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Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Autumn 2024
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The course in Clinical Applications of Biotechnology provides an orientation on biotechnological methods and measurements used in healthcare. The course provides both theoretical background and practical application of analytical methods. The course includes basic knowledge of molecular disease mechanisms, biomarkers, molecular biology tools and methods. New developments with the potential to be integrated in a clinical context are highlighted. The course includes ethics and sustainability.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
After passing the course the student must be able to:
Describe basic concepts regarding the main parts of the course.
In text, explain basic principles for biotechnological methods and measurements of biological samples.
Give examples of clinical applications of biotechnology.
Skills and abilities
After passing the course the student must be able to:
Relate biotechnological applications with underlying molecular disease mechanisms.
Be able to apply diagnostic measurements and report results in writing and orally.
Values and approaches
After passing the course the student must be able to:
Suggest biotechnological applications for clinical use and explain their benefits and disadvantages.
Reflect on the clinical use of biotechnology from an ethical, economic, ecological, and social perspective.
Learning activities
Lectures: 14, along with an 1-hour lab introduction, on-site
LAB 2: Breast cancer treatment-predictive marker assessment. Two-day wet lab (approx. 6 hours per day). The lab covers immunohistochemistry and qPCR (incl. primer design), an individual lab report, and peer review.
SOCIETAL IMPACT (Ethics - Biotechnology in Health Care) includes group work with writing assignments and presentations.
Detailed plan
SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (May be changed, check up-to-date schedule and classrooms at KTH.se)
Compulsory attendance: LAB1 (one occasion), LAB2 (1 h lecture and 2-day lab), and DEBATE (one occasion). See Canvas for groups and the schedule for times and locations.
LECTURES:
Date
Lecture
Topic
Module
Teacher
26/8
1
Introduction, Basic concepts, and Perspectives
1
Cecilia Williams
27/8
2
Pathology, Cancer Imaging AI Applications
2
Lars Björk (guest lecturer)
28/8
3
Breast Cancer Biomarkers and Treatment I
3
Cecilia Williams
28/8
LAB 2
Theory and Preparation for Lab 2
LAB 2
Amena Archer
1/9
4
Breast Cancer Biomarkers and Treatment II
3
Cecilia Williams
2/9
5
Ethical, Societal, Economic Impacts
7
Cristian Al-Khalili Szigyarto
4/9
6
Microfluidics, Point-of-Care Devices I
5
Aman Russom
8/9
7
Breast Cancer Imaging and AI Applications
2
Fredrik Strand (guest lecturer)
10/9
8
Breast Cancer Biomarkers and Treatment III
3
Cecilia Williams
15/9
9
Microfluidics, Point-of-Care Devices II
5
Aman Russom
17/9
10
Microfluidics, Point-of-care devices III
5
Aman Russom
23/9
11
Microfluidics, Point-of-Care Devices IV
5
Aman Russom
24/9
12
Cancer Detection & Treatment, Future
4
Cecilia Williams
1/10
Midterm Results, Q&A, Course Evaluation
Cecilia Williams
8/10
13
Cardiovascular and Homeostatic Diseases I
6
Jacob Odeberg
7/10
14
Cardiovascular and Homeostatic Diseases II
6
Jacob Odeberg
LAB and DEBATE SCHEDULE:
GROUP
LAB1
LAB2
LAB2 First draft submission
LAB2 Peer review
LAB2 Final submission
DEBATE presentation
1A
30/9
3/9 + 4/9
11/9
16/9
19/9
29/9
1B
2/10
3/9 + 4/9
11/9
16/9
19/9
29/9
2A
3/10
10/9 + 12/9
19/9
24/9
29/9
3/10
2B
6/10
10/9 + 12/9
19/9
24/9
29/9
3/10
3A
7/10
16/9 + 17/9
24/9
29/9
2/10
6/10
3B
8/10
16/9 + 17/9
24/9
29/9
2/10
6/10
4A
9/10
18/9 + 19/9
26/9
1/10
6/10
16/9 (1)
4B
10/10
18/9 + 19/9
26/9
1/10
6/10
16/9 (1)
5A
11/9
23/9 + 25/9
2/10
7/10
10/10
16/9 (2)
5B
12/9
23/9 + 25/9
2/10
7/10
10/10
16/9 (2)
Course Objectives
To pass the course, you must be able to [examined by]:
1.Describe the use of biological samplesfor the purpose of diagnosing health conditions and explaining their advantages and disadvantages [TEN1/LAB1/LAB2]
2.Describe different types of biomarkers and their occurrence and relation to diseases and treatments. [TEN1/LAB1/LAB2]
3.Explain biotechnological methods, technologies, and measurements used clinically to identify and quantify different types of biomarkers [TEN1/LAB1/ LAB2]
4.Explain and evaluate the biotechnological applications used for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer and cardiovascular and hemostatic diseases [TEN1/LAB2]
5.Independently carry out and interpret measurement of various biomarkers for diagnostic purposes and report results in writing and/or orally [LAB1/LAB2/TEN1]
6.Explain the underlying molecular mechanisms that make different types of drug treatment effective [TEN1/LAB2]
7.Explain medical image analysis for screening and diagnostic purposes [TEN1/LAB2]
8.Describe the development and use of 'Point-of-care' diagnostics [TEN1/LAB1]
9.Understand, and reflect on, the clinical use of biotechnology from an ethical, economic, ecological, and social perspective [TEN1/LAB1/LAB2/SOC]
10.Reflect on and discuss ethical issues in the field. [SOC/TEN1]
Preparations before course start
Specific preparations
Kahoot may be used in some classes. When prompted, go to www.kahoot.it or download app in advance.
Lab preparations: Before the lab, read through the important safety information provided in Canvas and attend the compulsory preparatory LAB2 lecture.
Literature
Medical Biotechnology, by Glick, Delowitch, and Patten, ASM Press, 2014 (e-book available freely through KTHB: via link)
Scientific articles (provided in Canvas)
Support for students with disabilities
Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:
Please inform the course coordinator if you have special needs not related to the written exam, and show your certificate from Funka.
Support measures under code R (i.e., adjustments related to space, time, and physical circumstances, e.g., longer writing time) are always granted.
Support measures under code P (pedagogical measures) may be granted or rejected by the examiner after you have applied for this in accordance with KTH rules.
Examination and completion
Grading scale
A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Examination
TEN1 - Written exam, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
LAB1 - Laboratory work, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
LAB2 - Laboratory work, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
The section below is not retrieved from the course syllabus:
Other requirements for examination:
Bonus points are given that are added to the exam points (Part A or B) according to the following:
Completion of Societal impact module: P/F, well performed can generate up to 2 bonus points [to Part A]
Completion of Lab Report 2: P/F, well performed can generate up to 2 bonus points [to Part A]
Completion of 4 scientific quizzes: P/F, if completed by the deadline, this can generate up to 2 bonus points [to Part B]
Other requirements for final grade
There are elements with compulsory attendance.
Grading criteria/assessment criteria
For higher grades (A-D), more profound knowledge is required within the essential parts of the course and the student can, to varying degrees, interconnect, reason, and apply their knowledge to tackle increasingly complex biotechnological problems [TEN1].
The exam is in two parts:
Part A comprises 7 modules, and each needs to be passed (>75% ) for grade E. A Midterm Exam offers the possibility to examine modules 1-3 ahead of the Final Exam..
Part B comprises 5 essay questions for higher grades (max points: 30 points + up to 2 bonus points)
Grading scheme (tentative, may be adjusted):
E Completed compulsory quizzes, laboratory work [LAB1 and LAB2], approved societal impact debate, and approved PART A (at least 75% on each of the 7 modules) [TEN1]
D also, explain in greater detail different clinical applications of biotechnology, with examples, examined in PART B (at least 16 points)[TEN1]
C also, explain in greater detail in several parts of the course, with examples and analysis of the benefits and disadvantages examined in PART B (at least 19 points) [TEN1]
B in addition, theoretically apply advanced knowledge in all parts of the course to address biotechnological issues within the clinic, examined in PART B (at least 22 points) [TEN1]
A in addition, theoretically apply very advanced knowledge, in all parts of the course, to tackle particularly complicated biotechnological issues within the clinic, examined in PART B (at least 25 points)[TEN1]
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
If one topic is failed on Part A [TEN1], this generates the grade Fx. Fx can be supplementary examined through oral examination within 14 working days following the grading (if requested).
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Contact examiner.
Alternatives to missed activities or tasks
As far as possible, students can change lab groups or debate sessions with each other (note, some activities are overlapping between groups). If so, the students should inform the course responsible.
For further questions, contact the course coordinator.
Reporting of exam results
The exam result will be shown in Canvas.
The final grade on the course will be reported through LADOK.
Ethical approach
All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
The section below is not retrieved from the course syllabus:
Plagiarism: The LAB2 report is written by the student individually, and a white paper is written as a group assignment. Plagiarism is not allowed. Plagiarism is copying the work of others, which could be online or print sources, your peers, or others. If the source can be identified with high statistical significance and is not attributed directly and explicitly, it is plagiarism. This is considered cheating and will be reported.
Use of artificial intelligence (AI): In the same way that plagiarism is not allowed, it is also not allowed to let an AI tool write the text. AI tools, however, may be used as a help to find information or to improve the language and flow of the text. If AI has been used for any such purposes, this should be transparent and must be stated in the report. Tools used for simple reference formatting or grammar do not need to be stated.
Further information
Additional regulations
Course syllabus for CB2020 valid from Autumn 2024
Changes of the course before this course offering
The content of the course has been updated. Canvas modules have been slightly changed for clarity, and lectures have been updated.
Contacts
Communication during course
Use email to communicate with examinator, course responsible, lab responsible, or teachers.
