| Unit name | Stem Cells in Cardiac Systems |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CSSBM0001 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Slater |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. New approaches aimed at restoring cardiovascular function are urgently needed. Current therapies focus mainly on restoring blood flow and aiding pumping function, however they cannot reverse tissue damage caused by ischaemia. This unit will also focus on the use of tissue engineering to repair congenital heart defects by promoting cell growth. Currently children need to undergo several surgeries as they grow to repair the defect. In this unit we will explore how regenerative medicine, stem cells and biomaterials can be used to develop effective treatments.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
Throughout the programme you will gain an understanding of regenerative medicine approaches, biomaterials and molecular tools that can be used to address unmet clinical needs. In this unit we will apply this foundational knowledge to tackle common cardiovascular conditions.
An overview of content
The aim of this unit is to outline the role of stem cells in cardiovascular tissues. This unit will introduce you to common cardiovascular conditions. You will also explore how stem cells, biomaterials and tissue engineering can be harnessed to develop effective treatments with particular focus on angiogenesis and repairing the ischemic heart.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
As a result of this unit, you will gain further experience in expressing your own views of scientific research, critically evaluating publications, and identifying where gaps in the field still exist. You will start to explore different communication methods commonly used by scientists to share their findings.
Learning Outcomes
This unit will offer you a range of learning opportunities such as pre-recorded resources together with live online sessions with discussion designed to encourage engagement and active learning. Formative tasks will encourage you to develop your skills and support your learning. You are also expected to engage in selecting additional reading from a suggested reading list, to support and further expand your learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
A live discussion session will provide formative feedback and support on students plans for their research proposal. Formative feedback will be provided on an outline of the essay.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
If you do not pass the unit, you will normally be given the opportunity to take a reassessment as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. Decisions on the award of reassessment will normally be taken after all taught units of the year have been completed. Reassessment will normally be in a similar format to the original assessment that has been failed.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CSSBM0001).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
