The Biology of Human Health and Disease (PAED40002)
HonoursPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
Contact information
Year Long
Subject Coordinator:
Dr Belinda McClaren
belinda.mcclaren@unimelb.edu.au
Administrative Coordinator:
Ms Helen D'Cruz
helen.dcruz@rch.org.au
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | Year Long |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides students with an introduction to biomedical research via lectures, workshops and tutorials. It comprises a range of coursework to complement the accompanying research subjects (PAED40001 and PAED40005). This subject is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the broader areas of contemporary biomedical science, and to encourage the development of independent thinking and critical analytical skills.
Intended learning outcomes
The objectives of this subject are to enable students to:
- Understand contemporary issues in biomedical and health research
- Design and plan experiments with appropriate hypotheses and controls
- Design and plan experiments with appropriate ethical and statistical rigor
- Access a range of bioinformatics tools that can facilitate biomedical research
- Correctly use statistical methods, including hypothesis testing, p values and appropriate measures of variability
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should have:
- The ability to articulate knowledge and persuasive intellectual arguments in a particular research discipline
- The ability to critically appraise and comment on the scientific literature
- A strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
- A clear understanding of statistical methods
- The ability to organise, prioritise and manage time
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOM40001 | Introduction To Biomedical Research | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAED40001 | Paediatrics Research Project Part 1 |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
31.25 |
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Mock Grant Application and short answer test related to the grant application
| Due April/May | 34% |
An individualised dataset will be provided to each student for analysis in an online biostatistics assignment; students are encouraged to discuss the questions and the biostatistical approach in groups; assignments are submitted and assessed individually; maximum assignment length is 3 pages
| Due July/August | 33% |
Following a tutorial on Critical Data Analysis, students will be given a short research paper to take home; they will provide an analysis of the paper by short (1-2 paragraphs) answers to 4-6 questions; students are encouraged to discuss the questions in groups, then complete and submit individual answers to the questions within 3 days | Due August/September | 33% |
The bioinformatics assignment is done in groups of 3 to 4 students. Each group is assigned a unique DNA sequence to analyse, with a list of questions to answer. Assignments are submitted and assessed per group. The maximum assignment length is 4 pages of text, excluding figures and screen shots used to describe the search results.
| Due March/April | N/A |
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Dates & times
- Year Long
Principal coordinator Belinda Dawson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 31 May 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 2 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Year Long contact information
Subject Coordinator:
Dr Belinda McClaren
belinda.mcclaren@unimelb.edu.auAdministrative Coordinator:
Ms Helen D'Cruz
helen.dcruz@rch.org.au
Time commitment details
24 contact hours with an estimated total time commitment of 170 hours (including non-contact time)
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Paediatrics Informal specialisation Paediatrics - Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 April 2025