1. Apply biochemical and analytical techniques to assess organ function, metabolic status and endocrine activity.

Application & Problem Solving

2. Use digital tools to analyse, visualise and interpret biochemical datasets, ensuring professional data handling.

Digital Literacy

3. Communicate biochemical findings clearly and reflect on your developing professional and diagnostic judgement.

Communication

Reflection

A minimum of 40% in the summative assessment is required to pass the module.

1) 15-minute presentation, including 5 minutes for questions, of the findings and the processes used to generate findings for a scientific article based on secondary data within this field. Formative peer feedback will be provided on the article quality and their readability during workshop sessions in the module.

2) In the examination students will demonstrate their ability to use biochemical and analytical methods to evaluate organ function, interpret metabolic status, and assess endocrine activity in clinical contexts. The challenge of this examination will emulate the type of task that students will have the opportunity to develop and practice in timetabled workshop sessions.

In this module, you will investigate how clinical laboratories analyse blood and other samples to monitor organ function, diagnose disease and guide treatment. You will explore metabolic pathways, endocrine regulation and the biochemical markers that reflect health and dysfunction. Including:

Biochemical processes underpinning health and disease, including metabolism, enzyme regulation, energy production and organ-specific function.

Diagnostic biochemistry in clinical practice, covering renal and liver function, bone and lipid profiles, endocrine testing, cardiac and tumour markers.

Analytical principles and methodologies, including spectrophotometry, immunoassays, electrophoresis, chromatography and automated systems.

Sample collection, handling and pre-analytical variables; quality control, quality assurance and interpretation of biochemical data, including POCT integration.

Application of biochemical testing in therapeutic drug monitoring, toxicology, pharmacogenetics and personalised medicine, supported by relevant practical skills.

How do biochemical measurements reveal what is happening inside the body?

In this module, you will investigate how clinical laboratories analyse blood and other samples to monitor organ function, diagnose disease and guide treatment. You will explore metabolic pathways, endocrine regulation and the biochemical markers that reflect health and dysfunction. Through hands-on laboratory experience and interpretation of authentic clinical data, you will develop the expertise needed to understand how biochemical evidence informs patient care and biomedical decision-making.

Sessions will include lectures, workshop activities, discussions, groupwork, drop-in support sessions. There will also be laboratory practical sessions.

Scott, J. (2022) Biological science: exploring the science of life. Biomedical edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2114845.

Ahmed, N. (2025) Clinical biochemistry. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hadley Wickham, Garrett Grolemund and Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel (2023) R for Data Science, 2nd Edition. O’Reilly Media, Inc.

Blann, A.D. (2018) Data handling and analysis. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/hesc/9780198812210.001.0001.

Suitable rooming for group work and discussion

Scientific laboratory for practical block

IT suite space with access to PCs