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The Centre for Inflammation Research (CIR) aims to promote the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases through interdisciplinary study of the initiation, regulation and resolution of inflammatory responses and provision of an outstanding environment for research training in the field.
CIR investigators aim to characterise and manipulate key control points in inflammation. We focus on:
We have particular interest in inflammatory diseases of the lung and kidney but the principles derived will have ready application to inflammatory responses in the liver, bowel, bone/joint and skin. There is also increasing development of research in the CIR into the links between inflammation and cancer.
The Centre was formally established in 1998.
Generic training in presentation skills, project management and writing skills is delivered through the University of Edinburgh's transferable skills programme.
The CIR is a multidisciplinary team of research groups under the directorship of Professor John Iredale. The CIR consists of more than 180 researchers, is equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus and is supported by external grant funding. The CIR is now located in the purpose-built Queen's Medical Research Institute along with the centres for Reproductive Biology and Cardiovascular Sciences.
Human tissue repair after injury and in disease and the development of effective treatments are the focus of all biomedical research. This MSc programme, taught by leading scientists and clinicians, provides an integrated approach to human tissue repair focusing on inflammation, immunotherapy and transplantation science, and preparation for PhD study and a career in biomedicine.
The MSc will provide knowledge of the fundamentals of inflammation and immune response in human health and disease, cellular and molecular mechanisms of human tissue repair, the development of therapies designed to repair and restore tissue function, and treatments including immunotherapy, transplantation, tissue constructs and medical devices. Students will obtain additional practical, analytic and transferable skills essential in biomedical research.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
This programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two specialisation optional modules (30 credits) and a research project (60 credits).
Core modules
Students choose one of the following specialisation modules depending on the route they wish to follow: Inflammation; Immunotherapy; Transplantation Science:
Optional modules
Students choose two optional modules from their chosen specialisation route below:
Inflammation specialisation
Immunotherapy specialisation
Transplantation Science specialisation
Dissertation/report
Students undertake a research project culminating in a dissertation of 5,000 words in the style of a manuscript for scientific publication.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, e-learning, laboratory work and tutorials. Assessment is through examination, presentations, essays, practical reports and dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Human Tissue Repair MSc
The programme will prepare students for further academic study and to work at the highest levels within the biomedical sciences. It will also provide the foundation for careers in the public healthcare sector and the NHS, in industry and biopharma, government and research councils, biomedical charities and stakeholders, sports medicine, and scientific media and publishing houses.
Employability
Students will gain awareness of the commercial opportunities and diverse funding mechanisms for the development of new ideas, technologies and applications. Our learning methods will prepare students for careers in academic or industrial biomedical sciences, as well as equipping them with transferable skills in presentation, writing, organisation and team work.
UCL offers a world-class research and teaching environment in biomedical sciences.
The UCL Divisions of Medicine and Surgery & Interventional Science jointly offer this MSc within the new Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) based at the Royal Free Campus, to deliver the only programme with an integrated multidisciplinary approach to learning about human tissue repair, regeneration and therapy.
The programme aims to harness basic, biomedical and clinical expertise and research strengths assembled from across UCL institutes and divisions and UCL partner hospitals, and together with industrial colleagues will provide world-leading cohesive teaching and training in inflammation, immunology, tissue engineering, transplantation, drug discovery and in understanding and treating human disease.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Division of Medicine
80% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
The contribution of inflammation and immune dysfunction to a wide range of diseases, from arthritis to cancer to obesity is becoming increasingly clear. The MSc in Immunology and Inflammatory Disease integrates basic, translational and clinical immunology and inflammation biology with cutting edge molecular and cellular techniques to equip students with both a working knowledge of inflammatory disease together with state of the art research approaches used to study the area.
The MSc programme will consist of five taught courses and a project or dissertation, spread over 11-12 months. Three courses are compulsory and two are chosen from a series of options.
The PgDip programme will consist of five taught courses, spread over 7-8 months, with three compulsory courses and two chosen from a series of options.
The PgCert programme consists of one core taught course over 3-4 months.
The course will include registration and attendance at the British Society for Immunology Annual Congress. This will enable
The programme provides an ideal grounding for progression to further research studies in immunology, inflammation and infectious diseases, or for a career in pharmaceutical/bioscience industries. Our graduates have gone on to take up careers/routes in
Human tissue repair after injury and in disease and the development of effective treatments is the focus of all biomedical research. This MRes, taught by leading research scientists and clinicians, offers specialised training and provides a foundation year for a biomedical research career.
The programme will provide knowledge of the fundamentals of inflammation and the immune response in human health and disease; cellular and molecular mechanisms of human tissue repair and the development of therapies designed to repair and restore tissue function; treatments including immunotherapy, stem cell therapy, transplantation, tissue constructs and medical devices. Students will obtain additional practical, analytical and transferable skills essential in biomedical research.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
This programme consists of five core modules (75 credits), one specialisation optional module (15 credits) and a research project (90 credits).
Core modules
Students choose one of the following specialisation modules depending on the route they wish to follow: Inflammation; Immunotherapy; Transplantation Science:
Dissertation/report
Students undertake a six-month research project in a research laboratory.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, e-learning, laboratory work, and practicals. Assessment is through examination, presentations, essays, practical reports and dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Human Tissue Repair MRes
The programme will prepare students for further academic study and to work at the highest levels within the biomedical sciences. It will also provide the foundation and links for careers engaged in the public healthcare sector and the NHS, in industry and biopharma, government and research councils, biomedical charities and stakeholders, sports medicine, and scientific media and publishing houses.
Employability
Students will gain awareness of the commercial opportunities and diverse funding mechanisms for the development of new ideas, technologies and applications. Our learning methods will prepare students for careers in academic or industrial biomedical sciences, as well as equipping them with transferable skills in presentation, writing, organisation and team work.
UCL offers a world-class research and teaching environment in biomedical sciences.
The UCL Divisions of Medicine and Surgery & Interventional Science jointly offer an MRes within the new Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) based at the Royal Free Campus, to deliver the only programme with an integrated multidisciplinary approach to learning about human tissue repair, regeneration and therapy.
The programme aims to harness basic, biomedical and clinical expertise and research strengths assembled from across UCL institutes and divisions and UCL partner hospitals, and together with industrial colleagues will provide world-leading cohesive teaching and training in inflammation, immunology, tissue engineering, transplantation, drug discovery and in understanding and treating human disease.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Division of Medicine
80% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Our MSc in Clinical Immunology will give you an advanced understanding of the principles and mechanisms of the immune system and immune responses in the context of infection, malignancy and immunological disorders.
You will also gain insight into a specialist area of laboratory medicine from clinical leaders and researchers at the forefront of immunology.
This course comprises six course units spanning the field of clinical immunology, with teaching being delivered on both campus and hospital sites by more than 40 individual contributors.
Course content includes:
The course will also enable you to develop critical and experimental research skills relevant to the field through practical research masterclasses, a focused research proposal and a research project.
You will learn about assays and techniques employed in research and clinical laboratories to develop your technical understanding and clinical interpretation of results.
If you have an interest in this highly diverse and ever changing field and you wish to expand your knowledge at the interface of clinical and academic immunology, this master's course is ideal for you.
This course aims to give you:
Inter-professional learning
You will learn alongside students from a range of backgrounds who are studying on related health science courses. This diversity of educational and professional input from both speakers and students provides a fantastic opportunity for collaborative learning and networking.
Flexible part-time option
If you have other commitments, our part-time option allows you to study each unit in two-week blocks spread over two years, giving you the flexibility you need.
CPD units available
Individual units from this MSc can be taken as standalone courses for continuing professional development .
Academic teaching is delivered by specialist immunologists who are leaders in their field, affiliated withManchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research and Manchester Immunology Group .
Clinical teaching is delivered by experts from across the UK, including University Hospital South Manchester Allergy Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Cambridge Immunology Network, Institute of Child Health UCL and the CRUK Manchester Institute.
We aim to provide a range of teaching and learning methodologies including lectures, tutorials, workshops, problem-based learning exercises and hands on practical sessions. There are also opportunities to observe patient consultations and interact with patient representatives throughout the course.
Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.
Key academic staff
We will assess your progress using a range of formative and summative assessments, such as multiple choice, short answer and essay questions, written or creative assignments, and oral presentations.
The assessments will be constructed to assess your knowledge and understanding while at the same time refining and expanding your intellectual and transferable skills.
You will be required to complete 120 credits (90 credits taught and a 30-credit research proposal and literature report) to obtain a PGDip.
To receive an MSc, a you must combine the 90 credits of taught units with a 30-credit research proposal and a 60-credit research project and dissertation.
The 90-credit taught component of the MSc/PGDip consists of:
Graduates of this course come away with scientific knowledge and diverse transferable skills that are highly sought after by scientific companies within the private sector.
You will also be equipped to work in clinical laboratories within the NHS or pursue a career in research by undertaking a PhD.
The specialist nature of the course would also benefit students with a medical background who want to enhance their knowledge of immunology for future career advancement.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by chronic inflammation of the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Studies have shown activation of hypoxia-inducible pathways can promote the resolution of inflammatory disease. This occurs, in part, through regulation of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress/unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways, and potentially, their co-ordinated action. Not surprisingly, there is considerable interest in harnessing hypoxia-inducible pathways for potential IBD therapies; however this can only be achieved once we fully understand the biological mechanisms.
This clinically-relevant project would look to examine the functional effects of hypoxia on IBD using an in vitro model of IBD and a range of techniques, including mammalian cell culture, immunoblotting and qPCR, confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry. In particular, it would focus on the importance of UPR and autophagic pathways and how they functionally intersect to resolve hypoxia-induced inflammation in IBD. This model and the research data generated from its will ultimately advance our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to IBD.
A first degree (at least a 2.1) ideally in biomedical sciences or equivalent discipline with a good fundamental knowledge of cell biology and molecular biology associated techniques.
IELTS score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components). Other, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Full details of the University’s policy are available online.
• Experience of fundamental GLP, record keeping, troubleshooting, data handling and presentation skills
• Competent in basic laboratory skills
• Knowledge of cell biology and analytical techniques
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project
• Good time management
Prior laboratory experience in mammalian cell culture and molecular biology is desirable
This one-year, full time programme provides an excellent grounding for PhD or other academic study in the Biomedical Sciences. You will learn valuable research skills, biomedical laboratory techniques and a wide range of other transferable skills that will give you an advantage for the rest of your career. You can also choose two themes that best suit your interests and career goals.
The programme includes seminars, taught modules and two research projects in our world-recognised research laboratories. We will also cover a range of valuable transferable skills including critical analysis of research papers, learning how to write a project grant application and literature review, and data presentation and statistical analysis.
The programme includes core skills, seminars, taught modules and laboratory projects in our well-resourced laboratories which are at the cutting-edge of Biomedical research.
Students will carry out two 20-week long research projects selected from the themes available. An assessed research proposal is also required for the second project.
Project 1 (September to February)
Project 2 (April to August)
Students may also be able to undertake projects in Integrative Neuroscience or in other areas of Biomedical Sciences, with the permission of the Programme Director. These students would be required to attend the taught element of one of the above Themes as appropriate.
Students are also required to attend the taught element of another theme as appropriate.
In March, students submit a research proposal based on the work to be performed for Project 2. This takes the form of a grant application, as would be prepared for a research organisation, and is assessed.
This programme is an excellent stepping-stone to a PhD, or a career in Biomedical research or industry.
In addition, every year there are vacancies for PhD studentships in the School of Biomedical Sciences and staff are always on the lookout for the outstanding postgraduate students who are on this Programme to encourage them to apply.
Read testimonials from some of our successful students:
The aim of this programme is to give you a broad-based training in biomedical research, with a focus on cardiovascular science. This includes an introduction to cardiovascular development, the development of cardiovascular disease, organ function and dysfunction, and the cardiovascular system in reproduction and inflammation.
You will gain an integrated view of the physiology and pathology of cardiovascular system from both basic and clinical scientists.
You will attend research seminars and tutorials by senior clinicians and basic scientists, and conduct three research projects in the internationally renowned laboratories of the Centre for Cardiovascular Science.
You will also deliver research-orientated presentations and gain skills in critical reading of scientific literature and in the writing of scientific reports.
Students produce written reports from each of their research projects, which are assessed by two of the Centre’s PIs. The research supervisor also contributes a mark based on performance in the laboratory.
This is the ideal programme for high-calibre students who wish to progress to a PhD in cardiovascular science.
