Assessment will be a mixture of exam (50%), progressive assessment in the form of quizzes (in-class, total 20%), an assignment (20%), and a mark assigned for quality of participation in class tutorials and site vists (10%).  

Final exam: The final exam (/50%) will be 3 hours in length with 10 minutes reading time.  It is designed to address specific understanding of all the topics presented within the course and to show that the knowledge obtained can be applied to new problems.

Your marks (assignment, quizzes, final exam and mark for participation) will be placed on the CBMS810 ilearn site.  The minimum requirement to achieve a passing grade for CBMS810 is an aggregate mark for all the assessment tasks of 50% or greater. 

Final Examination Details:  The examination timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations.  You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated by the University in the Examination Timetable.  This could be any day after the final week of semester and up until the final day of the official examination period.  It is Macquarie University policy to not set early examinations for individuals or groups of students.  All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is, the final day of the official examination period.  NOTE:  If you apply for a supplementary examination, you must make yourself available for 2 weeks after the formal examination period.  If you are not available at that time, there is no guarantee an additional examination time will be offered. Specific examination dates and times will be determined at a later date.  

The only exception to sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption.  Absence from the final exam will result in a grade of F except in the case of a genuine medical emergency or misadventure as defined by the University (see below).  In these circumstances you should apply for a supplementary exam at ask.mq.edu.au.

CBMS810 delivers the knowledge and some of the skills required to work as a clinical Radiopharmaceutical Scientist (RPSS).  The role of the RPSS is to prepare radiopharmaceuticals (RPs) for the clinic. This can include radionuclide production, labelling of the biologically active molecule, performing all of the quality control processes and maintaining the documentation required. Additionally the RPSS can be involved in the research and development of new RPs and clinical trials. In this Unit the student will learn about the processes and techniques involved in the preparation and quality control of RPs as well as how a new RP may be introduced into the clinic, its evaluation and biological and clinical assessment. A significant outcome is how this improves clinical management. 

An important aspect of this Unit is that it is mapped to the Training, Education and Assessment Program (TEAP), which leads to Certification as a RPSS through the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM).

The Unit demonstrates the multidisciplinary nature of radiopharmaceutical science. The student will gain knowledge and skills that enable the application of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, nuclear science, pharmacology, biology and radiation safety to the production of radiolabelled drugs and biological macromolecules for use in non-invasive imaging, and in therapy. The Unit demonstrates the application of drug design.

The student will also gain knowledge and skills relevant to laboratory management, in particular the quality assurance and regulatory affairs requirements that govern both the use of ionising radiation and the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals.

The student will also gain access to a number of institutions and departments, such as public hospitals, ANSTO, and some private entities to see the application of the knowledge and skills gained from the Unit.

The Curriculum will be delivered so as to encourage directed self-learning, a skill essential to functioning as a proactive scientist in the workplace. The three hour weekly sessions on-campus will be run as a combination of lectures and workshops (lectorials). Lectures will be delivered as outlined in the Unit Schedule. Additionally, specific topics will be nominated for self-study. The student is expected to come to the weekly classes prepared to participate in robust discussion on these topics.

The site visits are aimed to provide students with exposure to practical experience of working with radioactivity, and exposure to its use, clinically and pre-clinically.  To best facilitate this process, visits to various institutions that employ radiopharmaceutical scientists have been organised, thus also offering the students insight into potential career options available. Times for these will be determined in consultation with all students in the unit.

We will continue to encourage directed self-learning and continue to have quizzes and resources to aid identifying strengths and weaknesses in knowledge of this unit content. There will be an even greater emphasis on in-class participation then previous years.

Attendance at the class session (combined lectures and tutorials) is expected. Less than 80% attendance (10/13 class sessions) will result in a deduction of marks (0.5 marks per lecture missed) from the Active Participation mark.

Site visits will be organised to best fit the availability of the majority of students. It is anticipated this will be organised as a workshop during the mid-semester break. Every effort will be made to accommodate all students. Attempts will be made to accommodate students unable to attend for valid  reasons. Failure to attend without valid reason will result in a deduction of marks from the Active Participation mark assigned.

Exemptions to above:

Medical certificates or official documents must be lodged as part of a disruption to studies request at ask.mq.edu.au as soon as possible if you are absent for any of the lectures/tutorials or site visits or miss the due date for any of the on-line quizzes or assignments.  If your reason is regarded as valid and the disruption to studies request is approved, an extension of time will be provided for the quizzes or assignments, and you will not receive a deduction of marks for the attendance to the lectures/tutorials/on-site visits.