Entry requirements

120 credits in biomedicine, pharmaceutical bioscience, biochemistry, biology, biotechnology or equivalent education within biology/chemistry or medicine.

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

After completion of the course the student shall be able to:

• describe and analyse clinical symptoms and pathological processes of the most common neurodegenerative diseases.
• identify and analyse goals and possibilities with the current research on neurodegenerative diseases, with an extra focus on Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
• explain how biochemical properties of proteins can cause neurodegenerative diseases and how these proteins affect various cells in the brain.
• describe and analyse possible spreading mechanisms for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
• describe and analyse animal models and cell culture models that are central to research on neurodegenerative diseases.
• explain the basis of different techniques used for imaging the diseased brain.
• explain and interpret the importance of genetics for the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
• analyse the inflammation process in neurodegenerative diseases.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

After completion of the course the student shall be able to:

• perform and describe laboratory techniques that are central to research on neurodegenerative diseases, i.e. analysis of amyloid-beta and alpha-synuclein pathology as well as neuroinflammation.
• reflect on and describe the mechanisms of current treatment and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, treatment strategies as well as ethical and societal aspects.
• summarize, reflect on, discuss and present orally and in poster format the pathology, symptoms, diagnostics, treatments and research that could result in new therapies for a more rare neurodegenerative disorder (not Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease).

JUDGEMENT AND APPROACH

After completion of the course the student shall be able to:

• search for relevant literature.
• interpret, critically evaluate, compile and communicate scientific data and research results in the field of studies, orally and in writing.
• reflect on and discuss aspects of research on neurodegenerative diseases, connected to pathology, symptoms, diagnostics, treatments and future therapies.

Content

The course covers general molecular and clinical aspects of neurodegenerative diseases, mainly focusing on central questions in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease research. The course elucidates important issues and central methodology within this research field.

The course provides:

• insight in medical care and treatment of the most common neurodegenerative diseases.
• detailed knowledge of the initiation of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and how the diseases may spread in the brain.
• knowledge about how various techniques could be used in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.
• understanding of cellular processes that are central for development of neurodegenerative diseases, including inflammation and various types of cellular stress.
• knowledge about animal models and cell culture models that are central to research on neurodegenerative diseases.
• practical experience of laboratory methods used in research on neurodegenerative diseases.
• training in reflection and discussion of scientific publications relevant for the research field.

Instruction

The course will include lectures, as well as mandatory seminars, laboratory sessions, case studies and demonstrations. There will be both individual assignments and group work during the course, including written and oral presentations.

Approval of uncompleted compulsory course parts will be possible earliest during the next course occasion.

Assessment

To pass the course all assignments must be completed and approved as well as participation in all compulsory elements, i.e. laboratory sessions, demonstrations and seminars. Examination of the course will take place during the course, by oral and practical tasks, as well as individual written tasks. Moreover, the students has to present a literature project, orally and written.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by a different method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator

Other directives

Approval of uncompleted compulsory course parts will be possible earliest during the next course occasion and only if there are available places.