Professional course Studies in the Biology of Disease

Content

You will carry out case studies selected to illustrate the multifactorial and integrated nature of disease and its laboratory investigation. Indicative content includes:

• Homeostasis and malignant disease: Central importance of homeostasis, mechanisms of control and the consequences of failure. Concepts of disease and normality, reference ranges Mechanisms of cancer development at a cellular level, haematological disorders and diagnosis and treatment.
  
• Cellular Pathology: Microscopic analysis of cells and tissues. Preparative processes for microscopical analysis of tissues and cells. Cell and tissue stabilisation. Histological and cytological features of the disease state. Clinical laboratory applications of cellular pathology; its role in diagnosis, prognosis and prediction.
  
• Clinical Biochemistry: diagnosis, screening and monitoring of disease through qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Diagnosis of Liver, Cardiac diseases and endocrine disorders. Drug toxicity and drug monitoring Haematology and Transfusion Science: haematology of normal and disease states, haemoglobinopathies and thalassaemias, anaemias, leukaemias and thrombosis. Laboratory investigation of disease states. The role of the laboratory in monitoring of therapy. Immunohaematology; including identification of blood group antigens, methods for antibody detection and compatibility testing and safety aspects of blood transfusion.
  
• Medical Microbiology: relationship between host and microorganisms, mechanisms of pathogenicity, transmission and response to infection, factors influencing susceptibility, epidemiology, laboratory investigation of infectious diseases and vaccination.
  
• Immunology: structure and function of the immune system, innate and acquired immunity, inflammation, tolerance. Structure and function of antibodies, immunoassay and radioimmunoassay, ELISA, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Autoimmunity and disease states. Immunodeficiency and AIDS. Transplantation immunology, cancer immunology and related immunotherapy. Professional/Generic Aspects: Requirements for registration, the HPC and IBMS. Standards that govern pathology laboratory practice, health & safety, ethics. Quality assurance and quality control, sources of error.

Study time

The contact hours (72) are distributed as follows:

• 18 lectures (3 hours per lecture) = 54 hours
• 6 laboratory sessions (3 hours per practical) = 18 hours.