Students will gain knowledge of clinical biochemistry, diagnostic endocrinology and other sub-specialisms e.g. toxicology, newborn screening and metabolic biochemistry including the pathophysiological basis for related conditions and diagnostic approaches to their investigation and management. Students will understand the policies, procedures and methodological tools and techniques as relevant to clinical diagnostic laboratories including the requirements of medical laboratory accreditation (e.g. ISO15189:2022), ethics and legislation e.g. GPDR, IVDR. Students will also develop skills for statistically evaluating data, using relevant software for data collation and analysis as well as contextualising and interpreting results analytically and clinically. Students will also learn and develop skills for gathering and appraising scientific and medical literature, particularly for research and development purposes, as well as effectively communicating clinical and scientific information verbally and written.
Students will learn through in person (UCD Belfield campus) and online (Zoom) lectures and workshops delivered throughout the course, mainly in Autumm and Spring trimesters. Students will also learn autonomously in preparation for assignments scheduled throughout the course.