Pharmacogenetics and stratified healthcare (for CPPD)

Person checking inventory of pharmacy products

Pharmacogenomics is playing a key role in our health care system. Pharmacogenomics and stratified health care ensure that healthcare professionals tailor the 'right treatment, for the right person, at the right time’ and is a fast developing area. This module provides a comprehensive overview of the analytical strategies and techniques used in pharmacogenomics and explore some of the challenges and limitations in this field (availability of patient material for studies of adverse drug reactions which tend to be rare, allelic heterogeneity between different ethnic groups, patient compliance etc.). Biomarkers are the predictive tools for optimising drug response and preventing adverse drug reactions thus this module will also provide an overview of the different type of genomic biomarkers currently in use or emerging.

This module describes the complexity of pharmacogenomics and the effect of medication on individuals based on their genetic make-up i.e. tailoring drug treatment to improve patient response and techniques to stratify patients at risk of adverse drug reactions. It uses examples of known validated pharmacogenomic tests relevant to the use of drug treatments and also use the expertise provided by the major clinical- and academic- industrial research cluster in biomedical science that is developing locally.

The module provides a focus to develop interactions with industrial partners and academic groups developing research programs in stratified medicine across a broad range of diseases.

Information on other modules can be accessed here.

Course Dates

Key Features

Whilst evidence will not be required as part of your application, given the postgraduate level of the course and subject matter, we would recommend that applicants are able to meet the following requirements:

Academic requirement

Applicants are normally expected to a hold a 2i degree or higher from a UK university or an equivalent from an overseas university.

Language requirement

To ensure that all participants can participate fully and get the best from studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level.

If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking):

◾IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.0 (a minimum of 7.0 in Listening, Writing and Speaking; 6.5 in Reading)
◾TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 100 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)
◾CAE: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element) plus a Language Centre assessment
◾CPE: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 in each individual element)

Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life.

Note that: International students must ensure they have the appropriate immigration status to undertake the course, and this will need to be checked by the University. Students who do not hold an immigration status that permits study and work in the UK will be based overseas and attendance on modules can be supported as a visitor to the UK. There are restrictions on using the visitor route for study and this may restrict the number of modules that can be undertaken across one year. Further information is provided on the International Students website and prospective students are advised to read this in full.