Module manager: Dr James Thorne
Email: J.Thorne@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Successfully completed Level 2 of BSc Nutrition/Food Science and Nutrition course, or equivalent qualification, and/or successfully completed introduction to molecular or cellular biology at second year BSc, e.g. BIOC2103 Enzymes, Metabolism, Health and Disease, or BIOL2221 Fundamentals in Cell and Cancer Biology.
FOOD3340
This module is approved as a discovery module
You will learn about the impact cancer has on society, the molecular biology of cancer, and how cancer-related cellular/molecular processes are altered by components of the diet. The module will introduce you to the core regulatory, advisory and analytical agencies that classify compounds in relation to cancer risk, evaluate evidence and make public health recommendations related to food and cancer. You will also learn from field experts on how specific dietary related factors have been proven to alter cancer risk and how these discoveries are being exploited to reduce the public’s risk of cancer. At the end of this module, you will be confident to interpret a range of data types that have informed public policy on cancer prevention, and competent to discuss the links between food and cancer in an informative manner with your peers and with the general public.
The objectives of this module are to explore and understand:
1. Cancer at the molecular and population level,
2. How food influences cancer risk and outcomes,
3. How scientific evidence is collected, collated, assessed, and presented for public guidance.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
SSLO1: Describe the biological mechanisms that differentiate cancer cells from normal cells and explain how dietary patterns and components influence these pathways.
SSLO2: Explain how various organisations evaluate evidence and/or provide guidance on the links between food and cancer to the general public.
SSLO3: Critically evaluate strength of health claims and public health advice given to modify cancer risk and outcomes in the general population, for stratified groups, and for people living with and beyond cancer.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
SKLO1: Critical thinking - gather information and perspectives from a range of sources; analyse, and interpret to aid understanding, inform opinions.
SKLO2: Use reasoning and judgement to make decisions for how to present complex empirical data is to different audiences (e.g. an academic context, a peer to peer context, or public/patient communication).
SKLO3: Creativity - Demonstrate originality and imaginative thinking by combining data from multiple separate peer-reviewed sources to generate new hypotheses that go beyond expected or accepted ideas.
SKLO4: Research - the ability to access and investigate a variety of sources of information on a subject, in order to provide answers or solutions, expand or provide new knowledge of a topic or subject.
SKLO5: Cultural & diversity awareness - being aware of similarities and differences across different international cultures or groups of people.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Drop-in Session | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 84 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 16 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
1. In class feedback provided at three points in the module. Students complete a quiz (mixture of MCQ, free text answers, explain/define key concepts). A mark is given and feedback on Qs that were incorrectly answered. Students are given a second attempt at the quiz to see if they can apply the feedback given to improve their score.
2. Opportunity to present/discuss relevant scientific literature and public health recommendations in class.
3. Opportunity to discuss a peer reviewed manuscript with Q&A on the student’s understanding.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team