Introductory description

This module aims to facilitate a broad base understanding of health and medical conditions by integrating knowledge and approaches from epigenetics, genes, pharmacology, clinical trials, environmental health, migration, politics and policy, both locally and globally.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module will follow the integrated pathogens module and the assessment for that block. The topics covered in this module will be complex because they are interrelated and students will need to exercise good pattern recognition and cognitive flexibility. Again, the module will build from taught content with lecture theatre based presentations and interactive presentations as well as case-based learning sessions, all supported by TEL and online content.

In the biomedical sciences, students will cover interactions between epigenome, genome, environment and health. Areas such as pharmacology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical trials will provide discussion of specific case vignettes. Students will also revisit circadian rhythm and sleep and their complex interaction with many previous module content areas.

In the health sciences, the extended topics of planetary health will be introduced. The concepts of decision making in health will be re-visited and extended to include interactions between politics, policies and the law. With exploration of population migration and the interactions between the environment, health and society.

The cases in this module will explore contemporary examples of diseases which can be caused by the external environment, and corresponding the importance of understanding the internal environment for the treatment of disease and illness.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1. To develop a broad understanding of the key concepts, principles and theories, which will support a multidisciplinary approach to understanding environmental associations with health
• 2. Describe the effectiveness and dynamics of therapeutic interventions and to explain the steps required for ethical approaches and clinical trials
• 3. To examine environmental factors, genetic material, health and disease, and explore the broad implications of environmental change for the continuation of a sustainable society
• 4. To interrelate socio-economic, occupational and industrial factors, and a healthy environment
• 5. To consider local and global causes and consequences of conflict induced displacement.
• 6. To demonstrate understanding of pain, sleep, pharmacology and their interrelationships in health and disease
• 7. To develop and use strategic planning and reasoning skills to engage with others to individually or collectively put forward structured ideas that can have a positive influence on local and global challenges in health

Indicative reading list

1. Timbrell J. (2002) Introduction to toxicology. 3rd edition. Informa Healthcare / CRC Press.
2. Rang et al. (2011) Pharmacology. 7th edition. Churchill Livingstone.
3. Hope et al., (2008) Medical ethics and the law: the core curriculum. 2nd edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
4. Watts et al. (2018) The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: from 25 years of inaction to a global transformation for public health. Lancet. 391 (10120): 581-630.
5. Paavola J. (2017) Health impacts of climate change and health and social inequalities in the UK. Environ Health. 16 (Suppl 1): 113.
6. Cappuccio et al. (2018) Sleep, health, and society: From Aetiology to Public Health. 2nd edition. OUP Oxford.
7. Alberts et al. (2014) Molecular biology of the cell. 6th edition. W.W. Norton and Company.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Interdisciplinary

Students will explore the complex interactions between the environment, genes, and health through an integrated, case-based approach. Topics span biomedical sciences, including epigenetics, pharmacology, and clinical trials; health sciences, covering planetary health, politics, policy, and law; and social sciences, examining migration and its health impacts. Students will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of how these factors interrelate to influence individual and population health.

International

The module takes a global perspective on the interactions between environment, genes, and health. Students will investigate the health challenges associated with large-scale migration, the global impact of environmental changes and extreme events, and the role of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in global health. Case-based learning and group discussions encourage students to consider these issues from local to global contexts, preparing them to address health challenges in an interconnected world.

Subject specific skills

Knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, principles and theories, which will support a multidisciplinary approach to understanding environmental associations with health
Knowledge of the steps required for approval of interventions and ability to recognise the factors that can impact the effectiveness of an intervention as well as uptake of an intervention by the public
Ability to identify environmental factors that play a significant role in determining individual and population level health as well as the ability to investigate the interactions between environmental factors and health in its broadest term

Transferable skills

Critical thinking, Self-directed learning, evidence-based approach to problem solving, time management, integration of information, group learning