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PATH20000

Academic Year 2024/2025

Biochem,Immunol&Pharmacol (PATH20000)

Subject:
Pathology
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Fiona McGillicuddy
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module forms part of the core curriculum for the Graduate Entry into Medicine (GEM) Programme.

The course consists of material covering 5 main themes; 1) Macromolecules of Life, 2) Cellular Metabolism, 3) Cellular Adaptation, Injury and Death, 4) The Immune System in Health and Disease and 5) Principles of Pharmacology.

A basic understanding of regulation of gene expression, protein structure and function, metabolism (glucose and lipid metabolism), pathology, immunology and inflammation will be integrated into specific examples of disease progression. This module will also introduce the student to basic pharmacological principles including molecular pharmacology, kinetics of drug metabolism and action, and the identification of key targets amenable to pharmacological intervention.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Under each of the 5 themes, on completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Macromolecules of Life
Detail the structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids.
Attain a deep understanding of the regulation of gene and protein expression.
Be able to identify certain disease situations where disturbances in gene/protein expression contribute to disease state and mechanisms thereof.

2. Cellular Metabolism
Describe the biochemical basis for energy generation within the cell and detail the chemical processes underpinning the synthesis and metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides and porphyrin.
Detailed understanding of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (from synthesis to metabolism).
An understanding of disorders associated with impaired glucose and lipid metabolism.
Ability to differentiate between disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.


3. Cellular Adaptation Injury and Death
Outline the range of adaptive cellular responses in the body occurring secondary to stress, increased or decreased workload.
Describe the main morphological features and intracellular signalling cascades associated with necrotic and apoptotic cell death.

4. The Immune System in Health and Disease
Describe structure and function of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response.
Understanding of the types and functions of the various cells involved in both the innate and adaptive immune systems.
Detailed understanding of the role of cytokines and chemokines in mediating signals from immune cells to support host immunity.
Synthesize the involvement of the innate and adaptive immune response in responses to infection and the induction of immunopathology.
Ability to recognise and describe disorders associated with a dysfunctional immune system.
Ability to describe and molecular basis of how we can harness the immune systems to prevent infection (vaccines).

5. Principles of Pharmacology:-
Describe the basic principles that determine absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs.
Predict the time course of drug concentrations in the body, and formulate therapeutic dosage regimes.
Explain the principles of drug-receptor interactions, understand the concepts of receptors and signal transduction systems and describe the basis on which receptor subtypes are distinguished.

Indicative Module Content:

The module provides a broad overview of 5 major subject topics:

The macromolecules of life - proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids.

Cellular metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides and porphyrins. Deep understanding of the TCA cycle and role of the electron transport chain in energy generation.

Adaptive cellular responses leading to activation of cell death.

Cellular composition of the immune system and its function in health and disease.

Principles of pharmacology that determine absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs and their mode of action.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

150

Lectures

45

Tutorial

5

Total

200


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The key teaching and learning on the module is achieved by a series of face-to-face lectures; given the diverse academic background of the class, peer support is encouraged. Interactive group tutorials based on clinical vignettes are used to support learning. As and when required class revision sessions are used to address shortcomings in the assimilation of the information provided in lectures. Additional basic tutorial sessions will be offered which we strongly encourage students with no science background to attend.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): A continuous assignment is requested to be submitted by week 6 of this module. and will relate to content covered from weeks 1-6 (topic changes annually). Week 6 Graded No
10
No
Exam (In-person): End of semester exit examination - multiple choice question (MCQ) component. 70 MCQs to be completed. 2 hour exit exam includes both the MCQ and SAQ components. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Graded No
72
No
Exam (In-person): End of semester exit examination - short answer question (SAQ) component. Choice of one out of two SAQs to be completed. The two hour exit exam includes both the MCQ and SAQ components. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
18
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Exemplars of continuous assessments will be provided to students upon completion of their assessment. Exemplars from previous years are also available prior to assessment submission in Brightspace. Students can request feedback upon receipt of final grade. Peer scholar may be used to promote peer learning (sharing attempts of past exam papers) in a formative capacity.

Name Role
Dr Paul Crossey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Catherine Godson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Peter Holloway Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Stephen Lalor Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Stephen Pennington Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Cormac Taylor Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Paula Byrne Tutor
Dr Fiona McGillicuddy Tutor
Professor Bill Watson Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Fri 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3 Thurs 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6, 7, 8 Thurs 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 8 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 2 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 10 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 11 Tues 17:00 - 17:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Wed 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 11 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 5, 9 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 11 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 2, 3, 5, 9 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 2, 3, 5, 9, 11 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 2, 3, 5, 9, 11 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 11 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 2, 3, 5, 9 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 11 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 2, 3, 5, 9 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 2 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 3, 9, 11 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 5 Tues 11:00 - 11:50