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Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

Undergraduate

Clinical and Biomedical Sciences is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for biomedical and clinical research and teaching. You will be taught by world-leading experts, and our innovative undergraduate education programmes, are training you as the next generation of clinicians and biomedical scientists to tackle the healthcare and scientific challenges of the future.

Based in Cornwall, and proudly Cornish myself, I am privileged to be helping to educate the next generation of NHS doctors, who continue to inspire on a daily basis. 

I am a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators and a photobiologist known for my translational research of light activated cancer drug treatments (photodynamic therapy).

I am extensively involved in the strategic leadership and management of the development, delivery and assessment of the Medical Schools’ undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (2003 to date), and have been co-leader of our Undergraduate Medicine BMBS programme since 2016. 

Read more from Professor Alison Curnow

Professor Alison Curnow

Director of Education and Student Experience (Medicine)

Based on the St Luke’s campus, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of our learning community of talented educators and students for over 10 years.

I joined the Medical School in November 2011 and, after acting as programme lead for Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences from 2016 and Deputy Director for Medical Sciences programmes from 2019, I became the DESE for undergraduate Biomedical Sciences programmes in January 2023.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team for Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, I am responsible for the management, development and implementation of strategic plans for the education and student experience of students on the Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences undergraduate degree programmes.

Read more from Dr Clare Gallon

Dr Clare Gallon

Director of Education and Student Experience (Biomedical Sciences)

Programme Directors

BSc Neuroscience

Professor Crawford Winlove - Programme Director

Crawford Winlove is an Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience. He grew up in London, and was educated at the University of Bristol. Crawford was introduced by Dr Robert Meech to the possibility of identifying the biophysical basis of behaviour in simple animals. As a result, after a period of fundraising for Amnesty International, Crawford returned to Bristol to complete a PhD with Prof. Alan Roberts FRS. This research used in vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology to understand the role of spinal neurons in animal models of behaviour.

Research interests

Crawford is a Cognitive Neuroscientist, with a general interest in how neural processes give rise to human behaviour.

Most recently, Crawford’s work has focused on Imagination – our capacity for sensory-like experiences in the absence of corresponding external stimuli. A key aspect of this has been elucidating the neural bases for marked differences in imagery vividness: its absence, Aphantasia, and its counter: Hyperphantasia. Much of this work, the Mind’s Eye Project, has been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council – and forms the basis of an art exhibition currently touring the UK.

Email: c.i.p.winlove@exeter.ac.uk

BSc Medical Sciences

Dr Shelly Dogra

Dr Shelly (Yuktee) Dogra - Programme Director

Shelly joined the University of Exeter in 2017 where she taught across various programmes. In 2023 she became Program Director for Medical Sciences. Shelly is a fellow of the HEA, undertaking her pedagogical research into academic tutoring, an area she is particular interested in.

Shelly undertook her PhD at Peninsula Medical School with Prof Paul Winyard and Prof Alice Curnow, focusing on the enhancing the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of non-melenoma skin cancer. Her postdoctoral research investigated the environmental effects of nanoparticles.

Email: y.dogra@exeter.ac.uk

Studying BSc Medical Sciences at Exeter

The Medical Sciences degree prioritises the science that underpins medicine and clinical practice, preparing students to translate scientific discoveries and technological advances into improved healthcare. The degree gives the students an understanding of human health and the causes, prevention, and treatment of disease. With this degree students can tailor the qualification to match their specific career ambitions.

Our Medical Sciences degree offers an innovative approach to learning that includes lectures from world-leading experts; supportive small-group learning; internationally renowned e-learning resources; hands-on sessions in research laboratories and clinical settings; inspirational clinician-scientist-patient sessions; and worldwide professional training placements. The practical component of the degree is an inspirational environment to build on a future research career. 

The students will develop an integrated, scientific knowledge that they can utilise in a clinical setting and robust research skills, plus creative and inquisitive communication, leadership, critical appraisal, and problem-solving skills applicable to all careers.

BMBS Medicine

Professor Alison Curnow

Professor Alison Curnow, BSc (Hons), PhD, PGCE, PFHEA, FAcadMEd   
University of Exeter Medical School

Director of Medicine (Academic), Professor of Academic Medicine and Principal Investigator, Clinical Photobiology, with twenty five years’ experience of conducting oncological related research.  

Extensively involved in the strategic leadership and management of the development, delivery and assessment of the Medical Schools’ undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (2003 to date).  Co-leader of our Undergraduate Medicine BMBS programme since 2016.  An experienced educator with a wide range of high quality teaching, assessment and curriculum development skills.  Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.  

Cornish, life-long learner.  Privileged to be helping to educate the next generation of NHS doctors, who continue to inspire on a daily basis.

Email: a.curnow@exeter.ac.uk

Studying BMBS Medicine at Exeter 

Our Medicine degree produces capable and confident Foundation doctors who are prepared for their role. Our graduates are equipped with the skills for lifelong learning and continue to develop in their professional careers.

You will learn with, from and about other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients benefit from the best possible care.

Find out more about BMBS Medicine

BSc Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences

Dr Owen Tomlinson

Dr Owen Tomlinson - Programme Director

Owen is a Lecturer within the University of Exeter Medical School, having joined in January 2022. Previously, he was a Research Associate in Sport & Health Science at the University, and has completed a PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Sport & Health Science) in 2018. 

His teaching responsibilities are across the Medical School, including Medical Imaging, Medicine and Medical Science. He is academic and pastoral lead for the highly successful Professional Training Year, facilitating undergrdauate research and training in research laboratories and private industry across the UK and abroad. He is currently the Programme Director for Sport & Exercise Medical Sciences.

His research interests are predominantly within the role of exercise testing and training in chronic lung disease, in particular cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease, using this modality to identify prognostically valuable biomarkers and mechanistic causes of exercise intolerance. 

Email: O.W.Tomlinson@exeter.ac.uk