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MDCS42240

Academic Year 2026/2027

Medical Research Design, Regulations & Ethics (MDCS42240)

Subject:
Medicine Clinical Science
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Deborah Wallace
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module forms part of the MSc Artificial Intelligence for Medicine & Medical Research (X903), the MSc in Data Analytics for Precision Medicine (X889) and MSc in Healthcare Info (X523) . The goal of this module is to provide an overview of ethics and regulation in research, clinical trial design, medical biostatistics and data management that will allow completion of a programme of clinical research.
Specifically, this Module will:
-Explain the importance of Good Clinical Practice, Ethics and Regulation in clinical research
-Explain study designs used in clinical research
-Discuss practical methods for analysis and management of data obtained during clinical & translational research studies

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completing this module, students will be expected to be able to participate effectively in any real life professional learning experience by integrating into a research team and apply their academic experience and their theoretical knowledge in a professional research setting.
Specifically students will:
Understand Good Clinical Practice, Ethics and Regulation in clinical research
Understand clinical trial principles including study design
Understand the core considerations of experimental / study design and data management
Understand common statistical approaches applied to data generated from clinical trials

Indicative Module Content:

Good clinical Practice
Medical Research Regulations
Research ethics
Study Designs

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

40

Lectures

40

Online Learning

20

Total

100


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
tutorials
Online Course

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
MDCS41630 - Clin & Translational Research, MDCS41640 - Clinical Trials


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): MCQ End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
100
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided through learning activities at tutorial sessions

Name Role
Dr Marie Galligan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Ash Venugopalan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Deborah Wallace Lecturer / Co-Lecturer