Course summary

The key to life, reproduction is a fascinating, complex process that does not always go to plan. According to NHS, around one in seven couples have difficulty conceiving, while one in eight pregnancies will end in miscarriage. Each year in England, one in 47 babies is born with a congenital anomaly – anything from cleft palate or limb defect to heart conditions or spina bifida. This MRes in Biomedical Science (Reproduction and Development) will give you an insight into how improved understanding of the cellular processes involved in reproduction and early development can help scientists to design strategies to aid fertility and treat or manage defects in development, both pre-conception and within the womb. You will learn about the genetic basis of birth defects and the underlying molecular mechanisms, which will allow improved diagnosis, genetic screening and counselling for the affected families. You will also learn about events during early pregnancy when the placenta forms, disruptions of which results in pregnancy disorders, such as pre-eclampsia.