ABM5001 Leadership in Biomedicine

Units: 2

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Leadership is fundamental to the success of individuals and organisations. As you progress in your biomedicine career, you will have to lead individuals, teams and organisations. This course prepares you to lead, by equipping you with principles, skills and practices of leadership.

ABM5002 Advanced Biostatistics for Research

Units: 2

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

This course serves as a concept-based introduction to biostatistics, or to the use of numerical technique to extract information from data and facts.  It is aimed at students, researchers and healthcare professionals who wish to learn modern research methods.  The learning objectives are to communicate scientific results, develop tools to investigate the inherent variability introduced by sampling and quantify uncertainty before progressing to the process of making inference about the population.  Using computer software such as SPSS, the concepts and the statistical methods will be illustrated based on the real life data arising from selected scientific and medical studies.

ABM5003 Biomedical Innovation & Enterprise

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

This course will furnish students with a thorough understanding of a bio-venture from research and development stage to commercialisation stage, covering all relevant aspects and steps from invention to innovation and founding a new bio-business. The team of lecturers is complemented by high profile entrepreneurs and experts who will be sharing their personal experiences and stories. The course will guide the students through the process of generating an idea and developing it to a business pitch.

BMI5101B Advanced Biomedical Informatics

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

This course covers both the fundamental and advanced principles of biomedical informatics, the field concerned with the acquisition, storage, and use of information in health and biomedicine. The course begins with a basic introduction to health and biomedicine as well as computing concepts and theories including ethics and legal aspects and then moves on to advanced concepts in these topics.

MDG5102 Techniques in Biomedical Research

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

This course aims to develop understanding of the fundamental principles underlying common experimental techniques, as well as the advantages and limitations of each technique for specific research applications. This in turn will facilitate the critical analysis of experimental data. Techniques covered will include different ways to study nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, key recent advances such as next-generation sequencing and CRISPR, disease-specific approaches such as in stem cell and cancer biology, and the importance of big data analysis in the fast-evolving biomedical research landscape.

MDG5229 Advanced Topics in Signal Transduction

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

This course is designated to introduce our graduate students the cutting-edge knowledge of the key signal transduction pathways in cell biology and their implications in health and disease. The main topics include PI3K-MTOR pathways, MAPK pathways, tyrosine kinase pathways, GPCR, small GTPase, TNF signalling pathways, NF-kB pathways, Jak-STAT pathways, TGFb-Smad pathways, Hippo signaling, Hedgehog signalling, AMPK signaling, ubiquitination and protein degradation, to be taught by leading experts in the field, via lectures and tutorials.

ABM5101 Applied Immunology

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Vaccinology and Immunotherapy

Advanced immunological applications play important roles in many healthcare related industries. Fundamental concepts in immunology that are central for innovations in the design and implementation of immunological techniques will be discussed in this course. These include a comprehensive overview of the immune system at both cellular and molecular level, and the regulation between key components of immunity in health and diseases. Students will also learn about the experimental basis of how research techniques are translated into real-world practices during the highly interactive hands-on laboratory practical sessions.

ABM5102 Vaccine development and its modern applications

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Vaccinology and Immunotherapy / Infectious Diseases Management

Use of vaccines and successful immunisation have limited the occurrence of numerous infectious diseases globally. Many advancements were made over the past decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further revolutionised vaccine innovations and generated a wealth of new developments. These new developments including platforms for vaccine discovery, design and applications will be discussed in-depth in this course. In addition to gaining knowledge of the key immunological concepts in vaccinology and its applications, students will also undergo evidence-based learning to critically evaluate and identify the opportunities and challenges in vaccine development that are important to support healthcare in the community.

ABM5103 Advanced technologies in immune therapeutic development

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Vaccinology and Immunotherapy

The advancement of technologies for immune system analysis has greatly facilitated the understanding of immune function and thus the development of therapies. In this course, students will learn about cutting-edge technologies in immunology research including advanced flow-based technologies, single cell sequencing, nanotechnology and humanized mice models, and how these technologies can be employed to develop immune therapies and assess immune phenotypes in key immune-targeting therapeutics, including immune cell products (i.e antibodies, cytokines), drug compounds that regulate the immune response (small molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy), and gene therapy. Furthermore, the discovery, development, and application of these compounds/technologies in diagnostics and research will be discussed in detail.

ABM5104 Microbiome-Aging-Immunity crosstalk

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Vaccinology and Immunotherapy

The complex relationship between human microbiome and aging are important factors that modulate immunity. These in turn impact patients’ response to immunotherapy and immunisation. The determinants at the crossroads between microbiome and aging with immune-related treatments will be discussed in this course. Students will learn about the dynamics between microbiome, aging and immunity, microbiome-targeted intervention, application of multi-omics analytics, and molecular sequencing techniques for evaluating the interactions between these factors. Recently, there are increasing interests to modulate microbiome improve various treatment outcomes. Therefore, this course will help future-proof students who wish to work in this up and raising field.

ABM5105 Drugs used in Infectious Diseases

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Drug Discovery and Development / Infectious Diseases Management

This course imparts students on the knowledge of pharmacology of a broad spectrum of antimicrobial agents and the use of these agents in the pharmacotherapeutic management of commonly encountered infectious disease conditions. In addition, it will explore the discovery of development of antimicrobial agents.

ABM5106 Anticancer Therapeutics

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Drug Discovery and Development

This course will introduce different classes of anticancer agents-their discovery and development, mode of action, mechanisms of resistance, side effects and clinical applications. It aims to describe (i) how various anticancer drugs can be used both individually and in combination for the management of the various cancers, and (ii) how advances in biomarker discovery may help in patient stratification for precision oncology. It will also provide and integrated understanding of all aspects of anticancer drug development process ranging from initial design through final approval for clinical application.

ABM5107 One World, One Health: Ecosystems, Animals and Us

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Infectious Diseases Management

One Health is a concept which recognizes that the health of humans, animals and the environment are intricately interconnected, and these can be balanced and optimized through a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, achieving full spectrum of disease control. Here, students will learn about the One Health concept and key factors driving diseases, such as, climate change, migration, population explosion and zoonoses. A particular emphasis will be placed on emerging infectious diseases in the context of One Health, exploring disease epidemiology, surveillance, control, and prevention. Additionally, One Health challenges, such as, antimicrobial resistance, zoonosis, and food safety and security will be covered.

MDG5204 Advanced Topics in Fundamental and Applied Pharmacology

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Drug Discovery and Development

The course aims to help students gain an in-depth understanding of a range of topics including receptor biology, signal transduction, inflammation, autophagy, pharmacology of antivirals and neuropharmacology, using lectures and journal clubs given by clinical and basic science experts.

MDG5207 Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapeutics

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Vaccinology and Immunotherapy

In the last decade significant advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular and cellular control of immune responses. These discoveries are now being translated into the design and testing of immunotherapeutic interventions for a range of diseases including cancer, autoimmunity, respiratory and infectious diseases. This course is for graduate students who wish to extend their knowledge and skills in both immunology and its translation to immunotherapeutics. The course aims to allow the students to understand the research process, from the fundamental discoveries at the forefront of immunological research, to the application of novel interventional immune-based therapies.

MDG5232 Current practices in Biotechnology

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Drug Discovery and Development

This course allows students to meet successful members of the local biotechnology community, providing an opportunity to learn directly from industry leaders about commercially viable technologies, and about the job roles and lifestyles of industry scientists. This will be done by examining “case studies”, involving the evaluation of the technology and the market environment of specific companies. This course is ideal for students considering industry or alternative (non-research) careers, and would like to make contacts and gain insight into such roles.

MDG5233 Current Topics in Drug Design and Development

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Drug Discovery and Development

Introduction to a range of existing and emerging therapy modalities including how compounds are identified and developed. This will lead into the mechanism of drug action, drug delivery and drug metabolism specific to each class of drug. Additionally, an emphasis on advanced techniques for drug design and development specific to each class of drug will also be given. Furthermore, drug candidate selection, patenting, clinical trial design, objectives and roles of regulatory bodies will be covered. This course is ideal for students considering careers in drug development.

MDG5246 Infectious Diseases: Principles & Research Methods

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Infectious Diseases Management

This course will provide students with an overview of the molecular pathogenesis of infectious diseases in general, followed by a focus on current research methods being used and discussions on infectious disease-related research ethics. The course is designed for entering M.Sc. or Ph.D. students in their first year, to help provide perspective for their choice of labs and basic concepts that will be useful for their future thesis work. Topics include, viruses; bacteria; parasites and fungi with integration of molecular pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, disease physiology/pathology, innate & adaptive immunity and laboratory models of infectious disease and treatment challenges discussed throughout each pathogen family. Other topics include epidemiology and global health and research ethics related to infectious disease. In addition, there will be interactive sessions for students to strengthen communication and presentation skills through debates and journal club presentations. Field trip visits (pending COVID-19 restrictions) to the investigational medicine unit are being planned to allow students the opportunity to understand infectious disease-related clinical research.

SPH5201 Control of Communicable Diseases

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Infectious Diseases Management

This course focuses on infectious diseases of public health concern in Singapore and internationally. The course will cover concepts in the prevention, surveillance and control of infectious diseases, including vector-borne diseases, foodborne diseases, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, acute respiratory illnesses, and nosocomial infections. In addition, students will be exposed to concepts in the evaluation of vaccines and vaccination programmes, and will obtain hands-on experience in outbreak investigation through a simulated outbreak exercise. Students will learn to critically appraise and discuss the application of current control strategies. This course is highly relevant for students who intend to work in infectious disease control in local and international governmental and non-governmental organisations, or who wish to pursue academic research on infectious diseases from a public health perspective.

SPH5205 Urban Outbreak Management

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Infectious Diseases Management

An effective outbreak management system is core to safeguarding public health and reducing morbidity and mortality. Outbreak investigation, when properly managed, fosters cooperation between stakeholders in rapid mobilization, community engagement, communications, and business continuity. By introducing a combination of hard and soft skills, as well as knowledge and tools related to field epidemiology, environmental health, microbiology, communication and social sciences, it is designed for application of knowledge and skills to manage, foresee and solve outbreak problems efficiently and effectively.

SPH5206 Urban Field Epidemiology

Units: 4

Pre-requisite(s): NIL

Specialisation: Infectious Diseases Management

We live in a densely populated modern city state that earns its living as an international trade and travel hub. Students will learn about constraints and vulnerabilities in our physico-social ecology, and how to balance the natural tropical biosphere and man-made technosphere in the face of climate, economic and lifestyle changes. Risk assessment and management form the basis for health protection, safeguarding against emergent threats, and skills-building in risk communications promotes right attitudes and behaviours for community wellbeing. This course provides a combination of hard and soft science approaches that will guide field epidemiologists in urban health security.

Please click for Semester 1 Course Timetable.

Please click for Semester 2 Course Timetable.

Please click for Special Term 1 Course Timetable.

Please click for the capstone project Guidelines.

Please click for the List of Capstone Projects.