Professional/Short course Applied Transplantation Science

Content

The module syllabus typically covers the following:

The biology of transplantation

• An introduction to the Immunological basis for transplantation, immunogenetics and the major histocompatibility complex.
• Histocompatibility and immunogenetics in stem cell transplantation and organ transplantation.
• Physiology and pathophysiology of tissue, solid organ, and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
• Transfusion therapy in the setting of solid organ and stem cell transplantation, including reference to relevant guidelines.

Stem cell and tissue banking

• The processes involved in consent, retrieval, processing, sample coding, storage and issue of tissues and stem cells.
• Processing and quality assurance of tissues.
• Cord blood banking and transplantation.
• Stem cell registries.
• Processing, storage and issue of haematopoietic stem cell therapies and donor lymphocyte infusions.
• Relevant legislation and guidelines for stem cell and tissue banking.

Donor considerations for transplantation

• Processes involved in donation of tissues and stem cells.
• Donor selection for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
• Donor compatibility and organ allocation for transplantation.

Advanced cell therapies

• An introduction to advanced cell and gene therapies, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
• Production and quality assurance of DNA and protein-based therapeutics.
• Applied biomaterials.
• Technology transfer, translation and commercialisation in the advanced cell therapy setting.

Personalised medicine

• Incorporation of clinical bioinformatics, pharmacogenomics and genomics, and their roles in personalised medicine within transfusion and transplantation science.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching will be delivered in blocks, including data-based and laboratory-based practicals, as well as online lectures and webinars, online case studies (patient scenario-based), online forum and tutorials.

Teaching will also focus on being practice-led, embedding the application of transplantation theory, together with current clinical management of stem cell, tissue and organ transplantation.

Assessment

The written examination will assess your knowledge on the breadth of the syllabus and evidence their ability to critically analyse and apply current research from the scientific literature and clinical guidelines.

You will also be assessed on your portfolio which should evidence the interpretation of data obtained in laboratory practical classes and understanding of practical application of theoretical concepts.You will be supported in this assessment by in-session guidance from the teaching team and formative feedback on work completed in the initial practical session.