Unit information: Pharmacology Research proposal in 2015/16

Unit name	Pharmacology Research proposal
Unit code	PHPHM0002
Credit points	40
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Usowicz
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	PHAR20001 Principles of pharmacology 2A PHAR20002 Principles of pharmacology 2B PHPH30001 Introduction to Industrial study PHPHM0001 Industrial Research Project
Co-requisites	20 cp Concepts and Skills (pharmacology) 20 cp Pharmacology of ion channels and synaptic transmission 20 cp Receptor signalling and non-drug therapies 20 cp Pharmacology of the nervous system
School/department	School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

Students learn to plan a higher research-level investigation lasting 3 years, as in a standard project grant. Students read into the current scientific literature on a topic that goes beyond that covered in lectures covered in the co-requisite units, and formulate and write a proposal in the format of a Wellcome Trust project grant. This is carried under the guidance of a supervisor who is not an expert on the focused proposal field, through weekly meetings. The unit aims to build on the research and analytical skills in pharmacology that the students have acquired during their year in industry. Students use these skills and those acquired in co-requisite units to plan and cost a long-term research project.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Scientific experimental design and execution
• The ability to critically evaluate scientific data and literature and appraise competing theories.
• The ability to design a comprehensive research investigation (duration 3 years)
• Writing of grant applications
• The ability to present original findings and ideas to a specialist audience in written and oral forms.

Teaching Information

Mainly self-directed learning under the supervision of an academic member of staff, through weekly meetings.

Assessment Information

Summative: The research proposal is written as a Wellcome Trust project grant application (60%), with strict limits on page number and font size. Each proposal is read by two members of staff. The summative assessment (20%) is of an oral presentation given by the student and their ability to explain and answer questions on their grant proposal by a panel of examiners. MSci students also sit a 2 hour exam (20%) consisting of questions that test the ability to integrate material from all units in the final year, their research project and their year in industry.

Reading and References

Reviews and primary articles from the current scientific literature.