Course Syllabus
Neurodegenerative Diseases |
| Semester & Location: |
Fall 2024 - DIS Stockholm |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Neurobiology, Pre-Medicine/Health Care, Biomedicine/Biotechnology |
| Prerequisites |
One year of biology and one year of chemistry at the university level |
| Faculty Members: |
Jan Mulder & Ioannis (John) Mantas (current students please use the Canvas Inbox) |
| Program Contact |
Susana Dietrich shsupport@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:05-11:25, Room: 1E-509 |
Course Description
The course aims to convey theoretical and practical knowledge on the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases for students interested in basic, translational and clinical research and practice. Students will obtain an overall understanding of neurodegeneration and get detailed insight into the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Topics will include not only the clinical manifestations of the diseases, but also genetics of neurodegeneration, pathomechanisms of disease development, and current research models of disease.
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the basic anatomy and physiology of the brain and nerves
- Describe the most common neurodegenerative diseases
- Recognize clinical symptoms of the most common neurodegenerative diseases
- Comprehend the genetics of neurodegeneration
- Describe the pathomechanisms of disease development
- Describe the pathophysiological hallmarks of neurodegeneration
- Discuss different types of research models used in the field
- Describe different treatment options
Faculty
|
|
Jan Mulder PhD in molecular neurobiology (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 2005). Senior researcher and group leader at Science for Life laboratory, department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute since 2010. Group leader of the brain profiling efforts within the Human Protein Atlas project since 2010. Research in identifying the cellular location of proteins linked to brain function and disease. MSc in biology (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 2000). With DIS since 2017. |
|
Ioannis (John) Mantas |
Field Studies
There will be two field studies as a part of this course. Further information regarding the visits will be provided as the dates approach.
Readings
All readings will be posted on Canvas.
- Chapters from:
- Eric R. Kandel, James H. Schwartz, Thomas M. Jessell (2000) Principles of Neural Science, Fourth Edition (McGraw-Hill Companies,Incorporated).
- Eric R. Kandel, James H. Schwartz, Thomas M. Jessell, Steven A. Siegelbaum, and A. J. Hudspeth (2013) Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Edition (McGraw Hill Professional).
- Hadi Manji with Sean Conolly, Neil Dorward, Neil Kitcheen, Amrish Mehta, Adriam Wills (2007) Oxford Handbook of Neurology (Oxford University Press)
- Relevant scientific articles and reviews.
Teaching Methods
Different teaching formats will be used, including a mix of interactive lectures, guest lectures, case studies, class discussions, group work, student presentations and peer feedback.
Grading
To be eligible for a passing grade in this class all of the assigned work must be completed.Factors influencing the final grade and their measure is shown below:
| Component |
How Evaluated (individual or group) |
Weight |
| Engaged Participation | Individual | 10% |
| Quizzes in each lecture | Individual | 50% |
| Poster presentation (class) | Group/individual | 20% |
| Final patient case assignment | Group/individual | 20% |
Participation
Participation and engagement is measured in regards to both attendance and academic activity level during class and field studies. It will correspond to 10% of the final grade.
Quizzes
Short quizzes including a few, short, open ended questions covering the topics of the previous lecture will be given at the beginning of the next lecture. In case of wrong answers the students will receive a short, open question on the topic covered by the wrong answered question(s), in order to be able to achieve maximum grade. The average of all quizzes will correspond to 50% of the final grade.
Poster presentation
As a class you will design your own model-system based study related to neurodegenerative disorders. You will present your experimental design as a poster during the DIS exhibition at the end of the semester. Each of you will write a one page reflection paper on the selected topic and poster content.
Patient Case Assignment
The final case assignments will be done in groups of 3-4 students. This includes a written report (50%), and an oral presentation worth 50 points, 35 of which will be given as a group grade and 15 as individual grade. The oral presentations will be held on at the Course Wrap-Up, and the deadline for the scientific report is on Dec 17.
Expectations of Students
- You should bring your laptop to class. Laptops may be used for note‐taking, fact‐checking, or assignment in the classroom, but only when indicated by the instructor. At all other times laptops and electronic devices should be put away during class time.
- It is important that you read the assigned texts and watch the recorded lectures beforehand. The class is dependent on discussions between students, so please help contribute to a high standard of intellectual exchange.
- Students need to be present and to participate to receive full credit. The final grade will be affected by unexcused absences and lack of participation. Also remember to be in class on time.
- Classroom etiquette includes expressing disagreement with the opinions of others in a respectful manner, listening and entering a dialogue in a constructive manner.
- Students are expected to ask relevant questions in regards to the material covered.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|