Code and classification of the field of education - 7M10 Healthcare and social welfare (medicine)

Code and classification of training areas - 7M101 Healthcare

Group of programs - M143 Biomedicine

Program name - 7М10112 BIOMEDICINE 

Type - New  

Program goals: - Preparing specialists with multidisciplinary knowledge in advanced fields of life sciences, demonstrating systematic scientific thinking and research skills able to show leadership and contribute to improving human health through quality research and education.

ISCED level - 740

NQF level - 7

SQF level - 7.0

Distinctive features of the Program - The goal of the program is to develop scientific school for certain interdisciplinary fields of Biomedicine related to Systems Biomedicine, Biology of Cancer, Neurobiology, which involves advanced original courses led by invited foreign scientists (University of Sheffield, Nagasaki University) and subsequent internship in those universities. Thereby, solely English-taught groups are planned. Focus is made on building skills like scientific thinking, good research practice, lab management, overview of most advanced research in fields of Life Sciences, and solid data analysis skills. Major “Systems Biomedicine” is implemented jointly with department “Artificial Intelligence and Big Data” (Искусственный интеллект и Big Data) of IT Faculty KazNU al-Farabi (Факультет информационных технологий).

Competencies            :

1. Knowledge and skills in life sciences

2. Scientific thinking and good research practice

3. Good laboratory practice

4. Leadership and management

5. Pedagogy

6. Communication

Learning outcomes:

ON1 Integrate knowledge of fundamental bases of the functioning of biological systems and advanced technological and methodological principles of their research to solve problems in the field of improving human health.

ON2 Competently perform all routine and a few advanced (within the field of specialization) biomedical research techniques.

ON3 Able to generate ideas based on analysis of scientific data, industry development trends and critical reflection on their prospects in terms of improving human health.

ON4 Able to ensure (within its competence) the compliance of scientific and research practice with international ethical and scientific quality standards at all stages, including design, execution in the form of a grant application, implementation, accounting and reporting and publication of results;

ON5 Perform statistical analysis and data processing using modern analysis tools.

ON6 Critically apply knowledge of the principles and standards of good laboratory practice to maintain their own and supervised team of employees laboratory skills that are key to obtaining accurate, reproducible experimental results, ensuring a safe environment and preventing damage of expensive equipment.

ON7 Critically evaluate their own activities and update knowledge and skills in the changing context of biomedical science and practice.

ON8 Function as a professional and socially responsible citizen, able to act in the interests of a professional team and society.

ON9 Demonstrate professional and personal leadership to improve the quality of professional practice and achieve the best results.

ON10 Able to organize with appropriate methodological support within their own competence, subject area, and the frame of educational standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan the high-quality educational process using student-oriented pedagogical approaches and strategies and best pedagogical practices.

ON11 Able to effectively exchange information in different contexts of professional and interpersonal communication, appropriately using professional terminology and various communication channels.

Form of training - Full time

language of study - Kazakh, Russian, English

ECTS - 120 ECTS

Degree awarded - Master of Medical Sciences on the educational program "M143 Biomedicine"

Requirements for the previous level of education - higher professional education in medical, natural-scientific, technical specialties

Additional requirements for applicants - English proficiency IELTS 5,5 and higher, good knowledge and skills in mathematics and computer science

CURRICULUM

Core Disciplines University Component –20 Credits

IFN5201 History and Philosophy of Science (3 credits)

IYa5202 Foreign language (professional) (5 credits)

Ped5203 Higher school pedagogy (5 credits) 

Psі5204 Psychology (3 credits) 

PP5205 Teaching Internship (4 credits)

Core Disciplines Elective Component – 15 Credits

Major Disciplines University Component –25 credits

DBNG5301 Advances in Biomedical Science and New Horizons (5 credits) 

The course is designed to provide a holistic consideration of the most transformative for the understanding the disease and health achievements of biomedical science and new perspectives. The transformation of medicine into molecular, personalized medicine. Guest lectures are complemented by seminars discussing publications of the most promising studies. Analysis of the problems of promoting these studies and innovations and achieving their benefits. The course also aims at developing the skills of systematic study and critical reflection of information to identify potential areas for research.

KMPB5302 Cellular and Molecular Pathobiology (5 credits)

An in-depth review of the cellular, molecular and physiological mechanisms of human health and diseases at the present stage, including questions of the functioning of the genome, regulation of the cell cycle, differentiation of cells, aging and cell death, signal transduction, etc.

NPBI5303 Good biomedical research practice (5 credits)

Subject and objectives of biomedical science research. Standards for Good Research Practices. Technological and methodological principles of a scientific approach and evidence-based practice. Biomedical ethics. Design and types of biomedical research. Translational, (pre) clinical trials - differences and specifics. Human studies using human biomaterials. Planning, implementation, reporting on the results of scientific projects. The course provides for the preparation of mini-projects and is also aimed at developing the skills of training, teamwork, academic writing, data presentation and analysis, information search and oral speaking skills.

PBS5304 Applied Biomedical Statistics (5 credits)

Practically a course of statistical analysis of biomedical data, including descriptive statistics, probability elements, hypothesis testing, non-parametric methods, correlation analysis and linear regression. How to choose the appropriate statistical tests, how to evaluate statistical significance and how to avoid common mistakes in the analysis of large data sets and ensure reproducibility of scientific results. Fundamental components of biostatistical methods used both in OMIC studies and in public health studies. Critical analysis of articles and case studies in small groups are provided.

LiOM5305 Leadership and Fundamentals of Management (2 credits)

The course aims to develop “soft” skills critical for success in the workplace: tools for effective communication, planning, leadership, teamwork, strategic analysis of problems and critical thinking, project and innovative management. Mandatory practice is provided through case solving and role-playing games.

LM5306 Laboratory management (3 Credits)

Safety and quality of laboratory work. Laboratory quality management - key principles, procedures, and standards. SOP. National and international standards (ISO 9000, GLP, CMP, GCP, etc.). The specifics of laboratory work using human biomaterials.

Major Disciplines Elective Component – 15 credits

Systems Biomedicine (Minor, 15 credits) 

SBiB6307 Systems Biology and Biomedicine (5 credits)

Theory and practice of the science of biomedical data. Modern datasets and methodological approaches to conducting integrative high-performance studies combining genomics, exposomics and phenomics data arrays to identify new relationships with diseases and health. Machine learning and artificial intelligence. Natural language processing. Work with publicly available data (e.g. CDC, NIH dbGaP data), interpretation of statistical estimates and biomedical results in the published literature (and in the non-professional press). Review of tools, software systems and methods of analysis and visualization used in systems biomedicine. Opportunities for basic research using existing tools.

PABD6308 Programming for the biomedical data analysis (10 credits)

Basic skills in analyzing biomedical data using R / RStudio, Python and the cloud infrastructure. Development of forecasting algorithms that combine exposomic, genomic and phenomic data. Implementation of research methods based on data. The course is designed to provide sufficient practical experience for further education, research, or preparation for a career in this field.

Neurobiology (Minor, 15 credits) 

NB6307 Neurobiology (10 credits)

Modern areas of knowledge of biology and pathobiology of the nervous system, which are of a disciplinary nature. The emphasis is on the study of molecular and cellular mechanisms of intracellular signal transmission using a combination of biochemical, molecular biological, biophysical, ultrastructural, biotechnological, and visual approaches. The focus of this program is on basic research on cellular communication in health and disease, as well as the additional benefits of many translational capabilities.

TINB6308 Translational research in neurobiology (5 Credits)

Modern technologies of translational research in the field of neurobiology. Neuropharmacology, OMIC-technologies, and imaging methods. Regenerative and functional neurobiology. Biology of synapses. Bioengineering and bioinformatics. Pain management as an example of the achievements and challenges of translational research in neurobiology.

Cancer Biology (Minor, 15 Credits) 

BR6307 Cancer Biology (10 Credits)

Comprehensive and unique biological features related to carcinogenesis, including an introduction to cancer pathology and clinical aspects of cancer. Fundamental research and their achievements in understanding cancer pathology and immunology: genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and epigenetics, carcinogenesis and tumor microenvironment, cancer cell metastasis and signaling, bioinformatics and target detection, cancer control and population characteristics. The course is taught by specialist researchers in cancer research laboratories in Kazakhstan and Nagasaki University.

TIO6308 Translational research in Oncology (5 Credits)

Modern methods and achievements of translational research in the field of cancer biology are new methods for risk assessment, cellular and molecular characteristics, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Precision therapy. Datasets and systemic biomedicine in oncology.

Research Practice – 9 credits

Master’s Research - 24 credits

Scientific workshop (3 Credits)

Master's thesis (14 Credits)

Scientific Internship (3 credits)

Publication of the results of scientific work (4 Credits)

Final Attestation - 12 credits