Dr Ellins’ is a vascular scientist with an interest in the understanding of the development of cardiovascular disease through the use of non-invasive methods for the assessment of vascular structure and function. In addition, she also has an interest in the interplay between mental health and cardiovascular disease development and outcomes and is exploring these relationships through the SAIL databank.
Leading on from the first year Human Physiology Module (PM-154), the Cardiovascular Module will introduce and define the fundamental cellular mechanisms that regulate the physiology of healthy cardiovascular function. The Module will describe the processes that allow regular heartbeat and blood vessel function and how perturbations in the systems covered may lead to pathophysiological conditions. There will be an emphasis on experimental approaches used to study the cardiovascular mechanisms described.
The aim of this module is to provide a capstone experience to students¿ learning, through participating in their own enquiry-based research project, with guidance from an academic supervisor. The project may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, but it will always involve a research question that is drawn from the literature, and focused on a topic relevant to the life sciences. It will ask a research question and involve the critical analysis of research findings. Students will refine their oral and written communication skills to a graduate level through an oral presentation and dissertation on their research findings and conclusions.
