Module Description:

This module will allow you to carry out a period of specialised project study, researching areas relevant to the current and future practice of pharmacy.  In addition to gaining an enhanced knowledge of specific topics that particularly interest you, for which the fundamentals have been covered in the core curriculum, you will develop further the skills that you will apply in your final year, individual research project (PHAY0060) and Advancing Science through Practice module (PHAY0059). 



Your project will bring together two complementary and parallel strands.  In Strand A you will investigate a specific area of current pharmacy practice (in its broadest sense), whilst in Strand B you will research an area at the cutting edge of science that is currently linked to practice.  You must research a specific topic from each of Strand A and Strand B.  To facilitate a greater emphasis on student-centred learning and to promote effective development of research skills, your research and study within each strand will be supported by a series of smaller-group seminars presented by experts in the respective field and study sessions under the direction of the topic leader. Seminar group size will be limited to approximately 25 students.  You will be asked to indicate preferred Strand A and Strand B topics at the end of your second year and will be allocated to topics based your stated higher preferences.



You will be expected to attend and fully participate in all timetabled seminar and study sessions to engage in group discussions and presentations and to take responsibility for your own research and learning, with the support and guidance of your tutors. 



You will be required to produce a written report based upon each of your Strand A and Stand B topics, in a format that is typical within the field of practice/research.  The specific nature of the report will hence vary between topics and will be described in detail at the stage of topic selection.  The seminar and study sessions associated with each topic are designed to support your independent research.



In addition to the two reports you will be required to link the area of science that you have researched with the current or future practice of pharmacy, in a module-spanning assignment that will require you to summarise your research for both a specialist and lay audience.



Specific topics offered may vary each year.  An indicative list of topics (as offered in 2018/19) is:



Strand A:

Role of the Pharmacist in Cancer Care
 Drugs from natural sources
Global perspectives: health, medicines and pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Quality and Regulatory Affairs
 Pharmacoepidemiology
 Leadership and Quality Improvement Strategies in Pharmacy
 Tailoring therapy to the individual
 Physiological gender differences and common diseases in women
 

Strand B:

Advanced cancer therapies
 Industrial pharmacy
 Infectious diseases: challenges and opportunities
 Medicines for children
 The aging brain and neurodegeneration
 Drug discovery in cardiovascular disease and diabetes
 Drug delivery across biological barriers
 Biologics and Biosimilars
On completion of the module you will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:



Knowledge and Understanding

Describe the current and future issues within your specialist areas of scientific research and pharmacy practice.



Subject Specific / Professional Skills

Describe how your specialist area of research does or could influence the practice of pharmacy, now or in the future.



Transferable / Key Skills



1. Searching the literature for specific topics.

2. Analysis of evidence

3. Evaluation of the literature

4. Team-working skills

5. Integrating knowledge from multiple sources



General Pharmaceutical Council's Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists, Standard 10: Learning Outcomes (level of outcome)



The subject-specific outcomes will to some extent depend on the nature of the two topics selected, but will typically include:



10.1     Expectations of a pharmacy professional

e.         Demonstrate how the science of pharmacy is applied in the design and development of medicines and devices (SHOWS HOW)

f.          Contribute to the education and training of other members of the team, including peer review and assessment (DOES)

g.         Contribute to the development of other members of the team through coaching and feedback (DOES)



10.2     The skills required in practice



10.2.1  Implementing health policy

b.         Access and critically evaluate evidence to support safe, rational and cost effective use of medicines (SHOWS HOW)

c          Use the evidence base to review current practice (SHOWS HOW)

h.         Provide evidence-based medicines information (SHOWS HOW)



 

Delivery Method(s): Small group seminar format