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Learn how to develop new diagnostic tools and treatments for a range of cardiovascular conditions. Study the fundamental science of cardiovascular disease, explore modelling and imaging techniques, and find out how new technologies and therapies reach patients.

Course description

This course is designed to give you the skills and expertise to develop new diagnostic tools and treatments for cardiovascular problems that affect populations around the world. Topics range from the fundamental molecular and cellular biology to the care that patients receive.

You will study a range of conditions in detail, including coronary artery disease, cardiopulmonary disease, heart valve disease and heart failure – their causes, their effects and the treatments available for patients. You will also learn about imaging tools such as MRI, CT and ultrasound, a range of lab-based and computational modelling techniques, and how these are used to help researchers understand cardiovascular conditions and inform the decisions that clinicians make.

You will have the opportunity to visit the Cardiac Catheter Suite at the Northern General Hospital. The course also covers the process of developing new drugs, devices and treatments for patients with cardiovascular conditions. You will examine the economics of medical technologies, how they are regulated and how they can be adopted, and get the opportunity to pitch your own idea to help patients with cardiovascular disease.

You will also complete a research skills training programme and, after all other teaching has been completed, you will spend 20 weeks working full-time on your own research project. Working as part of a team of professional scientists, you will have the opportunity to test a hypothesis, design experiments, analyse your results and present your findings. Many of our students have published their work in peer-reviewed journals and presented their findings at conferences.