There are currently thirteen courses available:
- Advanced Human Genetics
- Analysis of Nucleic Acids
- Blood Transfusion
- Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis in Healthcare Settings
- Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
- Governance and Risk Management
- Implementing Advanced Quality Management
- Lung Disease
- Management of Healthcare Associated Infection
- Point of Care Testing
- Quality Systems Management
- Renal Disease
- Robotics and Automation
On completion of this course, students will understand:
- Appreciate the overall complexity of genomes in humans and other organisms and the nature of coding and non-coding sequences
- Understand the nature of genetic variation in humans
- Be able to interpret genetic changes and predict their clinical outcome
On completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the normal process of production of proteins from DNA and how this can go wrong to cause mutation.
- Analyse, synthesise and summarise information – in particularly be able to interpret DNA sequence in terms of the genetic code and protein production, manipulation of the DNA sequence and analysis of pedigrees
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of how mutations act to cause clinical conditions.
- Critically discuss current issues in molecular genetics
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Aims
- To provide a general understanding of the principles of molecular genetics.To provide an overview of key methods in molecular biology.
- To develop a critical appreciation of techniques used in the analysis of nucleic acids.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of eukaryotic and prokaryotic mutation and their relevance to human health and disease.Demonstrate an awareness of the methods of molecular biology.
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of current methods for mutation detection and their applications.
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.Produce reports according to professional standards.
- Produce materials for public presentations.
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Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusion is a field where there have been, and continue to be, significant advances in science, technology and most particularly governance. This course aims to provide you with a comprehensive overview of both the scientific and managerial aspects of blood transfusion. The course is intended to equip both those with a transfusion background and those from other fields with practical tools to allow for an informed entry into the sphere of blood transfusion management.
This is a professional course aimed at individuals from various healthcare backgrounds and aims to enable you to add to your existing knowledge of blood transfusion and related issues or provide you with a strong introduction to the subject. There is a strong practical element to the course which will require good organisational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with staff in a number of different roles.
Aims
The main aims of the course are to provide an understanding of:
- The major blood group systems and their relevance
- The role of the National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)
- Management of blood products and transfusion practice in an organisation
- Staff training and competency issues
- Standards, legislation, guidelines and governance issues
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.
- Produce reports according to professional standards.
- Produce materials for public presentations.
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On completion of this course, students will understand:
- Physiochemical principles that are involved in chromatography and mass spectrometry
- A critical appreciation of the parameters which contribute to a validated analysis and those which may be responsible for poor performance
- Sensitivity and specificity. This course aims to explain how these requirements are obtained in practice
On completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical insight and comprehensive understanding of the physiochemical principles that are involved in chromatography and mass spectrometry
- Show a critical appreciation of the parameters which contribute to a validated analysis and those which may be responsible for poor performance within healthcare
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the two vital aspects of these analyses; sensitivity and specificity
- Critically evaluate the validation of an analytical procedure according to principles set out by regulatory authorities, typically those published by the EU and the USA. A clear understanding of the measurements required is essential
- Read application methods, published results of investigations and regulatory documents in a critical and informative manner
- Ensure that those who are performing routine clinical analyses will be more confident in their ability to maintain good practice
- Decide on an appropriate method for a defined analysis, have the wherewithal to make a correct decision on which route to follow
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There have been many advances in the understanding of breast cancer in recent years together with an increase in the diagnostic tools available to the histopathologist in order to aid diagnosis. This course aims to introduce the student to some of these state-of-the-art advances in addition to a comprehensive view of breast disease, particularly breast cancer. Students will gain a general understanding of breast disease, of basic histological techniques, of the importance of various methods used to diagnose breast disease and the role of genetics and molecular biology in breast cancer as a whole, and in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
Aims
To provide students with an understanding of:
- Breast disease.
- Relevant histological techniques.
- The importance of various methods used to diagnose breast disease.
- Some of the roles of genetics and molecular biology in breast cancer development and diagnosis.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the nomenclature and histopathological features of benign and malignant breast disease.
- Demonstrate a critical appreciation of current methods of breast cancer diagnosis and their background.
- Understand principles of the genetic basis of breast cancer.
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.
- Produce reports according to professional standards.
- Produce materials for public presentations.
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The main aims of the course are to provide an understanding of:
- A culture of governance and how this operates in an organisation
- The interrelatedness of governance and risk management
- The elements of governance and risk management systems and their practical application in an organisation
- How to implement risk management tools in order to establish and / or participate in proactive governance programmes
On completion of the module students should have shown evidence of being able to:
- Demonstrate a critical insight and comprehensive understanding of the concept of governance, the scope of its applicability and how governance is managed practically in an organisation
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of the current standards and legislation that the organisation must meet in relation to governance and risk and discuss how the organisation achieves those standards
- Develop a practical toolkit for assessing, managing and reducing risks, ensuring business continuity and investigating incidents and complaints and implementing remedial, corrective and preventive actions
- Explore and critically evaluate the discipline of risk management and to demonstrate how this contributes to the health and safety culture of an organisation
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Implementing Advanced Quality Management
This is a professional course for individuals involved with managing quality systems in the laboratory. It aims to enable you to organise, co-ordinate and manage quality systems, including supporting and training the quality team. The course is practice-based and you need to be able to work within a quality team to complete the activities. The course is ideally suited to students who have completed the Biomed Quality Systems Management course or a similar quality training course.
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Pulmonary pathology is the basis for lung disease, and clinical manifestations and complications are a direct result of pulmonary pathology. This course will provide an invaluable insight into pulmonary disease processes for doctors and medical students, nurses, physiotherapists, researchers and pharmacologists with a special interest in lung disease. From a different perspective, many aetiological agents may produce pathogenesis effects that result in pulmonary pathology. The course would therefore be immensely helpful for epidemiologists, legal professionals with an interest in industrial lung diseases, and physiologists. Finally, biomedical scientists and allied health care professionals would greatly benefit in understanding pulmonary pathology, including the close inter-relationship between aetiology, pathogenesis, and complications in contributing to the overall histopathological features and rationale for special investigations. Respiratory disease and lung disorders constitute a significant proportion of disease states in the general population. This course includes an overview of lung function tests together with their significance, using case studies to illustrate the findings. Correlation between the pathophysiologic mechanisms, pathologic features, clinical symptoms and signs, pulmonary function and diagnostic tests is made. General treatment are considered. A number of specific conditions are considered in order to show the importance of correlating pathophysiology and pulmonary function and diagnostic testing in pulmonary disease states.
Aims
The course aims to provide essential information complimented by numerous histopathological images of respiratory pathology, congenital and childhood respiratory pathology, and adult respiratory pathology. This will include a classification of disease categories, aetiology, pathogenesis and histopathology. Reference will be made to relevant further investigations, disease progression and outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize the aetiological processes and appropriate risk factors of pulmonary pathology.Comprehend pathogenetic mechanisms whereby aetiological factors and relevant risk factors contribute to histopathological processes of disease.Critically comprehend the histopathology of respiratory disease.Demonstrate an awareness of appropriate investigative tools, disease progression and outcomes.
- Use these skills, with critical insight, to evaluate findings of a small scale enquiry and formulate an innovative proposal.
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.Produce reports according to professional standards.
- Produce materials for public presentations.
The overlap between different disease states and pulmonary function testing is considered. Management of respiratory disease and disorders depends on a multidisciplinary approach and correlation between pathophysiology and pulmonary function. Diagnostic testing is essential for clinical management. | more details |
The profile of hospital-acquired infection, and the related topic of antimicrobial resistance, has never been higher in the United Kingdom and these issues are included amongst those of the highest priority. As an indicator of their importance, the Health Protection Agency is to be created in the next two years.
This course aims to introduce the student to the fascinating rubric of interactions between the patient, the microbes and the factors in the hospital environment that can result in an increased risk of hospital acquired infections. It will also provide an understanding of the role of the infection control team in preventing and controlling these infections and of how standards of infection control are becoming a very useful litmus test for assessing the quality of patient care for the whole healthcare organisation.
Aims
- An overview of the causes of healthcare associated infection, sources and means of transmission, An understanding of the principles of prevention, including disinfection and sterilisation and
- An understanding of the function of the infection control team in the health care setting.
Learning Outcomes
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.Produce reports according to professional standards.
- Produce materials for public presentations.
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Biomedical laboratories, and the Pathology Services in particular, have become the subject of major modernisation proposals (see for example Strategic Directions for the Modernisation of Pathology Services, 2 April 2001, NHS Executive London). These proposals recognise
- The need for centralised laboratory services supported by laboratory information management systems and semi- and full automation robotics to cope with the predicted increasing demand from GPs for routine tests of low complexity.
- Technological advances that will make it increasingly feasible to do many tests at the bedside or outpatient clinic, as well as to perform more specialised tests associated with molecular biology and DNA testing.
POCT is thus a rapidly expanding area in both the range of investigations available and the complexity of the service to be provided.
Aims
- To provide an overview of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) for analyses associated with the traditional Pathology disciplines. This would include the rationale for selection and organisation of a POCT solution, what POCT is available and how to acquire the resultant data.
Learning Outcomes
- Be able to critically select, organise and manage a POCT solution within a hospital environment or primary care setting. Use this understanding to prepare an innovative proposal for acquisition of a POCT solution.Be able to demonstrate an awareness of the variety of POCT analyses available for both primary and secondary care. Have a detailed knowledge of the analytical principles of these analyses. Use this knowledge to critically evaluate the clinical usefulness of POCT solutions and their limitations.Be able to demonstrate an awareness and understanding, in the context of POCT, of the concepts of electronic data acquisition, record management and connectivity.
- Have detailed knowledge of the relevant industry protocols developed for this.
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.Produce reports according to professional standards.
- Produce materials for public presentations.
This course improves awareness of:
- Measurement processes, especially biosensors (i.e. AVL optodes, I-STAT technology, glucose meter redox strips).Instrumentation available (Roche, Bayer, Abbott).Difficulties regarding correlation of POCT and laboratory results and reference ranges.Circumstances when POCT results should be confirmed by laboratory i.e. before critical management (eg glycaemic and kalaemic control).Circumstances when POCT results should never be used (eg hypoglycaemia-induced dynamic function tests).Need for hospital policy governing choice, location, maintenance and training.Need for adequate laboratory backup and out of hours policy.Training programme for users and a nominated ward-based supervisor. Establishment of on-going training and password issue for trained user access only.Need for patient I.D. and access and traceability of results.Need for internal and external Quality Control/Assurance.Critical appraisal of costs/benefits, logistics and improvement in patent care.Additional problems with POCT in the community.
- Medico-legal implications.
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With the increasing emphasis on accountability within the public sector, and the requirement to satisfy the accreditation criteria of several scrutinising bodies, it is imperative that organisations adopt a systematic approach to quality management. Hitherto the emphasis on achieving accreditation has meant that the concept of quality and quality systems in general have received less attention. However a properly managed quality system can form the framework to address many accreditation issues, as well as providing real opportunities for reducing error and fostering a culture of continual improvement.
The success of a quality management system depends on the involvement of staff at all levels. This course covers the meaning of quality, the basis of accreditation requirements (CPA, ISO 17025, ISO 9001 etc), the role of internal audit. It also gives practical guidance on the design and performance of audit, process analysis, and managing non-compliance.
Aims
- To provide an understanding of the principles of quality systems and of the requirements of relevant accreditation standards.To develop an understanding of how to set up an internal audit programme and to perform an internal audit.To provide an understanding of the importance of customer liaison and the skills to determine the level of customer satisfaction.
- To provide students with an understanding of the principles of continual improvement and with the skills for implementing a continual improvement programme within their organisation
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the meaning of quality in terms of the products and / or services provided by their organisation.Use statistical process control (SPC) to help control and analyse processes.Interpret and critically evaluate data obtained from internal quality assessment and external quality assessment programmes.Set up an internal quality audit programme; prepare audit checklists; perform internal quality audits; raise non-compliance notes and implement corrective actions.
- Perform a customer survey.
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.Produce reports according to professional standards.
- Produce materials for public presentations.
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Adequate renal function is vital to the well-being of the body and renal failure is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. The kidney is a complex organ with numerous functions that impinge on the metabolism of the body and the functions of other major organs. Consequently, there are many different diseases that can affect the kidney and these involve many different pathological processes. The study of renal disease is therefore a useful tool in the understanding of basic pathological processes as well as an important means of investigating and subsequently treating debilitating and dangerous human diseases.
Aims
- To provide to provide an overview of the function of the kidney and of how this alters in renal disease.
- To provide a detailed overview of the pathology of renal diseases and how they are classified.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the changes that occur in renal failure and their effects on the body.
- Have a detailed knowledge of the classification and pathology of diseases of the glomeruli, the renal tubulo-intersitium, the renal vasculature, and of the developmental disorders of the kidney.
- Have a detailed knowledge of the classification of benign and malignant tumours of the kidney.
- Demonstrate an awareness of appropriate investigative tools and use these skills, with critical insight, to evaluate findings of case studies and formulate innovative proposals.
Skills Outcomes
- Use the Internet as a communication tool as well as a tool to find and evaluate relevant information.
- Produce reports according to professional standards.
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Robotics and Automation
The speed of development in automation and robotics is awesome. Certainly clinical chemistry has had automated analysers for a very long time but at the end of the 1960s simple peristaltic pumps was what it was all about. Although chemistry analysers got bigger and more complicated and you certainly needed to be highly trained to keep them running immunoassay was held back by the use of radioactive labels. In the 1970s it took most of the week to measure LH with a separate assay of equal length to do FSH. Once non-radioactive labels and immunometric techniques were developed things really took off.
Although more specific and avid antibodies have been produced the main factors that have led to current automation and robotics has been the huge developments in computing and electronics. Robotic components are more robust and reliable and computer control has led to the much better control of processes so that timing, incubation temperatures, addition of reagents and measurement of signals is highly precise.
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