| Unit name | Coronary Artery Disease II |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCSM0004 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Bond |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) | |
| 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?
This unit will expand on the clinical problem of coronary artery disease, which has a huge impact on global morbidity and mortality. Current treatments will be discussed in more detail, focussing on interventional cardiology (such as angioplasty with or without stenting) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. There are over 100,000 angioplasty procedures and around 20,000 CABG surgeries in the UK each year, however they are not without clinical complications, including the need for revascularisation at a later date. This unit’s main aim is to highlight the need for improved interventional treatments for coronary artery disease, and we will discuss the value that pre-clinical (animal and in-vitro) models have in assessing the effectiveness of new therapeutic approaches.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit follows on from Coronary Artery Disease I and builds on the knowledge gained regarding atherosclerosis pathophysiology, since severity and extent of atherosclerosis are important in determining intervention choice for coronary artery disease patients. Interestingly, many cellular and molecular processes that drive atherosclerosis, also contribute to the failure of clinical interventions (for example CABG failure or in-stent restenosis). Furthermore, you will learn research techniques, including animal models of CABG and stenting, which can be applied during the Research Project unit (MSc students only). Similarly, scientific abstract writing will prepare you for your final dissertation.
An overview of content
In this unit, we will expand on material in Coronary Artery Disease I. Current surgical interventions used for coronary artery disease (CABG surgery and stent implantation) will be described, as well as the clinical problem and pathobiology of the complications that frequently occur as a result of these procedures, including neointima formation and thrombosis, which contribute to stent and bypass graft failure. We will discuss translational research that contributes to the development of improved interventional treatments for coronary artery disease, highlighting the value of animal models for assessing new therapeutic approaches. Genetic studies that have driven our understanding of the disease and accelerated development of new pharmacological treatments will be discussed. Finally, we will cover emerging approaches evaluated at the pre-clinical level for the treatment of coronary artery disease, such as stem cell use, novel graft materials, altered stent coatings, novel clinical pharmacology and gene therapy.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will acquire knowledge of the current pharmacological and interventional treatments for coronary artery disease, and you will understand the limitations of these approaches and be able to critically evaluate the emerging research into novel therapies. You will be able to effectively summarise and communicate complex research in the form of a scientific abstract.
Learning Outcomes
Students successfully completing this unit will be able to:
The core content will be delivered via in-person lectures (campus students) or lecture recordings (online students). Lecture recordings will be available to all students so you can review the lecture material multiple times at your own pace, with the inclusion of captions. Lectures will be supplemented with additional teaching methods such as:
Students will be given formative feedback on all coursework assessments to aid their learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
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. SOCSM0004).
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.
