Clinical Bioinformatics, Genomics and Personalised Medicine

Details

Title

Clinical Bioinformatics, Genomics and Personalised Medicine

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HCC20

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

Diseases and disease processes are complex and involve many interactions within the genome, across metabolic pathways and between the individual and the environment. Such considerations are important if the consequences of variations observed within an individual’s genome are to be effectively assessed. Rapid advancements in areas such as functional genomics and systems biology are now providing new insights into such processes. This module builds and extends the knowledge of the Clinical Scientist in HSST with respect to the epidemiology and genetic basis of disease while introducing and developing areas such as clinical bioinformatics, personalised medicine, e- health, health informatics and genomics applied within a healthcare science specialism.

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to analyse and synthesise their understanding of clinical bioinformatics, genomics and personalised medicine, and apply their knowledge to the practice of their HSST specialism. They will be able to identify opportunities to apply their learning to develop and improve services and the information provided to patients and critically evaluate their own response to both normal and complex situations using the professional attributes and insights required of a Consultant Clinical Scientist.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to analyse, synthesise and critically apply their expert knowledge with respect to genomics and personalised medicine and health informatics applied to their specialism, including:

• governance and ethical frameworks in place within the NHS and how they apply to bioinformatics;
• fundamental bioinformatic principles, including the scope and aims of bioinformatics and its development;
• how bioinformatic tools and resources and genetic information can be integrated into the interpretation and reporting of test results from patients;
• the use of personalised medicine in health and delivery of medical care and rehabilitation services;
• functional genomics and systems biology strategies and the ways in which they can be applied in their HSST specialism for improved patient care;
• e-health developments in healthcare science and the wider healthcare setting;
• supporting computer principles, e.g. hardware and software requirements for large datasets, cloud computing, network management, etc.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to critically reflect and apply in practice a range of clinical and communication skills with respect to genomics in order to advise and communicate effectively with patients, relevant clinicians, patients and the public, and other healthcare professionals, and will utilise and apply, as appropriate, knowledge of genomics and clinical bioinformatics within clinical practice keeping abreast of development that apply to their area of specialist practice as a Consultant Clinical Scientist.

Attitudes and behaviours

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to evaluate their own response to both normal and complex situations, demonstrating the professional attributes and insights required of a Consultant Clinical Scientist working within the limits of professional competence referring as appropriate to senior staff and will:

• work within data governance regulations;
• support colleagues to promote the understanding of data governance regulations;
• work within a multidisciplinary setting, transferring data appropriately;
• keep up to date with advances in genomics, clinical bioinformatic and personalised medicine and other emerging technologies.