LQB684 Advances in Medical Biotechnology

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit has a focus on learning by doing.  Students design their own experimental methods, conduct research, collect data and analyze their results. Students focus their research project on one of the below research questions in personalized medicine;

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe the applications, risks and ethical limitations of novel and emerging biotechnology based therapeutics in treating complex human diseases with an emphasis on remote/rural and Indigenous health..
2. Demonstrate advanced problem solving, information retrieval and critical analysis skills to identify novel solutions for improving biotechnology based therapeutics in treating complex human disease systems.
3. Construct robust experimental aims, methods and hypotheses, to enable you to collect, interpret, validate and communicate scientific data.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is focused on applying your knowledge of biomedical science and the biotechnology industry to develop novel and innovative solutions for 'real-world' problems. Research and Industry professionals will help you focus on the problems and success in modern personalized medicine, the local biotechnology industry including clinical trials.

The practical component of this unit will comprise a research project where you will be expected to develop your own hypotheses and experimental protocols. You will conduct your experiments in a wet or dry-lab setting, collect and analyse the data and draw scientific conclusions.

The case study assessment will extend the traditional teaching format and provide you with opportunities for the development of advanced problem solving, information retrieval and critical analytical skills.  Students will be given the opportunity for collaborative feedback with their peers and/or teaching staff.

The unit concludes with a viva voce assessment that will allow you to further demonstrate your strengths in scientific analysis and innovative solution development.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formal assessments will provide you with feedback on critical thinking, technical (laboratory) competence and statutory compliance.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment items and standards of attainment are designed to emulate techniques and processes in common use within the biotechnology and medical research industries. These assessments will facilitate individual feedback on critical thinking, technical competence and statutory compliance.

All assignments will be checked for plagiarism using the QUT's safe assign content matching software.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory notebook

You are required to maintain and submit good laboratory practice standard workbooks documenting your aims, methods, results and scientific analysis of your laboratory experiments. This will enable ongoing assessment on your research capacity within a wet or dry laboratory.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Case Study

You will develop and communicate (through a written assignment and oral presentation) novel solutions to improve the clinical effectiveness of biotechnology derived cellular therapies with an emphasis on remote and indigenous communities.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Viva voce

Verbal explanation of your understanding of a medical biotechnology/clinical trial scenario that has been discussed within the unit. Also includes an explanation of your research methods, results and analysis.

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

Costs

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

Resources

Resource Materials

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.

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: Laboratory notebook, Case Study, Viva voce
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 notebook
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: Laboratory notebook, Case Study, Viva voce
4. Apply knowledge and skills to rapidly source, critically analyse and communicate biomedical science information using appropriate technologies.
   Relates to: Laboratory notebook, Case Study, Viva voce