Specialised Field of Study


In addition, each candidate will be required to choose one Specialised Field of Study. A total of 18 credit units should be selected in the chosen Specialised Field of Study.


School of Biomedical Sciences

SBMS7700 Current Topics in Biomedical Sciences

Aim(s)

  • To enable students to gain basic knowledge in cell biology, physiology, cancer biology and brain function under normal and disease conditions.
  • To provide training in choosing the current innovative research topics.
  • To provide guidance in critical thinking in analysing the scientific papers and gain insight into the importance and contribution to the field of studies.
  • To guide them to discuss and write scientific assays highlighting the strength and weakness of the major hypothesis, results and interpretations.
  • To guide them how to prepare poster presentation.
  • To develop scientific writing skills.

Requirements

  • Candidates are required to choose one of the following blocks (either A, B, or C). Each block carries 18 credits and contains three components with 6 credits each.
  • Candidates are required to write 3 literature reviews (~2000 words per review) on 3 different topics under A1, B1 or C1 (6 credits).
  • Candidates are required to write 3 technology reviews (~2000 words per review) which mainly focus on describing the principle of the technology and their applications in the relevant research area under A2, B2 or C2 (6 credits).
  • Candidates are required to submit 2 posters for presentation on two different topics under A3, B3 or C3 to summarize recent advances in the relevant area (6 credits).
  • Candidates may consult their supervisor or the relevant topic supervisors on review writing and preparing for the poster presentation.

Contents

Course Code Courses Credit Units
SBMS7701 Block A1: Molecular Neuroscience (Developmental Neurobiology)
  • Molecular/cellular physiology and brain function
  • Molecular control of neurogenesis
  • Development of glial cells
6
SBMS7704 Block A2: Molecular Neuroscience (Technological advances in understanding neurological disorders)
  • Mechanisms of neurological disorders
  • Animal models of neurodegenerative disorder
  • Preventive and regenerative medicine in nervous system
6
SBMS7705 Block A3: Molecular Neuroscience (Frontiers in neuroscience)
  • Current topics in neuroimmunology
  • Synaptic plasticity in learning and memory
  • Molecular regulation of synapse development
6
SBMS7702 Block B1: Cell Biology (Molecular regulation of cell adhesion, migration and proliferation)
  • Cell adhesion
  • Cell migration
  • Centrosome biogenesis
6
SBMS7706 Block B2: Cell Biology (Recent advances in stem cell biology and single cell technology)
  • Pluripotent embryonic stem cell
  • Cellular reprogramming
  • Single cell technology
6
SBMS7707 Block B3: Cell Biology (T-cell immunity and RNA therapeutics)
  • T cell immunity
  • RNA-targeting Cas proteins
  • RNA therapeutics
6
SBMS7703 Block C1: Cancer Biology (Carcinogenesis)
  • Cancer metastasis
  • Cancer stem cells
  • Pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
6
SBMS7708 Block C2: Cancer Biology (Technological advances in cancer treatment)
  • Artificial intelligence in oncology
  • Pre-clinical cancer models for drug screening
  • Stem cell engineering for cancer immunology
6
SBMS7709 Block C3: Cancer Biology (Frontiers in cancer science)
  • Genome instability and human diseases
  • Cancer genomics
  • Microbiome and cancer
6

Learning outcomes

On completion of these courses, students will be able to:

  • Carry out independent evaluation of original scientific papers.
  • Improve in logical and critical thinking in the study fields of cell biology, physiology, cancer biology and brain function under normal and disease conditions.
  • Improve in preparing the scientific reports without plagiarising from other references.
  • Know how to integrate essential information from the literature, organize them in a logical manner and present them in a poster format.
  • Improve in scientific writing and poster presentation skills.

Mode of teaching

Literature review

Poster preparation and presentation

Assessment

Essay writing and poster presentation


Departmental Coordinator(s)
Dr MCH Cheung
Tel : 3917 6867
Email: mcheung9@hku.hk


SBMS7800 Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics for Biomedical Sciences

Aim(s)

  • To introduce laboratory techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology.
  • To enable students to carry out research independently using the skills acquired in the research project.
  • To provide training to students to work as a team with other scientists and gain insight into the field of research.
  • To provide training to students so that they can critically analyse scientific papers and design experiments to verify scientific theories.

Contents

  • Candidates are required to take 18 credit units from three of the four courses listed below.
Course Code Courses Credit Units
SBMS7801 Advanced biochemistry:
Signal transduction, biomodulators, enzyme kinetics, catalytic mechanisms, protein chemistry, post-translational modification of proteins
6
SBMS7802 Biomedical sciences seminar:
Present and attend seminars, criticise, think, write and talk about biochemical sciences, organise mini-conferences, technical reviews, research proposals, communication skills, personal and career development
6
SBMS7803 Molecular biology of the gene:
Eukaryotic gene regulation, control of gene expression, transcription factors, DNA-protein interaction
6
SBMS7804 Practical bioinformatics:
(Advice to Applications: candidates choosing this Specialised Course should have molecular biology background.)
Gene identification
Information searching and retrieval: Entrez and SRS
Internet resources: DNA and protein sequence databases
Patterns, Motifs and Profiles analysis
Phylogenetic analysis
Sequence alignment: multiple sequence alignment
Sequence database searching: FASTA, BLAST, Smith-Waterman, algorithm and parameters
Simple sequence analysis
6

Learning outcomes

On completion of these courses, students will be able to:

  • Improve in logical and critical thinking in the study fields of biochemistry and molecular biology.
  • criticise and assess merits of original papers in scientific journals.
  • carry out a research project related to biomedical sciences
  • Improve in scientific communication skills.

Mode of teaching

Lectures, Tutorials, Essay writing and Literature review

Assessment

In-course assessment and Final examination


Departmental Coordinator(s)
Dr YQ Song
Tel : 3917 9245
Email: songy@hku.hk