LQB684 Advances in Medical Biotechnology
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | LQB684 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | LQB385 and LQB485 |
| Equivalent(s): | LSB609 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,968 |
| International unit fee | $6,216 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | LQB684 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LQB385 and LQB485 |
| Equivalent: | LSB609 |
| Coordinator: | Kerry Manton | kerry.manton@qut.edu.au |
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;
- Bio-Organoids: A cellular based research project utilizing 2D and 3D tissue culture, Bio-organoid’s and cellular based assays including immunofluorescence.
- Genomic medicine: A dry-lab research project using GWAS to gain biological insight and tailor patient clinical management.
This practical work is complemented by development of diagnostics and therapeutics for safe and effective clinical use. This advanced level unit will enable you to understand emerging treatments for health problems especially in remote Australia and Indigenous communities. You will further develop your scientific research and analytical skills and design innovative solutions for improving modern healthcare.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- 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..
- 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.
- Construct robust experimental aims, methods and hypotheses, to enable you to collect, interpret, validate and communicate scientific data.
Content
The content of this unit includes:
Research Techniques in Biotechnology
- PCL scaffolds
- Epithelial and fibroblast cells
- 3D Bio-organoids
- Cellular assays and immunoflouresence.
Medical Biotechnology Industry- Clinical trials
- Diagnostics and Therapeutics
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
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, 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
There are no set texts or references. The nature of the content of this unit dictates that you continuously search for current material. You will be referred to relevant, particularly Web-based material and sites as appropriate.
Resource Materials
Safety and protective equipment
Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:
- Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
- Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
- 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
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.LS40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- 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 - 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 - Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
Relates to: Laboratory notebook, Case Study, Viva voce - 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
LV41 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- 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 - 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 - Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
Relates to: Laboratory notebook, Case Study, Viva voce - 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