RESEARCH METHODS COURSE 2013
May-November 2013
The Department of Medicine and the Division of Medical Biochemistry offer a joint Clinical and
Laboratory Research Methods Course to all members of the Faculty of Health Sciences. The
course is comprised of lectures and an extensive set of workshops/practicals.
The Laboratory Research Methods Stream covers laboratory methods for studying DNA, mRNA
and Protein of tissue samples and of cultured cells. This Stream is aimed at clinical registrars who
would like to develop their laboratory/basic science knowledge and undertake laboratory
based research.
The Clinical Research Stream covers basic research skills ranging from ethical considerations,
statistical principles and systematic reviews. It is aimed at registrars, senior registrars or consultants
who are starting out in research.
The registration form for the seminar series can be found on the CRSU website:
www.medstats.uct.ac.za/training/crmc-2013 .
Venues of the course
Lectures: Bill Hoffenberg Room, Department of Medicine, J-Floor, Old Main BIdg.
Laboratory Practicals: Merck Teaching Laboratory, IIDMM, Wernher&Beit North Bldg.
Clinical Research practicals/workshops: CRSU, L51, Old Main Bldg.
Course conveners: Prof. Arieh Katz (Laboratory Research Methods Stream) and Dr. Maia Lesosky
(Clinical Research Methods Stream)
Please contact Prof. Katz (arieh.katz@uct.ac.za) for further information regarding the Laboratory
Research Methods Stream and Dr. Lesosky (maia.lesosky@uct.ac.za) for further information
regarding the Clinical Research Methods Stream.
Date
Research Methods Stream
Topic – Presenter
1 MAY
Workers day
8 MAY
L1: How to survive research and clinical practice –
R. Van Zyl-Smit
15 MAY
L2: Survival II – Tools/Questions – TBA
22 MAY
FCP exams
29 MAY
5 JUN
L1: DNA isolation and quantification – Arieh Katz
L3: Common study designs in health research
L2: DNA restriction and separation methods –
Sharon Prince
12 JUN
19 JUN
L4: Ethical considerations in health research – J.
de Vries
L3: PCR, Introduction and principles – Alvera
Vorster
26 JUN
03 JUL
10 JUL
Laboratory Methods Stream
Topic - Presenter
L5: Systematic reviews overview – M. Engel
L4: PCR, Primer Design and PCR applications –
Alvera Vorster
17 JUL
L6: Avoiding error and bias in clinical research – K.
Dheda
24 JUL
31 JUL
L5: DNA Sequencing – Alvera Vorster
L7: Sample size and implications for
power/statistical significance – L. Myer
07 AUG
L6: Determination of mRNA expression – Sharon
Prince
14 AUG
L7: DNA vectors and cloning – Arieh Katz
21 AUG
FCP exams
28 AUG
FCP exams
04 SEP
L8: Very basic statistical theory – M. Lesosky
L8: Expression and studying of genes in cells and
bacteria – Ed Sturrock
11 SEP
18 SEP
L9: Guidelines for collecting and managing
research data – L. Workman
L9: Protein extraction, quantification and analyses
methods – Ed Sturrock
25 SEP
02 OCT
L10: Understanding statistics in the literature – M.
Lesosky
L10: Protein chromatography methods – Brandon
Weber
09 OCT
16 OCT
FCP exams
23 OCT
L11: Developing a statistical analysis plan – M.
Lesosky
L11: Introduction to Light, fluorescent confocal
and electron microscopy – Dirk Lang
30 OCT
06 NOV
L12: Diagnostic tests, Se, Sp, PPV, NPV - TBA
13 NOV
20 NOV
L12: Introduction to microarrays/proteomics –
Jonathan Blackburn
L13: Modern Omics: A perspective from a South
African Research Platform – Centre for
Proteomics and Genomics Research
CDP points: 1 CPD point per 1 lecture (including 1 ethics point).
Certificate of attendance: submitting a proposal, at least 50% attendance and completed
course evaluation form.
Last date for registration: 8 May 2012.
Details of practicals on the following page.
Clinical Research Methods Practicals
Class size for the practical will be limited, students do not need to take all practicals as they are intended
to be self-contained modules. These will be intensive workshops requiring time and effort both in and out of
class. There will be prerequisites for registration into the practical, but at a minimum will require a supervisor
approved thesis topic. Practicals will be scheduled after registration, but generally will be 2 sessions at 1.5
hours each.
P1: Common study designs for health research
-
Students will study common designs in health care research then choose and develop an
appropriate design for their research question
P2: Systematic reviews
-
Develop and submit systematic review protocol
P3: Power and sample size calculations for common study designs
-
Perform power and sample size calculations for an approved study design
P4: Managing research data
-
Prepare database templates, codebook and data management checklist
P5: Developing a statistical analysis plan
-
Develop statistical analysis plan for proposal
P6: Ethics – 2 sessions of 1.5 hours each
-
Develop consent/assent forms, prepare documents for submission to ethics
Laboratory Research Methods Stream Practicals:
Students taking this stream do not need to take all practicals and will be allowed to take only specific
practicals. The practicals will generally run on certain Wednesdays and Fridays in the afternoons. Times to
be determined in consultation with students interested in the practical, however, practicals that will have
less than 4 registered students will be withdrawn.
P1: introduction to Laboratory research: 2 sessions of 1.5-2 hours each. First session will cover laboratory
safety and concepts and calculations of preparation of solution. Second session students will prepare
solutions.
P2: Isolation of Genomic DNA from saliva: 3 sessions of 1.5-2 hours each in which each student will isolate
their own DNA from Saliva. Quantify and run the DNA on an agarose gel and thereafter, restriction
enzyme digest the DNA and run it on agarose gel.
P3: PCR of VKORC1 (Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1) gene. 2 sessions of 2hr each, in
which students will PCR the VKORC1 gene of their own genomic DNA isolated in P2 and thereafter,
determine their haplotype.
P4: Real time RT-PCR. 1 session of 1.5h of a demonstration of Real time RT-PCR.
P5: Expression of ACE. 3 sessions of 2h each in which students will express, purify, assay and perform a SDSPAGE and Western using ACE as a model.
P6: Tissue staining methods. 1 session of 2h that cover principles and demonstration.
P7: immunological Methods: ELISA, RIA, Ellispot and FACS. 1 session of 2h that covers principles.
P8: Tour of the Centre for Proteomics and Genomics (CPGR). 1 session of 1.5-2h.