6B007B - Molecular Biomedicine and Public Health  01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 6B007B
Module Title: Molecular Biomedicine and Public Health 
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Applied Science
Faculty Sub Group: Biology and Chemistry
Module Leader: Martin Powell
Module Team: Natalie Lubbock, Cerith Jones
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake: 2032
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 33
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 101317 - environmental and public health
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2027
Valid To 31 Aug 2033

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are: 

  • To develop a critical and integrated understanding of contemporary health challenges by examining their biological, social, and environmental determinants using integrated multi-disciplinary perspectives. 

 

  • To enable critical evaluation of current scientific evidence and diagnostic approaches in relation to disease prevention, screening, and treatment, using contemporary literature, case studies, and policy frameworks to provide evidence-based future directions. 

 

  • To foster a multi-disciplinary solutions-focused approach to addressing global and population-level health challenges, including health inequalities, by applying translational research approaches in modern healthcare and their impact on current advances on both individual and population-level health. 

Content Summary

The Current Health Challenges module allows you to critically engage with contemporary health issues at the social, evolutionary and biomolecular levels. The module will critically explore historic, lifestyle, genetic and social drivers of health inequalities based on clinical biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, genetics, and public health. Critically examining the scientific, diagnostic, and societal dimensions of issues such as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, non-communicable diseases, health inequalities, and the impact of environmental and lifestyle factors on health, you will explore current advances in translational research in patient-focussed diagnostics and therapeutics for disease prevention, screening and treatment are improving global population- level health outcomes by utilising current literature, policy frameworks, and case studies to evaluate how evidence is generated, interpreted, and applied in rapidly evolving contexts . You will develop the ability to critically evaluate a range of concepts that impact human health and a solutions-based approach to managing these issues in different populations. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 56
Formative Assessment 40
Summative Assessment 60
Independent/Self Directed Study 133.5
Guided Digital Learning 10.5
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically evaluate the evolutionary, biological, environmental, social and economic determinants that impact health and the challenges of promoting health in communities
LO2 Critically evaluate how an understanding of the scientific basis of disease can be utilised to propose and justify evidence-based strategies for the prevention, investigation, and management of health challenges at individual and population levels

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 Students will use generative AI to produce a patient-orientated infographic on a public health challenge or a diagnostic/therapeutic advance. Students will then evaluate the design of the infographic and how accurately it provides information. They will also design their own infographic outline the improvements they have made. 0 3000 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Student Choice 1 Students will be assessed on their ability to communicate information to a scientific audience on a health issue related to the module content on a specific topic of their choice. They will need to introduce the scientific basis of the topic and why the topic is important (what need does it address, why is it innovative, what impact will it have on patient health and well-being). Students will also be expected to be innovative in their style of delivery dependent on their choice of digital output, with a focus being on clear communication 23 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Case study 1
Student Choice 1

Reading List

The module will use recent, peer-reviewed publications (including reviews) which demonstrate cutting-edge innovation, in particular linking media reports to the original published sources. Links to these resources will be provided in the folders for each topic/week. Papers and other resources will be provided as appropriate so a reading list cannot be provided, however, the following provides an indicative list. 

  • Foundations for Health Promotion (5th edition). Wills. Elsevier (2022) 

  • Clinical advances of mRNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy (2025) 10;6(1). Alexey V Yeremenko , Muhammad Muzamil Khan , Xueyan Zhen , Yan Tang , Wei Tao  

  • Current developments of gene therapy in human diseases (2024) Fanfei Liu, Ruiting Li, Zilin Zhu, Yang Yang, Fang Lu 

  • The influence of evolutionary history on human health and disease (2021) Nat Rev Genet 

  • 22(5): Mary Lauren Benton, Abin Abraham, Abigail L LaBella , Patrick Abbot, Antonis Rokas, John A Capra  

  • Manderson L, Cartwright E, & Hardon A, editors (2018). The Routledge handbook of medical anthropology. Routledge.