Regenerative Medicine encompasses many areas of life science and medicine. It has been gaining enormous interest from the commercial sector and from the healthcare systems worldwide, helping the development of potential, alternatives to long-term, high-cost care approaches.
Regenerative Medicine includes a range of pharmaceutical-related approaches, where small molecules and biologicals are used to stimulate the body's innate repair systems, as well as the use of cell-based therapies, bioactive scaffolds and drug delivery modalities. The production of these new medicines and devices involves a chain of important stages in development, including laboratory-based invention, preclinical testing, navigation of intellectual property issues and compliance with a range of regulatory requirements.
Nevertheless, Regenerative Medicine is also a rich area for fundamental and question-driven research: stem cell characteristics and properties, regeneration mechanisms and integration in vivo of in vitro-regenerated tissues are all aspects still far from being completely understood in their complexity.
It is a vibrant area of endeavour involving multidisciplinary interactions and strong employment opportunities for those trained in the field.
The MSc Regenerative Medicine will provide students with a multidisciplinary approach to gaining critical knowledge and training in the biological and chemical basis of tissue regeneration, stem cell biology and biotechnology, and the challenges associated with the subject fields. Students will explore some basics of intellectual property law, regulatory affairs, ethical issues, all of which are key components of the global Regenerative Medicine sector.
Students will be helped in transitioning into this complex, constantly evolving, yet exciting subject area by introducing and/or recapping fundamentals of cell biology, biotechnology, research methods and practical laboratory skills. This will help harmonisation of the student experience, regardless of the science or healthcare related background.
Ultimately, the course aims to produce postgraduates capable of making a significant contribution to the regenerative medicine sector at large. Graduates will be well placed to secure jobs in academic research, however, the transferable skills developed during the course will be highly considered within the commercial and biotechnology industry, legal science and science communication. Additionally, the course prepares students for further higher studies, such as PhD, PgCAP and PgCHEP levels of study.
Students will have access to extremely well-equipped laboratory space and from the expertise of a group of academics actively involved in a variety of research projects and scholarly activities, also in partnership with reputable national and international Universities, research Centres, Industries and Charities.
The study programme presents a good balance between translational and biotechnological components and basic research questions within the Regenerative Medicine field.
Contents are contemporary and delivered in an intellectually provocative way, enabling students to challenge, analyse, utilise and apply existing theories and knowledge.
The Course includes a range of assessments designed to test a broad range of skills and development of knowledge. Assessment includes critical literature reviews, practical portfolios, poster presentations, examinations and several presentations. As would be expected with postgraduate study, assessments are designed to stimulate thought, discussion and debate.
