BIOSCI 765 : Translating Biomedical Science into Therapeutic Strategies

Science

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the research involved in development of currently available and potential future cell based biomedical therapeutics. The challenges and wider societal issues which need to be considered when conducting this research will be discussed. Emphasis will also be placed on guiding students as they develop their critical evaluation and communication skills.

Course Overview

This course will provide you with insight into the research involved in the development of currently available and potential future biomedical therapeutics. We will examine some of the molecular and cellular events that regulate disease mechanisms and explore how we can exploit them for the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of disease. You will learn how this research has been conducted, and discover some of the challenges and wider societal issues which need to be considered when conducting modern Biomedical Research. During this course, you will learn how to interpret and critically evaluate the Biomedical Research literature, and develop your science communication and debating skills.
  
This course is designed for students with an interest in Biomedical Science who are pursuing postgraduate studies in Biomedical Science, Biotechnology or wider biological or medical fields. A sound understanding of either BIOSCI 349 (Biomedical Microbiology) or BIOSCI 353 (Molecular & Cellular regulation) or MEDSCI 314 (Immunology) or equivalent is assumed.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Biotechnology

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe and discuss the areas of Biomedical Therapeutic Research covered in this course. (Capability 3 and 6)
  2. Recognise and describe the key processes in modern Biomedical Therapeutic Research within the context of wider societal issues, such as human and animal ethics, Māori and Pacifica health advancement, and the public health relevance and economic benefits surrounding research. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 8)
  3. Identify and critically evaluate the rapidly evolving and diverse body of reputable Biomedical Therapeutic Research literature. (Capability 3, 4 and 8)
  4. Apply discipline specific knowledge to interpret data and create new ideas. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  5. Communicate Biomedical Science effectively and appropriately. (Capability 3, 6, 7 and 8)
  6. Debate contemporary issues in Biomedical Therapeutic Research. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Seminar 20% Individual Coursework
Essay 20% Individual Coursework
Research paper synopses 10% Individual Coursework
Class participation 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Seminar
Essay
Research paper synopses
Class participation
Final Exam

Special Requirements

Class attendance is compulsory.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course. Students are expected to spend approximately 150 hours in total studying for each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 8 hours of lectures, 12 hours of seminars, 50 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 80 hours of work on assignments and exam preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lectures and seminars to complete components of the course.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

You will be provided with the electronic BIOSCI 765 course guide at the start of this course. The research and review articles that you require for this course will be detailed in Canvas and Talis.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

 Feedback from this course and other 700 level courses has been considered when designing this course and has influenced the structure of the assessments and course delivery.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.