Course overview
Translational and experimental medicine is one of the fastest-growing areas of biomedical research. It aims to take findings from discovery science to develop and improve diagnosis, prognosis or therapeutic inventions and ensure that they are applied for patient benefit in clinical practice. How we set up and deliver experimental medicine is of importance to society, as illustrated by the impact clinical trials had during the COVID-19 pandemic– a period which saw rapid development in trial delivery.
In this course you will discover how recent developments in trial design, including adaptive platform designs, digital delivery and endpoints, are transforming therapy development in clinical science. Drawing on the expertise of world-acknowledged experts in the field you will gain an overview of translational and experimental medicine, as well as the various types of traditional and novel trial designs that are utilised, through real clinical examples, with a focus on the role of digital technology and a patient-centred approach.
This course will provide you with the knowledge to transform any clinical problem into a practical plan of action by adopting methods you’ve learned on the course to design a clinical study, and placing the patient at the centre of your work.
What will I learn?
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- summarise the concept of translational medicine with relevant examples from clinical practice.
- outline the differences between classical experimental medicine methodology and novel methodology and explain how they both relate to established clinical trials
- analyse the different requirements of therapies in the modern treatment era, spanning drug development, gene and cell therapies, and devices and technology
- explain the impact that clinical trial methodology has on patients and how a digital and patient-centered approach influences trial methodology and design
- design a clinical trial to address a given clinical scenario by adopting methods taught on the course, explaining the choices in that scenario and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen clinical trial.
Who is this course for?
The course targets people with at least a good degree in a related biomedical discipline or individuals with demonstrable experience and/or qualifications which would allow them to successfully complete the content. In particular, this course is for:
- established employees in the pharmaceutical or healthcare sectors who are looking to upskill or learn more about novel and digital trial design
- undergraduate or postgraduate students looking for a career in pharmaceutical or healthcare settings.
What will I get on completion?
Evidence your learning with a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Cambridge on successful completion.
