TRM5010 · Research project in clinical and translational medicine

Overview

This unit will allow you to undertake a supervised research project aimed at identifying and addressing a gap in clinical and translational research knowledge. You will develop a strong foundation in the principles, practice and outcomes of clinical and translational research. You will formulate experimental plans and conduct experiments to generate research data. You will critically analyse your research data, apply appropriate statistical tests and interpret your research findings in the context of the scientific literature. Undertaking your research project will provide you with practical skills in clinical and translational research within a broad range of disciplines. This includes immunological and infectious diseases, neurological diseases, mental health challenges, blood diseases, diabetes and other metabolic diseases, cancer, surgical interventions, and sexual and communicable diseases. In addition to learning practical skills within a clinical or laboratory setting, you will also communicate your scientific ideas and research findings in oral presentations and a written thesis. Your communication will demonstrate the ability to assess and interpret scientific literature, to plan and execute experiments demonstrating a sound ethical knowledge and application, to analyse and assess the value of your scientific data, and to formulate and justify a logical conclusion and future direction towards patient driven outcomes.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Evaluate the clinical and scientific literature relevant to the proposed field of research
2. Synthesise a written review of the literature relevant to the proposed research question
3. Develop the proposed research question grounded in the critical review of the literature
4. Propose appropriate research methodologies to address the research question
5. Justify the application of the proposed research methodologies to the research question
6. Explain the critical arguments pertaining to the research question to a wider professional audience
7. Integrate the principles of research integrity to the proposed methodology and research project
8. Formulate and implement research methodology
9. Collect data in accordance with the moral, ethical and legal responsibilities of clinical and scientific investigation
10. Critically analyse data using appropriate statistical tests
11. Appraise the research data collected
12. Recommend a proposed pathway to translate the research findings into patient driven outcomes
13. Communicate the significance and conclusions of the research data collected in a written thesis

Workload

On-campus: 24 hours of teacher-directed learning per week delivered online and face-to-face including laboratory-based practical research studies. 24 hours of self-directed learning per week including private study, reading published studies, reference material and textbooks, and laboratory work. Total hours per week = 48 hours You will complete online self-directed learning tasks, a major written assessment (research mini-thesis) and two oral presentations (one PowerPoint presentation and one Poster presentation).

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.