MRes in Clinical Science

An MRes in Clinical Science at UEA is the ideal way for you, as a doctor, nurse or health professional to develop a research-related element in your career. It will give you the skills, awareness and discipline you need to carry out effective research to the highest level in a patient-centered, ethically sound way.

The course will give you a broader, more considered approach to specialist areas of medical research, and develop both your practical and scientific skills. It will give you a deeper understanding of underlying theories and the importance of critical review in evidence-based medicine. It will also improve your confidence and help you communicate better as a medical professional.

Clinical Science is diverse and interest driven and we encourage you to be self motivated and independent in defining your areas of study. The MRes is designed to give you the scope to carry out any kind of research you choose – whether it’s to create and implement new drugs and vaccines, or deliver the best possible health care. Your aim is to carry through your research to its conclusion. In doing so, you will gain an appreciation of the huge breadth of medicine, the benefits of research and the value that you and other health professionals can bring to the advancement of knowledge.

Course Organiser:Dr. Kevin Tyler

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Entry Requirements Degree Subject: A health or related subject Degree Classification: Minimum 2.2 or equivalent Alternative Qualifications: This course is open to medical students wanting to intercalate after the 4th year of their MBBS/MBChB Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English or those whose degree was not taught in English. To ensure such students benefit fully from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. We also will require a certain standard to be achieved on the written element of the test.

Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

• IELTS: 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in all component)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 98 (minimum 22 in all components and 23 in speaking)
• PTE: 70 (minimum 70 in all components)

All scores must be less than two years old.

• Year 1

Compulsory Study (160 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 160 credits:

Name Code Credits INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE MED-M38F 20 The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the basic Principles and Guidelines outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki concerning the respect for autonomy and informed consent, beneficence and non-malfeasance (promoting good whilst avoiding harm). The skills to be developed include being able to 1: negotiate the bureaucratic processes and the organisational structures to obtain the necessary approvals 2: obtain practical experience on applying for ethical and research and governance approval 3: gain an understanding of the process and procedures that underpin the process of governmental policy decisions that surround ethical questions and debates 4: gain an understanding of how to become an active voice in these debates. This module will complement and dovetail to other modules in the Health Science programme and will illustrate the ethical issues, and the practical aspects of containing the necessary consent that is associated with undertaking qualitative and quantitative research. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS MED-M31D 20 The purpose of this module is to provide students with a broad introduction to the methods used in Health Science Research. . The skills to be developed include being able to 1: recognise basic quantitative and qualitative research designs 2: recognise different data collection techniques 3: acquire a basic understanding of both statistical analysis and qualitative analysis; 4: critically appraise of the research literature. RESEARCH DISSERTATION CLINICAL SCIENCE MED-M55X 100 In this module students will focus on communicating the work they are undertaking and the rationale for it. Students will consider writing for peers and for the public, preparing abstracts, posters, papers and grant applications and giving oral presentations. Learning outcomes By the end of the module students will be able to formulate hypotheses, write protocols, assess literature, acquire, analyze and interpret data and will have developed the cognitive abilities required for these tasks. Assessment The research plan will be composed from up to 1,500 words and will be illustrated with a timeline or Gantt Chart, it will be evaluated formatively by course director and mentor independently who will both provide oral feedback to the student. Reflective report will be composed from up to 5,000 words and will provide details of all training so far undertaken and plans for completion of the research being undertaken and write-up of the dissertation. It will be evaluated formatively by course director and mentor independently who will both provide oral and written feedback to the student. The Dissertation will be composed from three sections. The first will be a review of 6,000 – 7,500 words, the second a research paper of 6,000 – 7,500 words and the third a reflective report providing a synoptic description of the research, training and enabling procedures undertaken by the student during the course of the year and will be between 1,500 and 2,000 words. The complete dissertation will be 13,500 – 15,000 words. 15,000 words TRANSFERABLE SKILLS FOR RESEARCH MED-M56F 20 At masters degree level the purpose of PGT research masters degrees are primarily to familiarise and prepare students for careers with significant but diverse research components. This course meets the central need of all Clinical Researchers to communicate effectively in formats that are either written or oral and to a variety of audiences from their peers as researchers to members of the public. In this module students will focus on communicating the work they are undertaking and the rationale for it. Students will consider writing for peers and for the public, preparing abstracts, posters, papers and grant applications and giving oral presentations. By the end of the module students will have: • Written lay and professional abstracts • Assembled a poster • Given a presentation • Prepared a grant application Option A Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits FOUNDATIONS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH: KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND PRACTICE NSC-M33F 20 This module is designed for practitioners working within clinical research who wish to develop their knowledge and skills to plan, implement and conduct clinical research. The module will run for six study days. The core content of this module will reflect a thematic approach by building, session by session, a student's knowledge base of developing and implementing clinical research in a systematic and structured way. This module will be delivered by adopting a blended learning approach through a combination of the following: Lectures from UEA staff and specialist clinical research professionals Interactive web-based discussions Student-led seminars Asynchronous E-learning activity Service user input Directed and self-directed study By the end of this module the student will be able to: Demonstrate a systematic critical appreciation of the relevance of clinical trials to the drug development process (C1). Critically evaluate the relevance of clinical trials to the development of evidence-based practice/medicine including an appreciation of gaps in knowledge (C1). Demonstrate a detailed critical knowledge of the different types of clinical research (C2.1) Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the importance of RCTs and the concept of blinding (C1). Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate and apply the legal frameworks governing clinical research and the role and functions of the regulatory bodies such as MHRA and NICE (C3.1) Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate and apply effective strategies for gaining informed consent (C3.4). Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate and apply the research protocols (C2.5) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the development of the skills required for a senior role in the conduct of clinical research (C2.4) Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate current theories and evidence regarding monitoring, audit and inspection (C2.6). Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the range of approaches and communication strategies within a study team; between a study team and the wider team and participants (C2.2). Demonstrate an ability to comprehensively evaluate and apply effective methods of research dissemination. FURTHER QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS MED-M32E 20 The purpose of this module is to build on the coverage of quantitative methods and critical appraisal skills that were introduced and described in the Introduction to Research Methods module. The skills to be developed further include being able to 1: add depth to the basic knowledge already acquired in that module on measurement, survey instruments, trial design and statistics, 2: begin to acquire a basic understand of the concept of systematic reviews and meta analysis. SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND RESEARCH SYNTHESIS AHP-M46E 20 Findings from systematic reviews have been increasingly used by health policy makers, clinicians and patients for making decisions. A systematic review of available evidence is also often required for developing new research, and for interpreting findings from a primary study. The module will include the following contents; 1. Introduction, framing questions, inclusion/exclusion criteria 2. Sources of evidence and literature search strategy 3. Data extraction, and validity assessment 4. Synthesizing evidence from qualitative studies 5. Synthesizing evidence from quantitative studies 6. Quality of systematic reviews, and overview of reviews 7. Recent development in research synthesis methods 8. Systematic review protocol. Learning outcome: Provides students with the skills and understanding to appraise and interpret published systematic reviews, to develop a protocol and undertake a systematic review. By the end of the module, students will be able to: • Frame questions appropriate for a systematic review • Design an appropriate literature search strategy • Assess the relevance and quality of primary studies • Qualitatively and quantitatively synthesize data from primary studies • Appropriately interpret findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis • Understand common pitfalls in systematic reviews and meta-analysis • Become familiar with recent method research relevant to systematic reviews. Disclaimer

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.

Fees and Funding

Fees for the academic year 2012/13 are:

• UK/EU Students: £5,000
• International Students: £12,400

International applicants from outside the EU may need to pay a deposit.

For those applying under the SHA contract, contract prices will apply.