Anglia Ruskin University is an innovative global university with students from 185 countries at our campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford and Peterborough. These students are at the heart of our University, and we're delighted that our final-year undergraduates are positive about their educational experience. Our community is also incredibly important to us, and we're proud of the role we play in our cities and the wider region – including the positive effect on jobs and the local economy.We’ve been named one of the top 350 institutions in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, for the sixth successive year – and one of the top 40 universities in the UK. We're also listed in the top 15% for social inclusion in The Times Good University Guide 2022.
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University
Studying BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University, you will learn about disease and the human body at molecular, organ and system levels in a dynamic and advancing field that underpins modern medicine. You can study this course at ARU’s Cambridge campus, where it is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science and the Royal Society of Biology, or at their Peterborough campus.
Your first year will provide a grounding in the wider context, key theories, knowledge and techniques of biology, as well as developing core mathematical methods and lab skills. You will also explore the nature of disease occurrence on the micro scale of cells, molecules, genes and microorganisms, and the macro scale of human organ systems. Year two will look at how to complete diagnostic procedures within legal, ethical and quality assurance guidelines, as well as interpreting findings and communicating results. You will also explore disease causes, manifestation and treatment, and study disease with bioinformatics and epidemiology. You will then further develop your lab skills, and design your research project for year three. In your final year, you will explore immune system responses, focussing on antibody creation and function. You will deepen your understanding of major diseases at all stages, from causes to complications to treatment, and explore key genetics discoveries for understanding them. Your research project will form a major focus, and you can further specialise your knowledge with a range of optional modules.
At ARU’s Cambridge campus, you will study at their Science Centre where you will have access to seven floors of labs and teaching space, including specialist tissue culture and microbiology laboratories. At the Peterborough campus, the new Science Lab has been purpose-built to support this course.
There is the option to take an industry placement year if studying at Cambridge, and careers modules in your second year will show you how to apply your knowledge, skills and experience in settings from clinical pharmacology to forensic pathology.
You will graduate equipped to pursue a range of careers or further study, with the option to follow pathways into a medical degree. Additionally, the Cambridge course’s accreditation with the Institute of Biomedical Science will set you up for a trainee position in an NHS laboratory as a Health and Care Professions Council-registered biomedical scientist.
Dr Gavin Bowen-Metcalf
Dr Gavin Bowen-Metcalf is the Course Leader of the BSc Hons Laboratory Scientist degree apprenticeship, and a Lecturer in Biomedical Science and Cancer Cell Biology Research Sub-Group Lead at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, with experience in the fields of molecular oncology, genomics and histopathology within the NHS, Academia and Industry. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and takes a student-focused pedagogical approach, striving to create a stimulating learning environment that is inclusive and supportive to inspire the next generation of scientists. Gavin's research interests include exploring novel natural compounds and their impact upon circulating nucleic acids, for example, non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs, and their roles in tumour cell biology, metastasis, drug resistance, early diagnosis, and use as therapeutic targets with novel agents. Gavin completed his translational research training at Imperial College London, in the fields of Oncology and Cancer Biology and Biomedical Engineering. Gavin completed further research training during a postdoctoral research role at the Barts Cancer Institute, London, in the field of histopathology. Gavin has also worked within the NHS (Dept. of vascular surgery/ medical imaging), Medical Devices Industry (Clearblue - Pregnancy and Fertility) and at the Wellcome Sanger Institute (Cancer Spatial Transcriptomics). Gavin is a visiting scholar at various institutions and lectures in the fields of molecular oncology and genetics. He is also an active Non-Executive Director (Trustee) at Alex TLC, a UK-based charitable organisation offering support for all those affected by leukodystrophies.
