Candidates will be required to take 12 credit units (i.e. four Core Courses of 3 credit units each) from the following Core Courses. At least one Course should be selected from either of the two main sections, viz. Research Methods and Biological Systems.

II. Biological Systems

MEDI6500 Cell Metabolism

Aim(s)

• To introduce key catabolic and anabolic pathways in cellular metabolism.
• To introduce latest concept on metabolic regulation and integration in mammals.
• To introduce and discuss application of proteomics and metabolomics in metabolic research.
• To introduce metabolic adaptations to nutritional and environmental changes.
• To enunciate the metabolic basis of human diseases.

Contents

• Application of proteomics and metabolomics in metabolic research
• Cellular machinery for energy metabolism
• Control of cellular metabolism by circadian clock
• Hormonal integration of metabolism in mammals
• Major catabolic and anabolic pathways in cellular metabolism
• Metabolic adaptations to fasting/starvation and environmental changes
• Metabolic basis of major human diseases
• Metabolic regulation by posttranslational modifications

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• describe the interrelationship of major metabolic pathways at cellular level.
• identify and describe the essential role of metabolism in maintenance of cellular functions.
• describe the regulation of metabolism at molecular, cellular and whole-body levels.
• identify and summarise the role of metabolic dysregulation in human disease processes.

Mode of teaching

Lectures, Workshops and Essay writing

Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and Final examination (60%)

PAED7100 Principles to Genetic Counselling

Aim(s)

• To understand the basis of human genetics and genetic disorders.
• To provide an overview of the roles and duties of a genetic counsellor in genetic assessment and result disclosure.
• To develop basic clinical skills to conduct interviews, present relevant genetic information to patients and families, and facilitate informed decision.
• To recognize the ethical, legal and policy issues related to genetic testing and genomic development.
• To understand the basis of human genetics and genetic disorders.

Contents

• Introduction to human genetics and inheritance Cellular machinery for energy metabolism
• Genetic assessment and informed consent
• Result disclosure and counselling theories
• Genetic testing and genomic technology
• Ethics, law and policy in genetics
• Case discussion and role play on the above topics

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of human genetic disorders and mode of inheritance.
• appreciate the roles and duties of a genetic counsellor.
• acquire the skills to obtain medical and family history from patients and to facilitate informed decision.
• communicate genetic information in an understandable, comprehensive and sensitive way appropriate for the patient.
• identify the ethical, legal and policy issues related to genetic testing and genomic development.

Mode of teaching

Lectures, Workshops, Discussion and E-Learning

Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and Final examination (60%)

PATH6300 General Cytopathology

Aim(s)

• To equip students to meet the increased demand on the service of clinical cytology in Hong Kong.

Contents

• Clinical relevance of cytology consultation reports: implications on management
• Collection of cell samples and laboratory processing of cytology specimens
• Ethical and legal aspects of clinical cytopathology
• How to diagnose malignancy in gynaecological cytology specimens
• How to diagnose malignancy in non-gynaecological exfoliated cytology and fine needle aspiration specimens
• Organisation of a cytopathology laboratory
• Practical workshop on fine needle aspiration cytopathology
• Practical workshop on gynaecological cytopathology
• Practical workshop on non-gynaecological exfoliated cytopathology
• Quality assurance programme and laboratory accreditation
• Recent advances in cytopathology

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• describe the organisation of the cytopathology laboratory.
• describe the importance of good quality collection and preparation of cytology specimens.
• describe the basic principles of clinical cytopathology reporting.
• describe the principles of quality control in cytology.
• describe the application of recent advances in cytology techniques.

Mode of teaching

Lectures, Practical and Essay writing

Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and Final examination (60%)

PATH6600 Fundamentals of Common Human Diseases

(not for students with Medical/Dental background)

Aim(s)

• To introduce the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical and pathological features of common diseases in Hong Kong.
• To demonstrate representative cases and illustrate the approach to diagnosis of various diseases, and illustrate the role of pathology practice in clinical medicine.

Contents

Epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical and pathological features of common human diseases involving major body systems, with selected topics such as cardiovascular, reproductive and urinary, central nervous system, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal, and haematolymphoid systems. The lecture-based teaching will be supplemented by case presentations where appropriate. Approaches to problems on toxicology will also be covered. The course will provide science students with an overview of the role of pathology in clinical practice, and topics could also be beneficial to their research work.

• Introduction to pathology and immunology
• Global burden of disease
• Common cancers in Hong Kong
• Cardiovascular diseases and case illustration
• Common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
• Common respiratory diseases: clinical patterns and basic pathology
• Common diseases of female genital tract and pathology of the male genital tract
• Common breast diseases and case illustration
• Common vascular central nervous system diseases and dementia
• Common urinary diseases and case illustration
• Anaemia - What, Why and How? Case illustration on anaemia
• Toxicology in clinical practice

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• understand the spectrum of common human diseases of various organ systems.
• understand the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinicopathological features of common human diseases.
• appreciate how patient care and pathology practice are closely integrated.

Mode of teaching

Lectures

Assessment

In-course assessment (30%) and Final examination (70%)

PATH6700 Recent Advances in Cancer Biology

Aim(s)

• To introduce emerging concepts in cancer biology.
• To introduce cutting edge topics in cancer research.

Contents

• Genetic aspects of cancer heterogeneity
• Cancer metastasis
• Cancer epigenetics
• RNA splicing in cancer
• Cancer stem cells
• Cancer metabolism
• Tumor microenvironment
• Cancer immunology
• Mouse models in cancer research
• Surgical pathology in management and prognostication of common human cancers

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• enunciate the most advanced and up-to-date topics in cancer research.
• implement new research directions and integrate new research concepts into their current studies.
• enunciate the concept of inter- and intra-tumoral cancer heterogeneity and describe the genetic basis of this phenomenon and its clinical implications.
• illustrate, with examples, the molecular mechanisms that drive the fundamental steps in cancer metastasis.
• describe the major mechanisms of epigenetic regulation and various epigenetic alterations in human cancers.
• describe the molecular mechanisms of alterative RNA splicing and enunciate its pathological role in human carcinogenesis.
• define cancer stem cells and describe their properties, and enunciate the major conceptual and technical advances in this field.
• define the metabolic reprogramming machinery in human cancers and enunciate the therapeutic approaches against these altered metabolic pathways.
• elucidate the impact of tumour microenvironments including the cellular and non-cellular compartments in cancer development.
• enunciate the basic principles of cancer immunology and their role in cancer therapy.
• describe the current common mouse models for cancer research and explain the ways in which they can facilitate studies related to cancer research.

Mode of teaching

Lectures

Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and Final examination (60%)

PHAR6100 Principles of Drug Action

Aim(s)

• To provide general and broad knowledge about drug distribution and actions in human body and how drugs produce therapeutic effects in the body.
• To introduce pharmacokinetic properties of drugs and drug-receptor interactions.
• To explain the mechanisms underlying the tolerance, dependence and resistance to drugs.
• To discuss the adverse drug actions, drug interactions and drug allergy.

Contents

• Adverse effects of drugs
• Dose-response relationships
• Drug allergy and resistance
• Drug interaction
• Drug pharmacokinetics
• Drug-receptor interaction
• Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• understand the principle, the qualitative factors (routes of administration, physicochemical properties of drugs, ADEM etc) and the quantitative aspects (bioavailability, volume of distribution, clearance, half-lives etc) of drug pharmacokinetics.
• describe the different classes of drug receptors, the molecular interactions between drugs and their receptors, the terms and principles for different modes of drug-receptor interactions (agonist, antagonist etc).
• discuss the mechanisms responsible for and approaches to avoid the development of resistance, dependence or tolerance to drugs.
• explain the mechanisms contributing to the adverse effects of drugs, including the preventable adverse drug reaction, drug interactions, cytochrome P450 pathway of drug metabolism and the immunochemical basis for drug allergy.
• appreciate the influence of non-drug factors (disease states, age, genetics, etc) on drug metabolism, actions and adverse reactions.

Mode of teaching

Lectures and Practical

Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and Final examination (60%)

PHAR7300 Therapeutic Antibodies

Aim(s)

• To provide an overview of monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics.
• To study the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic antibodies.
• To introduce different technologies for therapeutic antibody engineering.
• To review the contemporary development of therapeutic antibodies in cardiovascular, metabolic and cancer diseases.

Contents

• Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics – Medical History and Current Status
• Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic antibodies
• Engineering and production of therapeutic antibodies
• Application and development of therapeutic antibodies in different types of diseases

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• To understand the principles of monoclonal antibody-based therapies
• To appreciate the unique pharmacological properties of therapeutic antibodies
• To discuss disease conditions for which patients might be given therapeutic antibodies
• To identify important considerations in managing patients on antibody therapies
• To recognize the developmental process and pipelines of therapeutic antibodies for different types of diseases

Mode of teaching

Lectures and Practical

Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and Final examination (60%)

SBMS7200 Genes and Gene Functions in Diseases

Aim(s)

• To provide fundamental knowledge of gene and gene function in normal/abnormal human body.

Contents

• Complex genetic diseases
• Reverse genetics and cloning of human diseases genes: the cystic fibrosis gene
• Molecular basis of genetic disease
• Molecular mechanisms of aging
• Gene therapy: bioethics of molecular medicine
• Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes
• Protein dysfunction and disease
• Next generation sequencing
• Epigenomics analysis
• Introduction to protein structure and function
• Protein post-translational modifications
• Gene Function analysis: model organism and transgenic animals

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• demonstrate an appreciation of genetic determination of human disorders.
• explain functions of proteins and their contribution to diseases.
• describe different methods for gene therapy.
• explain underlying molecular mechanisms for some of the most important biological processes, such as aging and tumorigenesis.
• demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of technologies for working with DNA and protein and be able to apply the knowledge in the study of genes and proteins.
• describe the design and application of technologies for genome modification.
• Apply the technologies for gene expression analysis and protein characterization.

Mode of teaching

Lectures

Assessment

In-course assessment (30%) and Final examination (70%)

SBMS7500 Advanced Cell Biology

Aim(s)

• To provide students with a general knowledge of cell biology.
• To introduce the regulation of cell functions by signalling pathways.
• To introduce students with recent advances and applications in cell biology.

Contents

• Essential components of the cell
• Cell cycle and cell divisions
• Cell survival and apoptosis
• Calcium signals in cellular communication
• Hedgehog signalling in development
• Cellular stress response
• Cell-cell interaction
• iPSC-derived neural stem cell
• Glial cell biology
• Intracellular transport in neuron
• Neuronal and glial cell migration
• Cell disorders

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• recognise the general structure and functions of cells.
• describe cell cycle and the regulations of cell proliferation, differentiation and death.
• summarise cellular signalling pathways and their roles in cell functions.
• describe cellular interaction and relate its importance in immune response.
• recognise current advances in iPSC-derived neural stem cell and potentials in clinical application.
• recognise the functions of glial cells.
• describe the intraneuronal transport machineries.
• recognise the regulatory mechanisms on neural cell migration.

Mode of teaching

Lectures

Assessment

In-course assessment (30%) and Final examination (70%)

SBMS7600 Integrative Perspectives of Body Functions

Aim(s)

• To provide the students with the current knowledge on the mechanisms of human body functions with an integrative perspective.
• To introduce to the students state-of-the-art research approaches to the study of human body functions.

Contents

• Homeostatic regulation of body functions: circadian and temporal regulation
• Metabolic and hormonal control: oxygen and glucose
• Motor control: movement, coordination and behavior
• Neuropsychological functions: cognition and emotion

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• describe and apply the principles of human body functions in health and disease.
• appreciate the integrative nature of various body systems in the maintenance of homeostasis.
• demonstrate abilities in critical analysis of the contents and significance of relevant research studies.

Mode of teaching

Lectures

Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and Final examination (60%)