MSc(MedSci) Clinical Genetics

The increasing impact of genetics in healthcare and the development of newer sophisticated technologies requires close collaboration between research scientists, clinical laboratory scientists and clinicians to deliver a high quality service to patients. The aim of this programme is to specifically focus on delivery of the clinical service to patients including risk analysis and application of modern genetic and genomic technologies in medical genetics research and in diagnostics and population screening.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• Experience a fully up-to-date Clinical Genetics degree delivered by dedicated, multi-award-winning teaching and clinical staff at the University, with considerable input from hospital-based Regional Genetics Service clinicians and clinical scientists.
• Access the full spectrum of genetic services represented, from patient and family counselling to diagnostic testing of individuals and screening of entire populations for genetic conditions: eg the NHS prenatal and newborn screening programmes.
• Close collaboration between university and hospital staff ensures that the Clinical Genetics MSc provides a completely up-to-date representation of the practice of medical genetics
• Observe clinics at the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital laboratory medicine building.
• Explore the effects of mutations and variants as well as the theoretically basis of current techniques used in NHS genetics laboratory diagnostics and recent developments in diagnostics (including microarray analysis and the use of massively parallel [“next-generation”] sequencing).
• Access new developments in genetics incorporated into lectures and interactive teaching sessions soon after they are presented at international meetings or published.
• Gain hands-on experience and guidance in using software and online resources for genetic diagnosis and for the evaluation of pathogenesis of DNA sequence variants.
• Develop your skills in problem solving, evaluation and interpretation of genetic data, literature searches, scientific writing, oral presentations, poster presentations and team working.
• Lay the academic foundations on which you may build in pursuing a career in Clinical Genetics, with prior MBChB or MBBS.

CAREER PROSPECTS

This programme would be beneficial for anyone with a previous MBChB or similar degree, and would facilitate a career as a Clinical Geneticist.

For those with a previous Nursing degree this programme would provide a career as a Genetic Nurse.

Previous students have progressed to PhD study in areas such as neuroscience and genome science and technology.

Others have taken up roles in academia across the UK and Europe or technical lab roles in life science companies, for instance, in product development and R&D.