Course Syllabus

Biomedical Lab

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Semester & Location:

 Summer 2023 - DIS Stockholm

Type & Credits:

Summer Lab & Research Session  - 6 credits

Major Disciplines:

Biology, Biomedicine / Biotechnology, Pre-Medicine / Health Science

Prerequisites:

One year of biology, one year of chemistry, and one course with a lab component, all at university level.

Faculty Members:

Paulina Mendoza, M.D.

Academic Support:

academics@disstockholm.se 

Program Director:

Susana LS Dietrich - sd@dis.dk 

Time & Place:

Wet lab components at external locations

Course Description

This course provides you with conceptual understanding of methodologies employed to examine the human body at various levels of organization, from organ systems to organs, tissues, cells, and molecules. This course provides you with corresponding hands-on training on common procedures utilized in biomedical research and medical diagnostics. You learn how to measure common physiological parameters, utilize basic clinical equipment, culture mammalian cells, and conduct cellular and molecular-based assays to evaluate protein expression profiles. In addition, you learn how to design biomedical experimentation and critically analyze results from biomedical testing.

 

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course students should be able:

  • To identify physiological parameters associated with different types of medical tests
  • To describe the rationale and methodology behind some common biomedical tests and laboratory-based assays
  • To analyze and interpret the results of biomedical tests and laboratory-based assays, and correlate them with particular clinical scenarios.
  • To correctly execute various biomedical tests and laboratory-based assays 
  • To recommend specific tests and assays to diagnose or research medical scenarios
  • To learn how to design, conduct, control, analyze and report laboratory-based testing

Faculty

  Science-and-Health-Daniela-Pualina-Mendoza.jpg  

Paulina Mendoza

M.D. (La Salle University, Mexico City, 2019). M. Sc. Nutrition Science (Karolinska Universitet, 2021). Previous employment at the Military Central Hospital in Mexico City (2019-2020). With DIS since 2021. 

 

Chenhong Lin

M.D. (Jilin University, 2008-2015).

Ph.D. (Karolinska Institutet, 2016-2021).

With DIS since 2022.

 

Reading

Relevant readings will be provided for a full understanding of the methodology being used in the course:

  • Scientific articles
  • Book chapters
  • Educational videos

 

Wet Lab/Lab work 

The course will include 3/4 practical hands-on laboratory-based sessions. 

Examples of activities/techniques planned to be addressed/performed:

Module I- Biometrics:

  • Electromyography (EMG)
  • Eye Tracking
  • IV insertion & blood sampling.
  • Fitness test
  • Electrodermal Activity (EDA) / Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)
  • Electrocardiography
  • Photoplethysmography (PPG).
  • Blood pressure

 

Module II- Wet Lab techniques- Immunology assays:

  • Bacteria transformation
  • Plasmid DNA extraction- Miniprep
  • Restriction enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis
  • Transfection of JAK2mt/JAK2wt
  • Blood smear and buffy coat processing
  • Flow cytometry
  • Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)
  • Cell counting
  • ELISA

 

Module III- Wet Lab Techniques- Molecular biology:

  • RNA extraction
  • cDNA synthesis
  • PCR on cDNA
  • Analysis of PCR reactions
  • qPCR on cDNA
  • Analysis of qPCR results
  • Protein extracts for Western blot
  • Bradford assay
  • Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)
  • Enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL)

 

Approach to teaching

Students will be introduced to scientific background and methodology required to understand the rationale behind the design of biomedical testing and laboratory-based assays. Teaching will heavily rely on hands-on execution of biomedical tests and laboratory-based assays. This course will emphasize the utility of particular methodologies for diagnostic and research purposes. Students will develop the ability of adapting methodologies to address more complex questions. Importantly, students will learn how to analyze, document and report obtained results.

 

Expectations of the students

Students are expected to come prepared for class and actively participate in all planned activities. In addition students are expected to carefully monitor, analyze and report details and results from tests and laboratory-based work.

 

Grading

To be eligible for a passing grade in this class all of the assigned work must be completed.

The factors influencing the final grade and their weights are reported in the following table:

Class participation

20%

Documentation of laboratory work/progress 10%

 Biometrics assignment

10%

Class reports and quizzes

30%
Final case assignment 30%
Total 100%

 

Evaluation

Class participation covers the following areas:

  • Attendance and level of preparation
  • Contribution to class discussions
  • Respect to the locations, DIS staff, and fellow classmates

Class participation is an important part of the course and to receive full credit students have to be present at all the scheduled classes and actively participate.

 

Documentation of laboratory work/progress

This includes:

  •     Preparation work needed for each experimental procedure
  •     Keeping the lab book updated when required

 

Biometrics assignment

Students will get a patient case and will suggest an appropriate course of clinical and paraclinical investigations leading to a preliminary diagnosis. More details will be provided in class.

 

Class reports and quizzes

In order to test knowledge and understanding on different steps and techniques the students will be asked to:

  •   Hand in reports
  •   Answer quizzes 

 

Final case assignment

In order to assess the full understanding of the courses' goals and purpose, students will have to prepare two separate assignments:

  1. Clinical assignment

  2. Laboratory assignment

More details will be provided in class.

 

 

Academic Regulations 

 DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

Course Summary:

Date Details Due