Outline

Overview

Clinical science is a multidisciplinary science that combines the principles of experimental science with translational medicine. As a clinical scientist, you will have the capacity to interpret test results, isolate causes of disease, and ultimately develop new treatments that will save lives. Clinical Science will provide you with the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills that will give you a broad foundation of knowledge and open up a range of career opportunities in clinical sciences, including medical research, pharmaceutical development and clinical diagnostics. You will learn the language of the clinical world as you develop expertise in literature searching, study design, data interrogation and interpretation, evidence-based decision-making, and current knowledge in medical research. You will explore how discoveries in the medical sciences are translated into clinical practice, and pose your own clinical questions for investigation. You will study important medical conditions from the areas of infectious and genetic diseases and immunity. As part of the interdisciplinary capstone experience of your study in Clinical Science you will be immersed in a clinical project. Consequently, at the end of this unit you will have experienced how interdisciplinary clinical teams work, which is essential for both professional and research pathways in the future.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12cp from (IMMU2101 or MEDS2004 or MIMI2002 or MIMI2902 or PHSI2005 or PHSI2905 or PHSI2006 or PHSI2906 or PHSI2007 or PHSI2907 or MEDS2001 or PCOL2011 or PCOL2021 or MEDS2002 or BCMB2001 or BCMB2901 or MEDS2003) or [BMED2401 and 6cp from (BMED2402 or BMED2403 or BMED2404 or BMED2405 or BMED2406)]
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	AMED3004
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Fran Evesson, frances.evesson@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final Exam Examination, extended answers	30%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interdisciplinary creation (Digital health project) Written task and video presentation	25%	Mid-semester break Due date: 06 Oct 2024 at 23:59	1 piece, 1000 words, 2-3 minute video
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Workshop quizzes Multiple choice questions	10%	Multiple weeks	5 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Health Collaboration Challenge Video and written task	0%	Multiple weeks Due date: 28 Aug 2024 at 23:59	7 minute video and 1 page abstract
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Practical 1 assessment Multiple choice and short answer questions	5%	Week 05 Due date: 01 Sep 2024 at 23:59	20 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interdisciplinary research (literature review) Written task	25%	Week 07 Due date: 15 Sep 2024 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Practical 2 assessment Multiple choice and short answer questions	5%	Week 08 Due date: 22 Sep 2024 at 23:59	20 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Student presentation Oral presentation	0%	Week 12	7 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Practical assessment 1: This assessment involves intepretation of experimental data and application of skills learnt
Practical assessment 2: This assessment involves compilation of practical research findings and intepretation of experimental data
Student presentation: This assessment requires students to demonstrate their capacity to efficiently articulate information about an emerging translational research topic.
Literature review: Students are required to create a literature review, providing a comprehensive summary of the research literature on a disease that they have selected and how that disease is monitored.
Interdisciplinary creation (Digital health project): The aim of this assessment is to generate a concept of a device to monitor a disease or a medical problem, and to pitch your idea on a crowd-funding page. This assignment links to and builds on your literature review where you researched a particular disease. Your idea will be presented and pitched on a Medstarter-like crowd-funding page via a 1000 word summary. Here you will need to follow the format commonly used on the Medstarter site and create a word document. In a video medium of your choice, you need to create a 2-3-minute video presentation about your device.
Final exam: In formal exam period designed to test concepts and ideas learnt during the whole unit.
Quiz: On weeks 2-10, and 12, you will have a quiz at the beginning of your workshop. Each quiz is worth 1% of your final mark. You have to attend the workshop for your quiz to be marked.
Health Collaboration Challenge: You will take part in an interprofessional innovative online learning activity to to devise a management plan for a patient with complex health needs.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction and Endnote workshop	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 02	Bioethics	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	Digital health Project 1	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	Health Collaboration Challenge	Clinical practice (8 hr)
Week 04	Library workshop: Literature review for digital health projects	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 05	Clinical diagnostics	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 05	Genetic diagnostics	Practical (3 hr)
Week 06	Modelling disease and preclinical research	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 07	Digital Health Project 2	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 08	Clinical trial research	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 08	Preclinical models and genome editing	Practical (3 hr)
Week 09	Epidemiology research	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 10	Population research and surveillance	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 11	Clinical trial applications and patient oriented research	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 12	Emerging treatments presentations	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 13	Clinical Science wrap up	Workshop (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

80% attendance for workshops required

Attendance at all practicals required

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply appropriate terminology and formulate approaches commonly used in the description of human diseases from biological, clinical and population/community standpoints
LO2. critique the current knowledge of a disease, its prevention, diagnosis and therapy. This will include demonstrating the capacity to appraise in a professional manner and at the individual and community level, the key characteristics of the disease at the genomic and molecular, systems, individual and community levels
LO3. critically analyse the various methodologies by which discoveries in clinical sciences can be made and validated
LO4. analyse and evaluate the key processes which underlie bench-to-bedside research and demonstrate an understanding of translational research
LO5. integrate statistical, data science and omic techniques, together with a knowledge of basic biology, to construct hypotheses relevant to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human disease
LO6. communicate in a professional manner to a range of audiences using a variety of media
LO7. demonstrate the generic competences appropriate to a graduate in applied medical sciences which include confidentiality, consent, team work, leadership and peer review.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

1. Updating practical 1 to make more understandable and tie in with other content. Changing this practical to week 5 allows for Clinical Diagnostics workshop and Genetic Diagnostics practical to be run in sequence which will provide additional context. 2. Marking consistency will be a focus, with literature review exemplars provided to markers to provide reference points and examples of appropriate feedback. 3. Presentation skills relevant for Digital Health Project and Week 12 presentations will be discussed in the DHP workshops.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

AMED3888: Clinical Science

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Westmead, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect