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.

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.

Lectures: 14, along with an 1-hour lab introduction, on-site

Reading assignments: Scientific articles, textbook, lab protocols.

Scientific quizzes: Relating to the scientific articles.

LAB 1: Microfluidics One-day lab/demonstration (approx. 6 hours)

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.

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:

LAB and DEBATE SCHEDULE:

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.

Medical Biotechnology, by Glick, Delowitch, and Patten, ASM Press, 2014 (e-book available freely through KTHB: via link)

Scientific articles (provided in Canvas)

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

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.

• 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.

There are elements with compulsory attendance.

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]

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).

Contact examiner.

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.

The exam result will be shown in Canvas.

The final grade on the course will be reported through LADOK.

• 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.

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. 

Course syllabus for CB2020 valid from Autumn 2024

The content of the course has been updated. Canvas modules have been slightly changed for clarity, and lectures have been updated.