LQB595 Regenerative Medicine

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This advanced unit provides you with the necessary skills to understand and apply theories of regenerative medicine and cellular engineering to investigate complex cellular behaviour; and investigate how these behaviours can be manipulated to promote human health. You will have the opportunity to develop critical technical skills in this unit relevant to future work in research laboratories. This unit builds on the knowledge and skills developed in LQB485 Cell Biology and provides the necessary platform to advance to more advanced studies in Cell and Molecular Biotechnology.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe stem cell behaviour, cell niches and cell fate and discuss how cells can be manipulated to provide cell-based and tissue engineered scaffolds and models for biomedical research and therapeutics.
2. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in the laboratory environment to perform cell culture and cell analytical tests in accordance with appropriate occupational health and safety standards.
3. Apply advanced problem solving, information retrieval, scientific communication and collaborative skills to critically analyse existing literature and report on laboratory activities and experimental data, working either in a team or individually.
4. Develop professional oral communication skills through a conference-style presentation.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit engages you in your learning through the investigation of contemporary research theories and practices in cellular and tissue engineering. Learning is complemented by access to a number of experienced researchers in these fields in your classes. Theoretical underpinnings are aligned to the development of key technical proficiencies within laboratory sessions.You will also receive training in key skills such as data visualization/analysis, academic writing and scientific presentations. You will have lectures, tutorials/workshops and laboratory classes throughout the semester; refer to the Canvas site for schedule details.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback as a class in response to the questions and exercises that summarise and complement the lecture material; attendance at classes is essential in order to review the questions and receive this feedback. The conference presentation will be graded using a criteria sheet, which will provide individual feedback on your achievement and will also include feedback from your peers on your team's performance. Individual feedback will also be provided in the laboratory classes on your technical skills and laboratory performance throughout the semester by demonstrators and your teaching team. In addition, you will have the opportunity to submit an early draft of your laboratory report for formative feedback.

Assessment

Overview

You will have a range of theoretical and laboratory-based assessment tasks:

In the first half of the semester, you will receive an introduction into the theory and applications of stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine presented by researchers in the various areas of cellular and tissue engineering. The topics discussed in these guest lectures and tutorials will enable you to complete the problem-solving assessment. The content covered in the first few weeks of the semester will also form the basis of presentations and questions in the student conference.

In laboratory classes, you will work through a range of cell-based experiments. Attendance to all laboratory classes is mandatory as it is linked to the completion of your laboratory report. To support you in the analysis and the write up of the data produced during practical sessions, the workshops and tutorials in the second half of the semester will provide you with training and help with data analysis and academic writing. You will have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on early drafts of your publication-style laboratory report.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Conference Presentation

You will present the current state of a specific area of stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine in a conference-style environment based on your interpretation of a number of research papers. More specifically, you will work in a small team to present different aspects of a (potentially controversial) topic in the area of cellular engineering in order to initiate discussion with your audience. You will be mainly marked based on your individual performance (quality of oral and visual presentation, content and critical reflection) in your ~6-8 min presentation, which will address one aspect of your team’s topic. Your active contribution to the discussion of all topics (your own and from other teams) will also be marked on individual level. Your overall performance as a team (e.g., linking individual presentations, duplication of information, consistency of overall argument) will be assessed on group level in a peer review format.

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

The written problem-solving task requires you to work through a number of scenarios and answer questions in a single submission that will assess your critical thinking, data analysis skills and depth of understanding of stem cells and their application in cellular and tissue engineering contexts.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Laboratory Skills and Report

In the laboratory practicals, you will receive training and will work through a stem cell-based project in a scenario very similar to research in biomedical institutes or the industry. You will be assessed on your key professional skills in analysing cell-based laboratory experiments and discussing the outcomes of the project in the form of a written publication-style laboratory report covering introduction, aims, methods, results, data analyses and interpretations with reference to key literature according to appropriate scientific writing conventions. Your continuous compliance with laboratory rules including adherence to Health and Safety guidelines will also be considered in your assessment.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Costs

Cost of lab gowns and safety protection glasses are the students responsibility.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Robert Lanza Robert Langer Joseph Vacanti Anthony Atala; Principles of Tissue Engineering. 5th Edition

Imprint: Academic Press

Published Date: 27th April 2020

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

LS40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science

1. Critically review, analyse and synthesise foundational knowledge in a broad range of biomedical discipline areas and in depth theoretical, technical and practical knowledge in specialised discipline areas.
   Relates to: Conference Presentation, Problem Solving Task
2. Demonstrate the technical skills required to solve multi-disciplinary problems in biomedical research, industry and clinical settings and do so in an ethical, safe and responsible manner.
   Relates to: Laboratory Skills and Report
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task
4. Contribute effectively to biomedical projects, either as an individual or as a member of a team, by demonstrating professional behaviour and participating in continuous learning.
   Relates to: Conference Presentation, Laboratory Skills and Report
5. Apply knowledge and skills to rapidly source, critically analyse and communicate biomedical science information using appropriate technologies.
   Relates to: Conference Presentation, Laboratory Skills and Report