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Biomedical Science

View the employability skills

A graduate in biomedical science typically will have the ability to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, immunology and microbiology
  • demonstrate an understanding of cellular pathology, clinical biochemistry, clinical immunology, haematology, immunohaematology and transfusion science, medical microbiology and the biology of disease
  • understand the factors and processes which contribute to human health and disease
  • apply their knowledge to analyse, interpret and critically evaluate biomedical data
  • demonstrate laboratory skills and knowledge of planning and designing experiments
  • execute independent research centred on data generation
  • demonstrate critical analysis and application of results obtained
  • take account of and act in accordance with health and safety policies, good laboratory practice, ethical considerations and risk and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health assessments and recognise the importance of quality control and QA
  • design research protocols and use statistical techniques to enable valid analysis and interpretations of experimental results
  • use effectively transferable skills in communication, IT, numeracy and data analysis, teamworking, critical thinking, setting tasks, problem solving and self-management.

Biomedical science is concerned with understanding the causes, diagnosis and treatment of disease. It requires the integration of a wide range of subjects to understand the biology of disease; predominantly anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology and molecular biology. More specific knowledge of disease processes comes from studying specialised biology viz. cellular pathology, clinical biochemistry, clinical immunology, haematology, transfusion science and medical microbiology.

Most of the component subjects of biomedical science are at the forefront of modern science and therefore attract leading edge research activity. Biomedical science is a rapidly evolving subject and highly relevant to investigating and understanding current controversies, concerns and dilemmas of modern life; such as the use of genetically engineered products in healthcare and major health problems of international importance such as food safety, Creutzfeld-Jacob's disease, malaria, human immunodeficiency virus infection, drug resistance of bacteria and cell cloning. Biomedical science plays a pivotal and essential role in healthcare.

Graduates must understand how diseases develop and how they affect the normal function of the human body. They will be aware of new methods for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and their relevance in research or diagnostics. The complex multidisciplinary nature of biomedical science requires a sound, research-led scientific education. Students integrate the knowledge base of key disciplines to further their understanding of research, diagnosis and management of a clinical disorder. Students will understand the role of epidemiology in identifying risk and protective factors associated with disease development and the latest major advances in the scientific understanding of human health and disease. The education of a biomedical science student should involve a study of pharmacology and toxicology and methods for the treatment and management of diseases.

Graduates in biomedical science are employable in a wide range of areas in the public and private sectors due to their education at the boundary between biological science in its broadest sense and medical science. Major employment areas include research in university, government, NHS or charity funded laboratories; research and development for the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, medical devices and laboratory instrumentation industries; sales and marketing related to healthcare products; and teaching.

To check the growing range of resources produced by the Subject Centre to support employability and the use of this profile (including the Skills and Attributes map) go to www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk.

This profile, produced in 2006, is based on the QAA benchmark to be found at www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/honours/default.asp


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