Handbook home
Advanced Investigation of Human Disease (PATH30004)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Subject Coordinators
Dr Sophie Paquet-Fifield
sophie.paquet@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Alexander Barrow
alexanderdavid.barrow@unimelb.edu.au
Administrative Coordinator
BiomedSci-AcademicServices@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
In PATH30004 Advanced Investigation of Human Disease students will extend their understanding of human disease in the context of library or laboratory based research projects. This subject will give students the opportunity to work within a research group investigating diseases of significance to society and provide them with an appreciation of the relationship between basic research and the investigation of complex diseases and how research discoveries can contribute to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease.
This subject is an elective subject for Science and Biomedicine students intending to take a major in Pathology and is recommended for students interested in doing Honours in Pathology.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Investigate state-of-the-art experimental techniques relevant to the investigation of a human disease.
- Create an original research project that meets research milestones and tests a new hypothesis.
- Search and critically evaluate the latest scientific literature relevant to a human disease.
- Collect, record, and store experimental results and ideas.
- Critically analyse and interpret primary research data and formulate new research hypotheses.
- Manage study and experimental schedules to complete research tasks
- Understand and explain the ethical considerations that guide research design and practice.
- Design an oral presentation that communicates and defends the results and conclusions from the research project to scientific peers.
- Construct a scientific report that communicates and defends the results and conclusions from the research project to scientific peers.
Generic skills
The emphasis of this subject is to introduce students to the importance of research in the understanding of disease by undertaking short experimental or library-based research projects.
This will enable students to:
- enhance practical skills by undertaking scientific techniques used for the investigation of disease.
- develop a variety of skills in the experimental design, analysis and interpretation of scientific data which may be applied across the various scientific disciplines.
- develop their critical thinking and problem solving techniques by the analysis and interpretation of scientific data.
- develop an understanding of the importance of accurate recording, storage and retrieval of scientific information .
- understand the ethical considerations of reliably performing, recording, storing and reporting scientific information.
- improve written and oral communication skills by the preparation of a detailed written scientific report and the presentation of a seminar based on the research project.
- develop inter-personal skills by working as a member of a team.
- develop the capacity to work independently.
- develop information management skills necessary for undertaking an informed research project.
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATH30001 | Mechanisms of Human Disease | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PATH30002 | Techniques for Investigation of Disease | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
Note: the following subject/s can also be taken concurrently (at the same time)
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATH30003 | Frontiers in Human Disease | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
B.Biomedicine students doing a Defence and Disease major MUST consult the Majors Information Booklet for additional requisite requirements and choices.
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Students who complete this subject cannot also gain credit for
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOM30003 | Biomedical Science Research Project |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (Off Campus)
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (Off Campus)
|
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Pathology and Biochemistry
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: 10 November 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Self-assessment
| During the teaching period | 3% |
Assessment of Laboratory performance
| Throughout the teaching period | 7% |
1x Draft Literature review (Report A)
| Mid teaching period | 5% |
1x Written Draft Library or Experimental Research Report (Report B) Word count includes work already prepared for Report A.
| Mid teaching period | 5% |
1x Written Final Library or Experimental Research Report. (Report C) continuing from Report B (Word count includes work already prepared for Report B)
| Start of examination period | 60% |
1x Research Seminar
| End of teaching period | 20% |
| Hurdle requirement: attendance at all pre-practical talks, all practical sessions, tutorials, research discussions and seminar practice sessions as indicated in the subject practical manual or by subject coordinator and/or the research project supervisor. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Sophie Paquet-Fifield Coordinator Alexander Barrow Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 72 hours (6 hours per week) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 30 June 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Subject Coordinators
Dr Sophie Paquet-Fifield
sophie.paquet@unimelb.edu.auDr Alexander Barrow
alexanderdavid.barrow@unimelb.edu.auAdministrative Coordinator
BiomedSci-AcademicServices@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
- Completion rate. Students who started their course from 2022 and are in a CSP or receiving a HELP Loan (eg FEE-HELP) must meet the completion rate to continue to receive Commonwealth Support for that course.
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement, and as a fail toward the completion rate, unless there are approved ‘special circumstances’.
Additional delivery details
An enrolment quota of 30 students applies to this subject.
For detailed information on the quota subject application process, refer to the Quota Subject link on the School of Biomedical Sciences Current Student Information webpage: http://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/study/current-student-information/quota-subjects
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
- Subject notes
- Laboratory coat and safety glasses are required.
- Students should be familiar with the University policy on Plagiarism and must sign and
attach an Anti-Plagiarism declaration to each Assessment Activity. - Completion and submission of Experimental and Library-based Research Reports by the
submission date indicated in the subject practical manual is a compulsory requirement of
the subject. - Students will need to access research journal articles and selected texts as outlined in the research project descriptions indicated by research and teaching staff.
Students concerned they may be asked to participate in animal use activities to which they have a conscientious objection should raise the matter with their subject coordinator at the earliest opportunity to increase the chances that alternative arrangements can be made. In line with the policy relative to Conscientious Objection to Animal Use (MPF1182), the University will endeavour to make reasonable accommodation for conscientious objections of students in this area, although it will not always be possible to excuse students from particular activities. For more details on this policy, please go to http://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1182.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Pathology Major Pathology Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
quota subject - application deadline as per http://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/study/current-student-information/quota-subjects
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 10 November 2023