Many students decide to follow a career path that is related to medicine,
for example Biomedical Sciences (Medical Technology in the USA), Clinical
Sciences, Clinical Physiology and Nursing. While there are a number of
textbooks for medical students and nurses as well as a number covering the
clinical biochemistryarea,theredidnotseemtoustobeabookthatdealtwith
disease from a more scientific standpoint. Such a book would cover a range
of disease conditions, their causes and diagnoses, and outline treatment but
set at an appropriate level. The idea of writing Biology of Disease arose from
discussions between ourselves and various colleagues and students over a
number of years regarding the absence of a single book, which summarized
most of the clinical material studied by first- and second-year Biomedical
Sciences and related-degree students. It was felt that such a textbook would
assist students during the first and second years of their degree programmes,
particularly if it covered aspects of the Biomedical Sciences appropriate
to courses accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science of the UK and
similar courses elsewhere.