francesco Pezzella,Mahvash Tavassoli,David Kerr: 2019, Oxford Textbook of Cancer Biology, Oxford University Press, 505, 9780198779452
- Hans-Peter Deigner,Matthias Kohl: 2018, Precision Medicine, Academic Press, 374, 9780128053645
- Robert R. Rich: 2012, Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice by Robert R. Rich, 9780723436911
Articles:
- Alex D. Waldman, Jill M. Fritz & Michael J. Lenardo: 2020, A guide to cancer immunotherapy: from T cell basic science to clinical practice, Nature Reviews Immunology, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-020-0306-5, 518148
- 2023: Rational combinations of targeted cancer therapies: background, advances and challenges, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, Volume 22, 213–2,
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Other Resources
None |
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