Teaching
Overview of the course
The course is divided into three sections, each contributing approximately one third of the final mark:
Section 1: In-person and online taught materials (multiple approaches to delivery of materials and mini assessments), coursework and presentations
Section 2: Research project (literature review – including critical appraisal)
Section 3: Research project, data collection, presentation of results and analysis (written thesis and presentation)
Section 1: taught material, coursework and transferable skills
This will comprise of lectures and tutorials, with the majority delivered in Michaelmas term.
Course-specific teaching includes lectures and tutorials covering four modules: (1) pre-clinical development, (2) clinical evaluation, (3) scaling-up, implementation and commercialisation, (4) data analysis.
Transferrable skills will be taught, including lectures and tutorials on research design and methodology, data collection, data analysis, statistical methodology, inclusivity, sustainability and social responsibility, communication, team building and training on planning, writing and delivering scientific oral and poster presentations.
Teaching will be delivered primarily by the course team comprising: course director, course research lead, programme manager, teaching team, Biomedical Research Centre PIs and contributors, early career researchers, and senior technical staff, supported by post doctorate researchers.
Transferable skills and researcher development training will include sessions delivered by the MRC Biostatistics Unit for statistics, Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit for trial design and analysis, Cambridge BRC Patient and Public Involvement in Research team for public engagement and research communication, Office for Translational Research, Cambridge University Hospital's Clinical Engineering and Innovation, and the University’s Researcher Development Programme for research integrity, preparing a poster, giving an oral presentation, time management and writing skills.
| One to one supervision |
Each participant will have an individual meeting with a course director termly to discuss learning goals and progress. Participants will be assigned to action learning sets of no more than 7 individuals to discussed shared and individual challenges, and to help develop and work on their projects in small learning communities (led by course senior team). 9 hours per year are assigned to this. |
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| Lectures |
Approximately 90 hours of lectures will be provided during the course, with the course's limited intake allowing these to be interactive. |
| Practicals |
Practical experience will be gained from completing a research project with an experienced principal investigator. During the research project we expect participants to gain knowledge and skills in experimental design, experimental skills, data collection, data analysis and presentation. This training will be via receipt of project-specific training and by ongoing critical review of project progress with a supervisor and other members of the research group. Participants will be embedded in the team of the supervisor they are working with, and will spend 24-32 hours per week on the project, for 32 weeks. Participants will be able to select their research topic from a list of proposed projects. Alternatively, if a student has a strong interest in a specific area, the course team will try to facilitate work in this area if a suitable supervisor can be identified. |
| Small group teaching |
Student directed online skills learning through dedicated ‘flipped classroom’ taught materials will be consolidated with in-person interactive follow-up discussions. Small group work will allow participants to to work through key concepts and allow discussion relevant to particular areas of interest. |
| Journal clubs |
There will be multiple journal clubs with fellow course participants will be facilitated by senior researchers, building presentation and critical appraisal skills. |
| Literature Reviews |
As part of the research project component of the course participants will be required to produce a literature review of the field providing background to, context for and the objectives of the research project. The course includes lectures on literature searching and evidence appraisal, with small group work to consolidate skills. All participants will be fully supported by the University of Cambridge Medical Library team in accessing the library's resources. |
| Posters and Presentations |
As part of the course, participants will need to present a paper at a journal club, pitch a medical device and/or advanced therapy in a ‘Dragon’s Den’-style session, and give an oral presentation in a conference-style setting. To prepare for these, the course incorporates teaching on the skills and techniques required to successfully present to both academic and lay audiences, in visual and oral formats, as well as the specific skills needed for a short, engaging pitch. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Predominantly Taught
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Feedback
Frequent feedback will be provided to participants. In the first term this will be via small group sessions, and in terms 2 and 3 via regular meetings with a research supervisor and their team. Each participant will also have an individual meeting with a course director termly.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
In addition to the taught component of the course (October to December), participants will embark on an individual research project, which will form some of the course assessment. Participants will be provided with a range of potential research projects, working with principle investigators in a varied range of institutions, both within the University of Cambridge and beyond, including with relevant industry partners. In some circumstances students may be able to set up their own project if a suitable supervisor can be found.
The research project will be assessed by both a written thesis (comprised of two components) and an oral presentation:
1. A literature review of the topic (max 3,000 words) to form the introduction to the thesis in the form of the background and context of the research project (20%)
2. The project outcomes (7,000 words) : abstract, methods, results, data analysis, and discussion (46%)
3. Conference presentation (8%)
Other
Assessment will be through a range of formats which may include coursework, written and oral examinations, posters, presentations and projects.