MSc Cancer Biology

University of Essex

The development of techniques to manipulate and analyse nucleic acids has revolutionised the study of biology, and provided the key driver for massive expansion in biotechnology. You explore the major tools used in gene technology and gain a practical understanding of how they are used, as well as the molecular techniques that can be used to explore biological questions. Gain an understanding of the impact of gene technology and synthetic biology and explore the applications of genome scale methods for studying gene expression in biotechnology and molecular medicine.

This module provides you with the research methods and analytical skills that are necessary to carry out a research project on a specific topic.

Explore the features and properties of proteins, and examine how they are related to function, as well as their wider role within important biological processes. Getting hands-on, you produce, isolate, purify and characterise proteins with biotechnological potential, as well gaining valuable experience in obtaining and analysing proteomic data.

The Research Project is a core module, contributing 50% to your final marks and is the largest piece of work you will need to complete during the course. You will be allocated a supervisor with expertise in one of the areas of cancer research, who will design specific MSc projects and will provide guidance on the academic standard, methods, data analysis and means of scientific communications.

Integrating fundamental science with clinical aspects, this module will provide you with advanced and up-to-date knowledge in contemporary cancer research. Classes will be delivered by members of the School and external experts, including guest speakers from hospitals and research institutions. The module will focus on different cancer types such as prostate, colorectal and pancreatic cancer studied at Essex. The role of the immune system, genetic and epigenetic factors and signalling pathways in cancer development will be explored. The application of theoretical knowledge in cancer research into clinical practice (“from bench to bedside”) and personalised cancer medicine will be discussed.

The sequencing of the human genome is one of the biggest achievements of this century. Nowadays, genomics is leading to major advances in biotechnology and molecular medicine, such as enhanced diagnostic tools, better vaccines, improved treatments for disease, and better detection of pollutants. In this module, you gain an understanding of current genomics approaches, including genome sequencing and comparative genomics. You also learn how to study your own genomic data, using state-of-the-art computational resources.

Gain invaluable insight into the functioning of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industries, investigate some of the most timely and contentious topics in Biotechnology, and develop transferable professional and research skills to enhance your chances of securing employment in the field.