LQB508 Pathophysiology

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

LQB508 Pathophysiology is an advanced unit that will build upon your existing knowledge of disease processes and practical skills gained in LSB258, LQB388 and LQB488.  This unit will give you an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of a wide range of diseases/disorders with particular emphasis conditions identified as areas of national health priority by the Australian National Medical Health and Research Council (NHMRC) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and metabolic syndromes. The lecture content is complemented by case study workshops.  The  practical component will assist you in developing the technical and analytical skills required to investigate the pathophysiology of disease processes crucial in both research and industry settings. Critical evaluation and communication, both written and oral,  of complex pathophysiological research data is also a key component of this unit.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe mechanistic processes underpinning diseases covered in the unit, and analyse and apply clinical data required for the recognition and treatment of these conditions.
2. Demonstrate critical-thinking and complex-reasoning skills necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and for designing, conducting and interpreting research data relevant to the field of pathophysiology.
3. Demonstrate independent practical skills in a research focused context to advance the understanding of the pathophysiology of complex diseases.
4. Interpret and communicate scientific data and literature to a professional audience in both written and oral formats.

Content

Learning Approaches

Content delivery in this unit will consist of online (asynchronous) lecture material each week. Each lecture module will focus on major diseases generally centred around a specific organ system (eg. cardiac, respiratory, neurological etc.). The lecture content will be complemented by clinical case study workshops in the latter part of the semester and laboratory practical sessions.

Workshops: You will undertake workshops where you will work in teams to interrogate case studies and problems directly related to disorders covered in the lecture modules. You will assume different professional roles in your team and together discuss alternative diagnoses, the underlying pathophysiology of the conditions and appropriate treatments. 

Practicals: Through laboratory investigation you will develop a deeper understanding of,  and competency in, research techniques and analytical skills that are crucial to developing a deeper understanding of the disease process that is critical in developing novel therapeutic and diagnostic modalities to improve patient outcomes in the future.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be given feedback on your work during weekly practicals and workshops and online via Canvas from the teaching team.  The oral presentation and written research report will be graded using a criteria sheet, which will provide individual feedback on your achievement.  You are also encouraged to actively seek feedback from the unit coordinator.  The oral presentation includes a peer feedback component whereby several peers will be chosen to review and provide peer level feedback for each presenter.  The benefits here are two-fold in providing feedback to the presenter themselves from their target audience and secondly studies have show that the process of providing considered peer feedback improves the presentation skills of the provider above those obtained simply through passively observing another presentation.

Assessment

Overview

For this unit, there are three assessment items:
1. Practical Research Report (Individual).
2. Oral presentation (Individual).
3. Theory Examination (written)

These assessment items have been developed with a focus on complex reasoning, critical thinking, practical applications and effective communication. These skills are crucial components of a wide range of professional careers in the biomedical sciences.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Practical Research Report

Professional reporting of research data is crucial aspect of careers in the biomedical and health sciences.  Research data generated in the laboratory classes will be analyzed, interpreted and reported in a professional, scientific manner.  The structure and style of reporting will be aligned to requirements set forth by the biomedical journal Nature Medicine, the same journal from which articles for the oral presentation will be selected.  Workshops will be embedded in practical sessions covering professional and ethical requirements for conducting and reporting in medical research.  Students will assume the role of a research assistant tasked with generating novel primary research data relevant to a disease process.  The data generated will be critically analysed and written up as a professional research manuscript (as the lead author for the research team) for submission to a peer reviewed biomedical journal (Nature Medicine).

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Oral Presentation

Oral communication of complex research findings and clinical cases are used in careers in health and biomedical sciences and are often referred to as 'Journal clubs' or are features of Grand Round forums.  The central aim of such presentations is to identify, interpret, distill and communicate complex scientific and clinical findings in an informative and concise manner to keep colleagues abreast of recent novel advances in a particular area.  You will choose and research a recent research article focused on understanding and advancing our knowledge of a disease process from the journal Nature Medicine.   You will communicate your knowledge and critical evaluation of the research manuscript through an oral presentation focused on identifying and distilling the key findings of the manuscript in a clear and concise manner and answering audience questions.

Assessment: Theory Examination

An exam that will assess your understanding of disease processes as well as your ability to use your critical-thinking and complex-reasoning skills to explain the physiological and pathophysiological basis of clinical case studies.  The exam will be a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions.

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)

Any recent edition of an advanced Physiology textbook, such as Boron WF and Boulpaep EL: Medical Physiology or Guyton AC and Hall JE Textbook of Medical Physiology.

Costanzo LS. Physiology: Cases and Problems. 12th edition: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2012.

Safety and protective equipment

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

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.

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: Practical Research Report, Oral Presentation, Theory Examination
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: Practical Research Report
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: Practical Research Report, Theory Examination
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: Oral Presentation
5. Apply knowledge and skills to rapidly source, critically analyse and communicate biomedical science information using appropriate technologies.
   Relates to: Oral Presentation