| Unit name | Spinal and Demyelinating Disorders |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMSM0044 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Wong |
| 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?
Spinal and demyelinating disorders have a profound impact on the life of those affected. There is currently no cure for these conditions - we can only offer treatments to manage disease symptoms. In this unit we will cover how stem cells and regenerative medicine can offer alternative and potential effective therapeutic approaches to tackle these conditions.
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 in the context of spinal and demyelinating disorders.
An overview of content
The aim of this unit is to introduce a range of spinal, peripheral nerve and demyelinating disorders, discuss pathogenetic processes and review regenerative therapies for these diseases. The main disorders that will be covered include multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and motor neuron disease. The unit will discuss the contributing factors leading to the development of these pathologies and emphasise the potential role for stem cell therapies.
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):
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. BRMSM0044).
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.
