Boost for medically related teaching and research at Bangor

The School of Medical Science is delighted to announce the formal transfer of a number of Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree programmes along with a number of staff from the School of Biological Sciences and North West Cancer Research Fund Institute.

This restructuring constitutes an important strategic development in the history of the School of Medical Sciences in bringing together a highly experienced academic community of medical orientated teaching and research staff, and strengthens its position as the focal point for medical education and research at Bangor University.  It is also a further example of the continuing drive to broaden and deepen the relationship between the University and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board as some of the staff involved also hold clinical positions with BCUHB.

These changes will see a substantial growth in the size of the School to over 25 Faculty and over 200 students as well as enabling exciting developments such as the broadening of Welsh medium activity within the School. The benefits will also see the School offering a wider range of professionally accredited medically related undergraduate program, an integrated undergraduate program from 2015/16, and postgraduate degrees and short courses for allied medical and healthcare professionals.  

Indeed, the School will now deliver the IBMS accredited Biomedical Science, Medical Sciences and Medical Biology at Undergraduate level and masters courses in Clinical Sciences and Medical Molecular Biology with Genetics. Building on the University’s success in the Research Exercise Framework 2014 this transfer will bring cutting edge researchers in topics including signal transduction pathways, colorectal cancer biology, stem cell biology and DNA repair into the school to complement the existing clinical expertise.

In summary this accelerated growth will afford:

  • Enhanced teaching and research opportunities
  • Enhanced laboratory facilities for students and staff
  • Closer collaboration between Laboratory, clinical academic and teaching staff for teaching and research
  • BCUHB Staff involvement in curriculum delivery
  • Enhanced clinical opportunities for students and research activity

Mr Dean Williams, Head of School for Medical Sciences stated:

“This is an exciting time to be involved in medically related research and scholarship in North Wales and this development will bring together academic expertise in genetics and cancer research, is a big step along the way to improving medically related teaching provision and helps move forward with addressing the issue of clinical recruitment within BCUHB.”

Prof. Nicky Callow, Dean of the College of Health and Behavioural Sciences added that the new arrangement “strengthens the viability and visibility of medically related teaching and research in the College, and, in the future, will further build on the excellent REF 2014 result where Bangor University was ranked 3rd in the UK for health related research.”

Publication date: 3 June 2015