MCR8032 : Clinical Research Delivery in Practice
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Fraser Birrell
- Owning School: Pharmacy
- Teaching Location: Mixed Location
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 5 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 5 |
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To familiarise the students with the core aspects of Clinical Research Delivery and the surrounding ecosystem. This includes the importance and diversity of clinical research in health and social care, as well as the culture and landscape of clinical research. The module is designed to allow students to put into context, implement and critically evaluate some of the core skills they have developed in other aspects of their course.
Outline Of Syllabus
● The importance, value, and diversity of research in healthcare
● The importance and value of networked research
● The culture and landscape of research
● Research and Development departments (or their equivalent): how do they operate? How do they fit into
the hospital structure?
● Research Networks (e.g. NIHR CRNs, research networks of major charities, professional body research
networks etc.): what can the network support? How do you navigate the system to secure the support you
need?
● Public and patient engagement and involvement in research – how this influences the design of studies
and prioritises research questions that need to be answered
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 3 | 15:00 | 45:00 | Summative Assessment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Review meetings with workplace supervisors |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | Workshops with University mentors |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 5 | 3:00 | 15:00 | Online content and activities |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 86 | 1:00 | 86:00 | Supplementary reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Introduction to module |
| Guided Independent Study | Distance Learning Advance Preparation | 5 | 6:00 | 30:00 | Workplace activities and reflection |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The Module will be delivered as a combination of study in the workplace together with support via our VLE through a series of guided learning opportunities including delivery of e-based content, asynchronous activities, discussion boards, and workshops.
The students will be assigned a workplace supervisor (via Clinical Research Networks ) to supervise through the module and monitor progress on the skills portfolio. This process will be managed by the Workforce Development Lead for the Clinical Research Network North East North Cumbria (CRN NENC), who will co-ordinate with other regional CRNs to ensure appropriate matching of student and supervisors. The supervisor will be an experienced clinical researcher who is working on a research study within an NIHR local CRN. They will work with the learner to identify both their learning needs and the ways in which the learner’s Trust can facilitate their learning. They will support the learner throughout the module and complete an end of RPE report which will feed into the Reflective portfolio assignment. Student will meet their supervisors at the start of the module and monthly for review meetings, where they will be required to reflect on and receive feedback on their skills portfolio. Meetings will be virtual or person in place as appropriate due to geographic locations, schedules, and any ongoing health situations.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 3 | M | 40 | Lay and professional project summaries (500 words for each). To pass this module candidates must achieve a mark of at least 50% in this assessment. |
| Written exercise | 3 | M | 60 | Reflective portfolio of activities (maximum 2000 words). To pass this module candidates must achieve a mark of at least 50% in this assessment. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | Portfolio log of skills |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Lay and professional project summary: (40%)
Rationale: communication to different groups including feeding back to patients and public as well as organisation/ profession and arguing the impact of clinical research. Authentic task-based assessment mapping to learning outcome: Reporting and communicating to different groups.
Students that are required to resit this component will resubmit the assessment using the same assessment task of lay and professional project summary.
Reflective Portfolio (60%)
Rationale: This will ensure that the students can reflect on the core skills aligned with the module and their importance for clinical research. Mapping to remaining learning outcomes.
Students that are required to resit this component will be given the opportunity to resubmit the assessment within a given period of time agreed with the DPD and module lead.
The formative Mid Module Portfolio will be used to reflect on progress on the module and the capabilities accomplished.
In order to pass this module, students are required to achieve an overall pass mark of 50 or above for both assessments in the module as well as the module overall.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MCR8032's Timetable