Leeds Institute of Medical Education

Contacts

Programme Manager:
Dr Angela M Carter
Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics,
LIGHT building
Email: a.carter@leeds.ac.uk

This programme has developed from the existing Clinical Sciences BSc, and provides the opportunity to increase your knowledge of the cardiovascular system in health and disease and to develop your skills as a medical researcher and apply these skills to a research project related to the cardiovascular system.

Examples of previous Cardiovascular research projects on Clinical Sciences

• Detection and quantification of metabolites/biomarkers of atherosclerosis
• Haemostasis in diabetic patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Nutrition, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the community
• Defining SNPs associated with increased susceptibility to coronary artery disease in high-risk families
• Aspirin treatment failure in diabetes: what are the mechanisms?
• Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and the role of the endothelium
• Coagulation, fibrinolysis and thyroid dysfunction: A mechanism for increased cardiovascular risk?
• Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk: the role of coagulation factors and clot structure.

Programme Objectives

Students who take Clinical Sciences (Cardiovascular Medicine) in the intercalated year will form a group in which learning is focused on the application of scientific methods to clinical problems and on understanding the physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology of cardiovascular disease. The course provides the opportunity for students interested in cardiology and related subject areas to build upon their existing knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology through a well balanced taught component covering a range of topics related to cardiovascular physiology/pathophysiology and an extensive research project.

The aim of the programme is to enable students to understand the evidence-base of clinical research and to apply critical analysis to published medical research, with a specific focus on cardiovascular medicine.

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

• understand the evidence-base of clinical research in cardiovascular medicine and apply critical analysis to published medical research
• discuss normal cardiovascular physiology, the pathophysiological basis of cardiovascular disease and the investigation and management of patients with cardiovascular disease
• undertake a laboratory or clinical experimental project in a topic relevant to cardiovascular medicine with appropriate consideration for ethics and good research practice
• prepare a literature review, a report of the project in a format suitable for publication in a scientific journal and oral presentation aimed at a lay audience.

The emphasis in the course work is on a critical approach rather than on the acquisition of information.

Structure of the Programme

Students spend about half their time undertaking a research project which is usually laboratory-based but may involve gathering information from patients in clinic or in hospital. The other half of the programme comprises six taught modules directed to the in depth study of cardiovascular medicine and the development of broader research skills. Each module is assessed differently.

Learning takes place in lectures, small groups (tutorials, practicals, student-led presentations, case discussions) and through self-directed learning activities (literature review and evaluation, computer practicals).

There are no undergraduate science students on the Clinical Sciences (Cardiovascular Medicine) programme. Some of the teaching is shared with medical students studying the other programmes in the Clinical Sciences suite.

Programme Content (120, level 3 credits)

All students attend the following modules:

Compulsory Modules	Semester	Credits
Research project	1 & 2	60
Paper Commentary	1	10
Research Methods for Clinical Sciences	1	10
Molecular Pharmacology	2	10
Cardiovascular Pumps, Pipes and Electrics	1	10
Integrated Cardiovascular Physiology	2	10
The Cardiovascular Patient	2	10

Research Project

Students undertake a research project of six months' duration, which is usually laboratory-based, addressing a research topic in cardiovascular medicine.

Before students are allocated to a project, they are encouraged to meet potential supervisors and to discuss the research work. Students who wish to intercalate in Clinical Sciences (Cardiovascular Medicine) are invited to express a preference for three projects and allocation to projects takes place with reference to student preference. The programme manager allocates projects to students who have been allocated to Clinical Sciences (Cardiovascular Medicine) by the School of Medicine.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a combination of course work (reports, essays, posters, oral presentations) and written examinations.