Teaching & Learning

Overview

The faculty of the Discipline of Advanced Therapies leads and contributes to teaching in several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes within the School of Medicine. We also make focused teaching contributions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in other Schools and Colleges at the University of Galway.

• Stem cell biology and therapies
• The manufacture of cell and gene therapies
• Basic and applied immunology
• Biomedical engineering
• Cancer biology and immunotherapies
• Clinical translational of advanced therapies
• Laboratory research techniques
• Regenerative medicine
• Clinical pharmacology
• Clinical practice in general medicine, endocrinology, haematology, gastroenterology and nephrology

Our expert teaching in these areas is delivered to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Medicine, Science and Engineering from Ireland, Europe and all other regions in the world.

The distinctive educational programmes that are led or co-led by member of the Discipline of Advanced Therapies include taught Masters courses in Regenerative Medicine and Cell Manufacturing, a joint taught/research Masters degree course with Hebei Medical University, China, structured MD and PhD degrees in Medicine and Regenerative Medicine and the Irish Clinical Academic Training programme for medical graduates.

We pride ourselves on providing career-enhancing, research-led teaching at all levels and welcome University of Galway and visiting students to our research laboratories and clinical facilities for short and long-term supervised experiences.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate teaching and learning from the Discipline of Advanced Therapies is delivered to students of Medicine (MB BCh BAO, Years 2-5), Biomedical Sciences (BSc), Pharmacology (BSc), and Biomedical Engineering (BSc).

Key topics covered by our teaching faculty for undergraduate students include health and disease, clinical diagnosis, management, and therapy, cell biology, applications of medical science, and research principles and methodology.

Our undergraduate teaching methods encompass lectures, small group tutorials, laboratory research practical training, research project and project report supervision, and clinical skills training.

Distinct experiences that we offer undergraduate students in the Discipline of Advanced Therapies include:

• Supervised research exposure in our facilities at the Biomedical Sciences Building, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, and HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway
• Clinical immersion in a range of general and specialty medicine services within the Galway University Hospitals
• Visiting student experiences at the affiliated hospitals of our partner institute, Hebei Medical University, China

Postgraduate

Taught

The Discipline of Advanced Therapies directs two highly successful taught MSc courses in Regenerative Medicine and in Cellular Therapies and Manufacturing. These established programmes attract motivated students with science, engineering and medical backgrounds from Ireland and around the world.

The core modules coordinated by Discipline faculty for these courses address key learning areas such as stem cells, cell and gene therapies, regenerative medicine, immunology and immunotherapies, cell manufacturing, clinical translation, and laboratory research techniques.

Our key teaching approaches for PGT students include lectures and seminars, hands-on training in laboratory techniques, small group teaching and group projects, scientific writing and presentation assignments, and 4 month supervised major research projects in academic and industry settings.

Our faculty also coordinate and contribute to modules in our areas of expertise for students enrolled in MSc and ME courses in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, Neuropharmacology, and Toxicology.

Research

We enthusiastically support highly motivated Irish, European and international students to pursue postgraduate research degrees within the Discipline of Advanced Therapies including PhD, MD and MSc by research.

The wide range of research and clinical expertise encompassed by faculty members of the Discipline allows us to supervise postgraduate research projects across the spectrum of basic science and engineering, translational science and innovation, advanced therapy manufacturing and clinical research.

Our faculty also regularly co-supervise postgraduate research students with colleagues in other University of Galway Schools and Colleges, with clinical specialists in the HSE West/Northwest region, with industry partners, and as a component of inter-institutional partnerships.

Among the many health challenges that our research postgraduate students address are diabetes and its complications, eye disease, blood and solid cancers, kidney disease, transplantation, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, immune and inflammatory diseases, endocrine disorders, neurological disease and hypertension.

The training environments that we can offer to postgraduate research students include extensive research laboratories and core facilities, clinical-grade manufacturing facilities, specialised clinical and clinical research units, and secondments to collaborating academic and industry-based research departments.

Teaching Innovation

It is our experience that the field of advanced therapies attracts students seeking careers that focus on innovating to improve the health of patients and communities. As an example of our commitment to matching this expectation, the MSc course in Cellular Manufacturing and Therapy received the 2019 Best New Postgraduate Course from the gradireland Higher Education Awards.