Cancer Research Skills - SMB0005

Assessment 1: Written assignment (coursework)

Formative assessments will be made available via the VLE alongside supporting documentation. Feedback on formative work will be provided via dedicated tutorial sessions

Formative assessment

Assessment 2: Presentation

Presentation

Assessment 3: Written Assignment

Written Assessment

Assessment 1: Written Assignment

This module focuses on the development of key skills important for undertaking cancer research in a range of settings including academia, the pharmaceutical industry and small research organisations. Content will include consideration of core practical techniques used by the cancer researcher and key aspects of experimental design such as inclusion of appropriate controls, importance of replicates, feasibility assessment, and critical evaluation of any limitations of the chosen assay(s). Other topics to be covered include formulating a research hypothesis and appropriate experimental objectives to test this, record keeping, research integrity and ethical considerations in cancer research. Expertise will be gained in the analysis of data derived from commonly used experimental techniques in cancer and training provided on how to interpret these data and formulate research hypotheses. Further training will be provided around online data mining from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and the generation of Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The module will also include an introduction to and training in the communication skills required to summarise salient research findings and formulated hypotheses via different media to both a scientific and lay audience, in a style consistent with that used to securing project funding.

School of Applied Sciences

FHEQ7 reading generally comprises peer-reviewed articles, rather than textbooks, as the subject area is highly specialised. Suggested and directed reading will be provided as part of lecture content, however, example texts are provided below.
Menyhárt O, Harami-Papp H, Sukumar S, Schäfer R, Magnani L, de Barrios O, Győrffy B. Guidelines for the selection of functional assays to evaluate the hallmarks of cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 Dec;1866(2):300-319. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2016.10.002.
Ediriweera MK, Tennekoon KH, Samarakoon SR. In vitro assays and techniques utilized in anticancer drug discovery. J Appl Toxicol. 2019 Jan;39(1):38-71. doi: 10.1002/jat.3658. Epub 2018 Aug 2.
Powers AD, Palecek SP. Protein analytical assays for diagnosing, monitoring, and choosing treatment for cancer patients. J Healthc Eng. 2012 Dec;3(4):503-534. doi: 10.1260/2040-2295.3.4.503.
Oskouei RJ, Kor NM, Maleki SA. Data mining and medical world: breast cancers' diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and challenges. Am J Cancer Res. 2017 Mar 1;7(3):610-627.
Perrault EK, Hildenbrand GM, Nyaga RG. Epigeneti-What? Approaches on Translating Research for Primary Breast Cancer Prevention. Front Oncol. 2019 Apr 12;9:267. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00267.

Biomedical & Life Sciences

SMB0005 - Cancer Research Skills

Cancer Research Skills

be able to formulate a novel research hypothesis and devise experimental objectives to test this. 

be able to indicate and relate logistical aspects of experimental design. 

be able to explain ethical considerations when conducting cancer research.

be able to demonstrate competency in the articulation of complex concepts to both expert and non-expert audiences. 



be able to recognise, differentiate, and critically evaluate core methodologies used in cancer research. 

be able to use data mining to access, evaluate and utilise complex patient data

be able to critically evaluate cutting-edge research data and synthesise a summary of the key findings. 

be able to analyse and evaluate cancer research data derived from core experimental assays. 