Dr Nick Hopcroft

Lead for Cell & Tissue Biomedicine Theme, Director of Undergraduate Studies WMS

Dr Nick Hopcroft has been an Associate Professor at the University of Warwick since 2017. Prior to that he taught Medicine and Medical Sciences at the University of Exeter and held positions in higher education related funding and governance. He is currently Director of Undergraduate Studies within Warwick Medical School.

Dr Clare Garcin

Lead for Health, Metabolism and Homeostasis (Block 1)

I joined WMS as a post-doctoral researcher in 2018, and became part of the CTB team in 2024. My background is in cell and developmental biology and I hope that I can help students to understand the basics going forward in their medical training.

Dr Helen Strachan-Jones

Lead for Blood, Lungs and Heart (Block 2), Deputy Chair Course Progress Group (CPG)

I have worked at WMS since 2017, initially as a Clinical Education Fellow and then as an Assistant Professor. As a former junior doctor, I aim to put physiology in a clinical context, focussing on the knowledge and skills students need to graduate as safe and competent doctors. I actively engage in education research and supervisor SSC2 and PGT students, fostering critical thinking skills and mutual learning with students.

Dr Mark Richards

Lead for Brain and Behaviour (Block 3), Deputy Lead for Phase 1

I joined the CTB team at WMS in 2021 following a laboratory-based research career at the University of Manchester and the University of Oxford. On the MBChB course I teach fundamental concepts of physiology and pathophysiology to provide a solid foundation for understanding medicine. My main focus is on Phase 1 and Phase 2 teaching, but I am also involved in supervision of SSC2 and elective projects in Phases 2 and 3. I am the current Deputy Senior Tutor for Phase 1 and oversee the personal tutor system that provides wellbeing support for the Year 1 students.

Dr Helen Poulton

Lead for Reproduction and Child Health (Block 5), Deputy Lead for Phase 1

I moved to WMS in 2018 from the University of Birmingham and have a background in surgery. I delivery CTB histology teaching, alongside Clinical Anatomy and Imaging teaching, and link my lessons to real clinical scenarios. I'm committed to supporting students both academically and personally.

Dr Seley Gharanei

I am a Research Scientist working at UHCW at the clinical science laboratories (CSRL). I'm responsible for teaching throughout Phase 1 and Phase 2 and work with Assessment Team on assessment development. I also supervise education research projects carried out by MBChB students during SSC2.

We are excited to introduce Science for Medicine, a brand new project providing preparatory materials on essential basic science topics. This initiative aims to increase your confidence in learning science and ensure a smooth transition into your medical studies. Science for Medicine offers a series of topics that cover fundamental concepts in biomedicine. Each topic consists of a short video produced by a member of the CTB team, accompanying reading, and a worksheet.

We anticipate that each topic will take approximately one hour to complete. These materials are not compulsory; you have the flexibility to choose which topics to engage with based on your background and experience.

You can access six topics below. For each video you can turn on closed captions and download a transcript. If you notice any broken links, please email helen.strachan-jones@warwick.ac.uk.

Happy learning!

Recommended reading

Before you join us, we strongly recommended that students without a background in science familiarise themselves with the material covered in one of the resources below:

- Catch Up Compendium for Life and Medical Sciences, P Bradley, M Fry and M Harris (2013). Third edition. Scion Publishing Ltd.

- Khan Academy: Biology libraryLink opens in a new window

- Boundless General BiologyLink opens in a new window 

It's important that all students reconsider how they learn; access the student created Study TipsLink opens in a new window guide for advice and resources.

1. Fundamental Mathematical Concepts

1.1.1 Fundamental Mathematical Concepts video 1Link opens in a new window (17 mins)

1.1.2 Fundamental Mathematical Concepts video 2Link opens in a new window (10 mins)

• 1.1 PowerPoint slides
• 1.1 Transcript

1.2 Accompanying reading:

• BBC Bitesize: PowersLink opens in a new window
• BBC Bitesize: Algebraic formulaeLink opens in a new window
• For additional resources on handling numbers, refer to the relevant section on BBC BitesizeLink opens in a new window

1.3 Fundamental Mathematical Concepts worksheet

• 1.3 Worksheet answers

2. Atoms and Ions

2.1 Atoms and Ions videoLink opens in a new window (17 mins)

• 2.1 PowerPoint slides
• 2.1 Transcript

2.2 Accompanying reading: Boundless Biology: The Chemical Foundation of LifeLink opens in a new window Pages 2.1 to 2.6.

2.3 Atoms and Ions worksheet

• 2.3 Worksheet answers 

3. Molecules and Chemical Bonds

3.1 Molecules and Chemical Bonds videoLink opens in a new window (15 mins)

• 3.1 PowerPoint slides
• 3.1 Transcript

3.2 Accompanying reading: Boundless Biology: The Chemical Foundation of LifeLink opens in a new window Pages 2.7 to 2.10.

3.3 Molecules and Chemical Bonds worksheet

• 3.3 Worksheet answers

4. Solutions and Concentration

4.1 Solutions and Concentration videoLink opens in a new window (17 mins)

• 4.1 PowerPoint slides
• 4.1 Transcript

4.2 Accompanying reading:

• Boundless Biology: The Chemical Foundation of LifeLink opens in a new window Pages 2.11 & 2.15

• Introductory Chemistry Online!Link opens in a new window Pages 4.1 to 4.3

4.3 Solutions and Concentration worksheet

• 3.3 Worksheet answers

5. Basic Cell Structure

5.1 Basic Cell Structure videoLink opens in a new window (15 mins)

• 5.1 PowerPoint slides
• 5.1 Transcript

5.2 Accompanying reading: Boundless Biology: Cell StructureLink opens in a new window Pages 4.5 to 4.9; 4.11 to 4.14; 4.16 & 4.17.

5.3 Basic Cell Structure worksheet 

• 5.3 Worksheet answers

6. Macromolecules

6.1 Macromolecules videoLink opens in a new window (12 mins)

• 6.1 PowerPoint slides
• 6.1 Transcript

6.2 Accompanying reading: Boundless Biology: Biological MacromoleculesLink opens in a new window Pages 3.1 to 3.9

6.3 Macromolecules worksheet

• 6.3 Worksheet answers

Feedback

As this is a new project this year, we would be really grateful if could complete this anonymous survey via the link below:

https://vevox.app/#/m/186401315Link opens in a new window

Session ID: 186-401-315