| Unit name | Cracking Causality |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SSCM30009 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Zuccolo |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
This is part of an intercalated BSc for Medical, Veterinary or Dental students |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one | |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Using genetic data to discover the environmental causes of disease. Topics include Mendelian randomisation, study design and translation from genetics to new drugs and new policies.
1. Illustrate the issues in observational epidemiological studies.
2. Explain the assumptions of Mendelian randomisation and how genetic variants can be used to improve causal inference.
3. Critique the Mendelian randomisation approach for making causal inference in epidemiology and discuss what can be done to mitigate the limitations of Mendelian randomisation
4. Discuss the main features of successful targets for drug discovery or policy implementation and explain how Mendelian randomisation could inform these.
5. Interpret findings from an Mendelian randomisation study in a clinical setting.
6. Critically appraise the evidence from a published Mendelian randomisation study.
7. Design an Mendelian randomisation study.
Methods of Teaching
This unit will adopt a blended learning approach, including a mixture of interactive synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Where appropriate, this will include some on-campus teaching, but all materials will be available for online learning.
Student Input
10 hours of scheduled activities, 5 hours coursework, a proportion of an end-of-programme assessment, and 75 hours independent study
Assessment Information
50% of the available marks will be allocated through an in-unit coursework, with the remaining 50% allocated through an end-of-programme assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SSCM30009).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
