Nanomedicine - Science and Applications



Overview

The Nanomedicine – Science and Applications course provides a thorough overview of the exciting and emerging discipline of nanomedicine which is already starting to transform the way that medical and healthcare solutions are developed and delivered. The course will focus on the impact that nanotechnology has in the advance of medicine and healthcare including its role in delivery of therapy, tissue engineering and biosensing/diagnosis techniques, and will discuss how to progress this area to meet future needs.

Each of the five days of the course has a dedicated theme and is led by key researchers in the field. When combined the course covers all aspects of nanomedicine, including diagnostics, therapeutics, biosensors and nanotechnologies for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The course will be valuable to those seeking an introduction to current research and applications in the subject.

The Nanomedicine – Science and Applications course can be taken alone, with or without academic credit, or as part of the MSc in Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care.

The aim of the module is to introduce researchers, health professionals and regulators to the applications of nanotechnologies in medicine and healthcare, especially in the areas of diagnostics, therapy and regenerative medicine.

The objectives of the course are:

  • To introduce participants to the emerging field of nanomedicine and to give an overview of present and future applications of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials in medicine and healthcare and their limitations
  • To provide an understanding of the scientific and regulatory obstacles to implementation of nanomedicines
  • To provide an environment in which participants from a range of backgrounds can learn from eminent scientists in the field and can share their ideas in discussions with subject specialists
  • To enable participants to make informed decisions about applications of nanotechnologies in their own field of work

Programme details

Nanomedicine – Science and Applications is a five-day intensive face-to-face course with online support and written assignments. Each of the five days has a dedicated theme and will start with an introductory lecture, followed by lectures, case studies and discussions led by experts from the University of Oxford and distinguished guest lecturers from academia, industry and regulatory bodies.

Module content:

Day 1: Introduction to nanomedicine: challenges and opportunities

  • Introduction to nanotechnologies for medicine and healthcare – challenges and opportunities
  • Nanoparticles in medicine
  • Recent developments in the safety of nanomaterials
  • Practical session

Day 2: Nanotechnologies for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering

  • Nanotechnologies for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering – overview
  • Nanomaterials for regeneration of bone and cartilage
  • Scaffolds and nanocomposites for tissue engineering
  • Using stem cells in tissue engineering
  • Electrospinning in tissue engineering

Day 3: Nano-Diagnostics

  • Introduction to nano-diagnostics
  • Extracellular vesicles in health and disease
  • Engineered nanoparticles for cancer diagnostics and therapy
  • Nanoparticles for medical imaging
  • Company case studies

Day 4: Nano-Biosensors

  • Requirements of biosensing systems
  • Electrochemical sensing methodologies
  • Optical sensing methodologies
  • Nano-biosensors (devices) – examples from research and industry

Day 5: Nano-Pharmaceuticals

  • Nanotechnologies and nanoparticles for drug delivery and therapy
  • Approaches to nanoparticle targeting
  • Nano–Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Polymer-based nanoparticles for drug delivery and therapeutics
  • Company case study

Certification

Short course participants who do not wish to undertake the assessed work required for academic credit, but who do satisfy the course participation requirements, will receive a certificate of completion.

Those successfully completing the course with academic credit can apply to receive a CATS point transcript.

Fees

Description Costs
Module Fee 2024-25 - 22-23 start and earlier £2475.00
Module Fee 2024-25 - 23-24 start £2570.00
Standalone fee for 2024-2025 £3175.00

Funding

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are available on our financial assistance page.

Payment

The course fee includes:

  • Tuition;
  • Course materials through our virtual learning environment (VLE);
  • Access to the Bodleian Libraries e-Resources;
  • Refreshments and lunch on each day of the course, if taught in Oxford.

Before making your application for this short course, please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions which can be found to the right of this page.

Please see the MSc in Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care page for more information regarding fees when taking this course as a part of the MSc Programme.

Tutors

Prof Robert Carlisle

Course Director and Tutor

Robert Carlisle is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering and head of the Drug and Vaccine Delivery group within IBME. After completing a BSc in Biochemistry, an MSc in Toxicology and a PhD in Gene Delivery at Birmingham University, he worked for 8 years within the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford.

The majority of his work has been concerned with achieving systemic delivery of anti-cancer agents for the treatment of metastatic cancer. This has included the development and testing of novel nano-scale non-viral and viral gene delivery systems and liposomal agents for the delivery of conventional chemotherapeutics. Research within his labs covers the full scope of therapeutic design, formulation and testing with emphasis on how the specificity and efficacy of therapy can be improved.

Dr Christiane Norenberg

Deputy Course Director and Tutor

Christiane is the Nanotechnology Programme Manager at the University of Oxford's Begbroke Science Park. She received her DPhil in Materials Science from the University of Oxford in 1998 and continued with postdoctoral research. In 2001, Christiane was awarded the Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship for her work on the growth and characterisation of nanostructures on semiconductor surfaces. After a period as a lecturer at the Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre at Swansea University, Christiane returned to Oxford in 2007 to take up her present post.

Her interests and expertise are in the areas of surface science, growth and characterisation of nanostructures on surfaces, and nanotechnology in general. Christiane also teaches nanoscience and materials science at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Assessment methods

Assessment will be based on submission of written assignments, totalling not more than 4,000 words in length. The assignments are submitted online.

Academic credit

Those wishing to may apply to take the course with accreditation. The University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education offers Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points for the course.

Students wishing to complete the Nanomedicine – Science and Applications course with academic credit need to satisfactorily complete the coursework assessments. Attendance of a minimum of 80% of the course is required. Students fulfilling these requirements are eligible to earn credit equivalent to 20 CATS points which may be counted towards a postgraduate qualification.

Application

Application deadline: three weeks before the commencement of the course.

This course requires you to complete the online application form (please press the 'Apply' button on the top right of this page), including a brief statement of purpose explaining your motivation for attending this course (500 words maximum), and submit a copy of your CV as an attachment as part of your application.

If you are applying to take this course for academic credit you will also need to complete section two of the reference form and forward it to your referee for completion, to return to us at nano@conted.ox.ac.uk. Please note that if you are not applying to take the course for academic credit then you do not need to submit a reference.

Selection criteria

To apply for this short course you should:

  • have a degree in a science or engineering discipline or medicine / pharmacy; and
  • have some practical experience in a related field; and
  • be able to demonstrate an interest in nanotechnology; and
  • be able to demonstrate a suitable level of English (if this is not your first language).

 

Accommodation

If required, accommodation is available at the Rewley House Residential Centre, within the Department for Continuing Education, in central Oxford. The comfortable, en-suite, study-bedrooms have been rated as 4-Star Campus accommodation under the Quality In Tourism scheme, and come with tea- and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi access and Freeview TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

IT requirements

This course uses the Department’s online assignment submission system and online courseware. In order to prepare and submit your course assignments you will need access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification. Students of this course may use the student computing facilities provided in Departmental buildings.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support