Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description Students who select the Masterclasses in Precision Medicine will get the opportunity to develop key analytical and computational skills pertaining to precision medicine in highly focused laboratory sessions under the guidance of several Principal Investigators (Cell Culture and Cell Proliferation, RT-qPCR, SDS-PAGE/Western blotting, ELISA and Bioinformatics). The masterclasses will focus on the latest advances in the treatment of melanoma through a precision medicine approach where the presence of activating mutations in the gene encoding BRAF are used to select patients who are more likely to benefit from treatment with the clinically-approved small molecule drug Vemurafenib. Two melanoma cell lines that are positive or negative for this activating mutation will be treated with Vemurafenib and the differential responses of these cell lines to this drug will be analysed by the techniques mentioned above. Students will prepare a comprehensive literature review on a topic that is relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, and will disseminate their masterclass results as a research manuscript that adheres to the publishing guidelines of a leading peer-reviewed international journal. They will also prepare a comprehensive grant proposal that addresses resistance to Vemurafenib therapy and disease relapse, as this is common for the vast majority of melanoma patients who are treated with this therapy. Hence students will appreciate the need for research scientists to disseminate their research through manuscript writing and to fund their future research programs through grant applications and through these activities will develop their communication skills and project planning skills. Finally, the masterclass results and grant proposal will be disseminated via an oral presentation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Develop advanced knowledge and hands-on experience in key techniques and technologies pertaining to Precision Medicine. 2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge in the design and planning of experiments, generation of raw data, presentation of data and critical analysis of this data through the generation of a comprehensive report. 3. Critically appraise the source information and literature necessary for your masterclasses, grant proposal and literature review. 4. Prepare a research manuscript that provides a summary and critical analysis of the scientific research that was carried out in this project. 5. Prepare a state-of-the-art grant proposal that outlines a comprehensive body of work to be carried out over a 4 year period. 6. Deliver an oral presentation of your masterclass results and grant proposal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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Indicative Reading List Books: None Articles: None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||