Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology (IPP)

Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology combines the study of whole organ function with research into the mechanisms of drug action. It has a wide-ranging relevance to the basic sciences, medical research and associated practices. There is a great demand for scientists specially trained in the foundatons of this rapidly emerging area. As such, this unique course offers excellent employment opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector, academia and commercial enterprises across the world.

Our IPP programme prepares you with state-of-the-art training in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches in laboratory animal physiology and pharmacology. You will have the opportunity to take the Home Office accredited course necessary to obtain a personal licence. Training is also provided in the preparation of a Home Office project licence application, which includes the ethical framework that underpins animal research in the UK and many countries around the world.

Research-led training

Your Research Project will be undertaken in one of our internationally renowned labs for human physiology and pharmacology. Designed to build a practical hands-on experience, this multi-disciplinary training approach means you'll possess a key range of  professional skills applicable to a future career in academia or industry. Further transferable skills will be gained from the Literature Review module. Through seminars, we encourage you to develop an understanding of the ethical and legal issues associated with the field.

You'll also benefit from our modern research laboratories and equipment. These include purpose-built facilities for drosophila, zebrafish, chick and mouse genetics and for molecular physiology. Other facilities provide all the tools you'll need to examine and analyse a range of cellular structures. We have an electron and a light microscopy centre, a PCR robotics facility, a flow cytometry unit and a dedicated RNAi Screening facility.

Entry criteria: First class Honours Degree in a Biomedical subject.

Course dates: Starting late September

Course Structure

The course is split into two equal semesters. Modules are undertaken to the value of 180 credits:

• 90 credits of taught modules, including practicals and lectures. A further 90 credits complemented by an extensive Research Project and a Literature Review.

The four main elements of the course comprises:

• core Research Project and Literature Review (90 credits)
• core Critical Analysis and Ethics and Public Awareness of Science modules (30 credits)
• choice of 2 lecture-based modules (30 credits)
• choice of two laboratory practical-based modules (30 credits)

Note. As the literature review and research project comprise half of the available credits,  projects may also be chosen from contributing departments -  Engineering Materials or Computer Science.

Modules

Core module elements (120 credits)

• Literature Review
• Laboratory Research Project
• Critical Analysis of Current Science
• Ethics, Law and Public Awareness of Science

Choice of two practical modules (2x15 credits)

• Integrative Mammalian Biology
• Pharmacological Techniques

Choice of two lecture modules (2x15 credits)

• Molecular Physiology of Ion Channels and Human Disease
• Epithelial Physiology in Health and Disease
• Autonomic Nervous System
• Membrane Receptors

Description of Modules

Literature Review Core module - 30 credits Dr. Marcello Rivolta email : M.N.Rivolta@sheffield.ac.uk This unit involves an in-depth survey of the current literature relevant to the student’s laboratory research project. It runs before the practical laboratory commences in order to give the student the academic background necessary to complete the laboratory work successfully. Students will carry out an exhaustive search of material relevant to their project using the resources of the University, including appropriate databases and specialist search engines, as well as paper-based resources in the University Library. The unit involves primarily private study by the student under the direction of the project supervisor who will meet the student at regular intervals to ensure satisfactory progress.

Laboratory Research Project Core module - 60 credits Professor Steve Winder emai : S.Winder@sheffield.ac.uk The unit aims to provide students with experience of laboratory research and develop their practical and organisational skills required for a career in science. Students undertake a project related to their area of specialization which reflects the research activities in the Department. Projects will run in the laboratories of the research groups and although students will have contact with various staff, each student will have an identified member of staff as their project supervisor. Students will gain experience of experimental design and execution and in the collation, interpretation and presentation of data. Assessment of the project will be based on; a written report, laboratory performance, delivery and defence of an oral presentation, a poster presentation and an oral examination.

Critical Analysis of Current Science Core module - 15 credits Dr. Anne-Gaelle Borycki email: A.G.Borycki@sheffield.ac.uk This unit is designed to develop the student’s ability to read and understand the scientific literature relating to their own research area and also enable them to integrate their own work into the wider scientific field. The unit consists of three components; a tutorial/seminar programme of up to 16 tutorial sessions designed to develop student skills in reading, understanding and criticising scientific literature; attendance at departmentally organised review lectures covering broad areas of science delivered by internationally recognised scientists; participation in all support sessions provided by the research groups in support of their research programme. Each component would be assessed separately with written reports, some undertaken under formal examination conditions.

Ethics and Public Awareness of Science Core module - 15 credits Dr Andrew Furley email: a.j.furley@sheffield.ac.uk This unit introduces an outline of the legislative limitations and ethical influences on biomedical science. It will address how these are influenced by public attitudes and explore how these, in turn, are influenced by the scientific community. The unit will contain a factual and objective core, however students will be encouraged to explore, develop and express their own beliefs and value systems.

Integrative Mammalian Biology Practical module - 15 credits Professor D. Grundy email: D.Grundy@sheffield.ac.uk This unit aims to provide students with the necessary information and skills for them to obtain a Home Office Personal Licence to carry out animal experimentation, including ethics, the 3 R’s, experimental design, statistics and animal handling skills. In addition the practical course will provide basic training in simple surgical techniques, anaesthesia and experimental systems for integrated mammalian biology.

Pharmacological Techniques Practical module - 15 credits Dr. Elizabeth. Laude email: E.A.Laude@sheffield.ac.uk The unit will provide lectures on traditional receptor theory and practical classes giving experience of isolated tissue responses and data analysis, interpretation and presentation. Common techniques employed by the pharmaceutical industry will be used to generate data from isolated living tissues. In problem-solving sessions students will be shown how to enter and manipulate the data in relevant software in order to determine drug affinities, potency and intrinsic activities. Group discussions will bring together all the class data to allow conclusions to be made about the receptor populations being studied.

Molecular Physiology of Ion Channels and Human Disease Optional lecture module - 15 credits Dr Louise Robson email: L.Robson@sheffield.ac.uk The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of ion channel physiology and pathophysiology in a variety of electrically excitable cells such as muscle and the nervous system, and to give an appreciation of the methodologies used in modern ion channel research.

Epithelial Physiology in Health and Disease Optional lecture module - 15 credits Dr Louise Robson email: L.Robson@sheffield.ac.uk To provide an understanding of the different strategies used by epithelia to effect transport of ions, water and nutrients. To explore the basis of pathophysiological states associated with failure of epithelial transport mechanisms.

Autonomic Nervous System Optional lecture module - 15 credits Professor David Grundy email: D.Grundy@sheffield.ac.uk To present the current concepts on autonomic neuronal mechanisms regulating gastrointestinal motor function.

Membrane Receptors Optional lecture module - 15 credits This lecture-based module is designed to provide an understanding of membrane receptors for extracellular signalling molecules, including their molecular structure and transduction mechanisms, their roles in cell physiology, and their exploitation as targets for therapeutic drugs. It will focus on mammalian cells but draw evidence from vertebrate and invertebrate model systems. It will refer extensively to the medical and therapeutic significance of such studies, and will contain analyses of keynote papers in this field.