The purpose of the Master of Medical Sciences Degree (M.Med.Sc.), organised by the Faculty of Medicine through its School of Postgraduate Medical Education and Training, is to provide structured training in the basic medical and clinical disciplines to enable postgraduates in Hong Kong and countries in the Asia Pacific Region to embark on specialist studies, practice or teaching, and for career and personal development in their countries. Another objective is to provide a bridging mechanism for preclinical and clinical studies, and to promote integrated training in the fundamentals of basic and applied medical sciences.

The structure of the M.Med.Sc. curriculum is organised along modular units in order to cater for the needs and aspirations of individuals. Candidates can choose modules offered in the curriculum to meet their needs for professional training. The modular units offered can contribute towards the following:

1. candidates seeking the M.Med.Sc. qualification; scientists and clinicians who, upon successful completion of selected modules, will have obtained in-depth knowledge of an area or particular discipline which will enable them to engage effectively in biomedical teaching, research work or servicing technology;
   
   

2. the possibility of some of the modules being of use to clinicians for partial exemption from training requirements for admission as Fellows of the Colleges of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine;
   
   

3. the possibility of providing components for Continuing Medical Education, and earning accreditation points, which are required by the Colleges of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine.
   
   

For purposes ii) and iii), registration for the M.Med.Sc. is not required.

The M.Med.Sc. taught course will be of one year duration, but there are provisions for part-time candidates (two years). All teaching will be during the day; part-time candidates must ensure that they will be able to obtain sufficient time-off from their employers in order to attend the course.

The curriculum, requiring a minimum of 400 hours of prescribed work, includes appropriate topics grouped into core or specialised modules (each having 20 hours of prescribed teaching). The course consists of :

1. four core modules (80 hours);
   
   

2. six specialised modules in a selected field of study, of which at least four need to be in the Department in which the candidate is based; the other two can be taken in another Department(s) provided that there is a relationship to the main specialised field of study (120 hours);
   
   

3. research on a project in the selected field of study, leading to a dissertation (200 hours).
   
   

Core module lectures will be given on Saturday mornings. Specialised module studies will be on certain days mutually arranged with the Department concerned.

Appropriate examinations will be held at the end of the course. Course assessments throughout the year will also contribute towards final evaluation. Successful completion of the specified number of modules, including a dissertation, will lead to the award of the M.Med.Sc. degree.

The modular configuration of the course also permits applicants, who do not seek the M.Med.Sc. qualification, to do only selected modules in the core subjects or specialised fields of study or in both areas, or to do a whole specialised field. Candidates in this category will include:

1. registered Higher Degree candidates wishing to do limited numbers of core modules, or selected lectures from them, in order to enhance their knowledge in relation to their research or study interests;
   
   

2. registered medical practitioners or others seeking to enhance their professional skills by studying a specialised field. Acceptance of such candidates will depend on the Department conducting the specialised training. Satisfactory completion of the course of six modules (which could also include some alternative modules taken from another closely related specialised field) will lead to a certificate of attendance being issued by the Department(s) concerned. Selected modules in the core subjects or specialised fields of study, or in both areas, can also be taken by these candidates.
   
   

To be eligible for admission, a candidate shall:

1. possess the relevant necessary requirements which comply with the General Regulations;
   
   

2. hold a Bachelor's degree with honours or the degrees of M.B.,B.S. of this University, or another qualification of equivalent standard from this University or from another University or comparable institution accepted for this purpose;
   
   

3. obtain a score of 550 or above in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a University or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English; and
   
   

4. satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required.
   
   

Application forms (for Full- and Part-time M.Med.Sc. candidates) and further details can be obtained from the Academic Services Enquiry Office, Room UG-05 Knowles Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

In the case of other candidates who select only certain modules in the core or specialised field of study, special application forms should be obtained directly from the School of Postgraduate Medical Education and Training (see address below).

General enquiries and requests for more information should be directed to Dr C.W. Ogle, Deputy Director of the School of Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Tel: 2819 9144, 2819 9212, Fax: 2816 2293, E-mail address: cwogle@hkucc.hku.hk

or Miss Angela Ma, Executive Officer - Tel: 2819 9290, Fax: 2816 2293 - at the School of Postgraduate Medical Education and Training, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 1/F Patrick Manson Building South Wing, 7 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

A. CORE MODULES

Candidates will be required to take four modules (20 hours each) (at least 1 module should be selected from either of the two main sections, i.e. Research Methods and Biological Systems) from the following nine core modules:

RESEARCH METHODS

1. Laboratory Methods and Instrumentation (Course Code 32803)

   Tissue processing and sectioning; Immunohistochemistry; Polymerase chain reaction; In-situ hybridisation; Image analysis; Flow cytometry; ELISA and related methods; Hybridoma technology; Electron microscopy; Laboratory animals.
   
   

2. Numerical Methods (40800)

   Statistics in clinical practice: (a) Examples of statistics in evaluation of clinical practice (i) BMJ rules for presenting the results, (ii) Good clinical trial practice recommendations in the US and Europe; (b) ABC of statistics - sampling estimation, type I and II errors and the normal distribution; Descriptive statistics: measures for location and spread of data, measurement scales, presentation of data, probability distributions; Inferential statistics: logic in statistical inference, significance tests on the means, association and correlation, regression analysis, error, power and sample sizes; Multivariate methods: analysis of variance; multiple regression, statistical models for categorical data, survival analysis.
   
   

3. Epidemiology and Critical Appraisal (40801)

   Epidemiology: definitions, measurement and variation, validity and reliability, uses, descriptive epidemiology, rates, ratios, proportions and standardisation, interpretation of trends; Epidemiological surveys: survey methods, cross-sectional, case control and cohort studies, causality; Screening, clinical trials, intervention studies; Critical appraisal exercises: critical reading of a scientific paper and class practicals.
   
   

4. Imaging and Clinical Electrophysiological Techniques (92800)

   Imaging techniques: Production of X-rays and conventional radiography, Contrast agents and contrast imaging, Ultrasound, Radionuclide imaging, Computed imaging, Magnetic resonance imaging, Interventional radiology; Nerve conduction, velocity, EMG; EEG and brain mapping, polysomnographic monitoring.
   
   

5. Clinical Trials Research Methodology (45806)

   Introduction to clinical trials; Clinical trials designs, blinding and placebo effects; Safety and efficacy parameters; Protocol writing and review; Roles of the team members conducting clinical trials; Data processing; Data analysis; Data interpretation and extrapolation; Reports and publications; Reviews and meta-analysis.
   
   

BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

1. Cell Biology (31802)

   Structure and function of cells; Cell cycle and cell death; Cell differentiation; Biology of tumour cells; Neural regeneration; Neurotrophic factors; Intercellular communication; Cell surface receptors; Intracellular signal transduction; Cellular interaction and immune response.
   
   

2. Gene and Gene Functions (32804)

   Human genetics, regulation of gene expression, cancer and oncogenes, haematopoiesis and leukaemia, viral infection and human diseases, pre-natal diagnosis, gene therapy; Molecular genetics of immune function in humans; Interaction between viruses and the human genome.
   
   

3. Concepts of Human Physiology (34804)

   Physiological signals; The internal environment and regulation of body fluid; Nutrition and energy balance; The heart and the circulatory system; Respiratory physiology; Sensation and perception; Motor co-ordination; Brain and behaviour; Homeostasis and concept of control system; General principles of endocrine physiology.
   
   

4. Principles of Drug Action (33805)

   Molecular mechanisms of drug-receptor interaction; The theoretical basis of dose-response relations; The fate of drugs in the body - their absorption, distribution, excretion and metabolism; The adverse effects of drugs and the mechanisms responsible; Drug interactions; Pharmacogenetic basis of drug idiosyncrasy; Immunochemical basis of drug allergy; Mechanism of drug resistance; The development of drug tolerance and physical dependence.
   
   

B. SPECIALISED MODULES

In addition, each candidate will be required to take one of thirty-six specialised fields of study available. The modules for the Deaprtment of Paediatrics are included here only.

A total of six modules will be selected. At least four must be taken in the Department in which the candidate is based; the remaining two can be taken in another Department(s) but must be related to the chosen specialised field of study.

DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRICS

1. Child Neurology and Development and Basic Concepts of Evaluating Paediatric Practice (45804)

   Clinical skills in assessment of neurological and development status of children at different ages of maturation; Neurophysiological tests for children: EEG, VEEG, ambulatory EEG, EMG, NCV, BAEP, VEP, SSEP; Problem solving: 100 children with neurodevelopmental disorders, both acute and chronic; Neurorehabilitation in paediatric practice; Laboratory research techniques and molecular studies of hereditary diseases: General and special laboratory techniques in paediatric research; Molecular basis of some common hereditary diseases; Molecular biology tools for studying hereditary diseases.
   
   

2. Immunology and Haematology and Basic Concepts of Evaluating Paediatric Practice (45802)

   Basic concepts in paediatric immunology and haematology: Ontogeny of the immune system and haematopoiesis; Mechanisms and actions of growth factors, interleukins and interferons; Molecular genetics of immune and haematological disorders; Autoimmunity; Principles and practice of ELISA, radioimmunoassays, flow cytometry, western and southern blotting, tissue culture, PCR and sequencing; Study of clinical problems in 100 patients: Pathogenesis; Clinical manifestations; Diagnosis; Management including BMT, IVIG and growth factors; Laboratory research techniques and molecular studies of hereditary diseases: General and special laboratory techniques in paediatric research; Molecular basis of some common hereditary diseases; Molecular biology tools for studying hereditary diseases.
   
   

3. Neonatology and Basic Concepts of Evaluating Paediatric Practice (45800)

   Basic clinical concepts: Perinatal physiology; Neonatal adaptations; Common neonatal conditions: RDS, NNJ, NEC, etc; Intensive care: Monitoring devices; Respiratory/ventilator care; Study of clinical neonatal problems: Pathophysiology; Clinical features; Diagnosis and management; Ultrasonography including Doppler studies on cerebral blood flow; Follow-up/developmental assessment: Long term sequelae of immaturity, asphyxia and other perinatal problems; Developmental assessment; Special neonatal problems reviewed: In-depth review of a specific neonatal problem; Analysis and compilation of data; Laboratory research techniques and molecular studies of hereditary diseases: General and special laboratory techniques in paediatric research; Molecular basis of some common hereditary diseases; Molecular biology tools for studying hereditary diseases.
   
   

4. Paediatric Cardiology (45805)

   Principles and practice of paediatric cardiology: Pathology, haemodynamics and natural course of congenital heart diseases; Interpretation of clinical signs; Approach to diagnosis of neonatal heart diseases; Management of congenital heart diseases, including post-operative intensive care; Investigations in paediatric cardiology: Interpretation of chest radiography; Interpretation of electrocardiography; Stress testings: treadmill ergometry; Interpretation of 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography; Introduction to electrophysiological studies (EPS), indications and interpretation of simple results of EPS; Echocardiography: 2-dimensional, Doppler, colour flow mapping and M-mode echocardiography; Prenatal screening: fetal echocardiography; Transoesophageal echocardiography; Stress echocardiography; Cardiac catheterisation: Indications for catheterisation; Basic techniques and safe practice of cardiac catheterisation; Interpretation of haemodynamic results; Interpretation of cineangiography; Research project (to conduct a research project with): Literature review; Data collection and analysis; Result presentation; Written Report.
   
   

5. Paediatric Endocrinology and Basic Concepts of Evaluating Paediatric Practice (45801)

   Basic concepts in paediatric endocrinology: Anatomy, physiology, embryology and development of endocrine glands; Mechanisms and actions of hormones and growth factors; Molecular genetics of endocrine disorders; Inborn error of metabolism; Principles and practice of radioimmunoassays, radioreceptor assays, radioligand blotting, western blotting and tissue culture; Dynamic tests of endocrine functions in children: Theoretical basis of endocrine testing; Practical conduct of various tests; Interpretation; Growth: Normal fetal and postnatal growth; Methods of auxological anthropometry; Growth standards - use and abuse; Factors affecting growth; Abberant growth patterns; Study of clinical endocrine problems: Pathogenesis; Clinical manifestations; Diagnosis and management; Laboratory research techniques and molecular studies of hereditary diseases: General and special laboratory techniques in paediatric research; Molecular basis of some common hereditary diseases; Molecular biology tools for studying hereditary diseases.