Unit information: Molecular Epidemiology in 2023/24

Unit name	Molecular Epidemiology
Unit code	BRMSM0037
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Richmond
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

Unit Information

The aims of this unit are to:

• Introduce students to high-throughput molecular data commonly used in non-communicable disease epidemiology
• Explain the different ways in which these data can be used in large scale epidemiological studies, including for exposure assessment, disease prediction and to help with causal inference and mechanistic insights (eg Mendelian randomization)
• Describe the design and challenges of both genome-wide and epigenome-wide association studies and how to interpret their results

Both genetic and non-genetic molecular data will be discussed.

Your learning on this unit

By the end of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Describe the design and challenges of genome-wide and epigenome-wide association studies
2. Interpret results from genome-wide and epigenome-wide association studies
3. Give examples of how molecular data can be used in epidemiological studies of non-communicable disease, including appropriate study design and analysis strategy
4. Critically evaluate scientific papers that use molecular data in non-communicable disease epidemiology

How you will learn

Teaching will include learning activities set by the tutor including lectures, small group work, discussions, individual tasks, and practical activities.

Directed and self-directed learning will include activities such as reading, accessing web-based supplementary materials, critical analysis and completion of assessments.

How you will be assessed

Formative assessment will support student learning by using informal questioning, quizzes and group exercises in weekly sessions online and offline. These form an assessment for learning and will not contribute to the final unit mark. Students will also complete a (formative) exercise half-way through the Unit, where they will critically appraise a published molecular epidemiology study.

Summative assessment: The unit will be assessed using a single closed book exam (ILOs 1-4; 100% of total unit mark).

A mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.

Resources

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. BRMSM0037).

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.