Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Research On Diseases Associated with the Central Nervous System
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish,
Teaching staff
Questions may be answered before or after each class or during the individual tutorials at an arranged time.
Professor responsible for the subject: Rosalia Rodriguez (rrodriguez@uic.es)
Introduction
Nervous system diseases refer to disorders that affect any part of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord or cranial nerves) or peripheral nervous system. These diseases represent one of the major public health challenges today. Research in neuroscience encompasses studies related to the development, cellular and molecular biology, physiology, anatomy and pharmacology of the nervous system, as well as computational, behavioural and cognitive neuroscience. Research is currently being performed to meet the existing medical needs and challenges and establish more effective individualised treatments and diagnostic approaches that improve the prognosis of patients with these pathologies.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites
Objectives
The objective of this course is to introduce the master’s students to the most current research in the different areas related to central nervous system pathologies, both in terms of methodology and experimental results.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- C1 - Think critically about the use of usual and alternative experimentation models in biomedical research.
- C2 - Assess the suitability of experimental methodologies for research in different fields of biomedicine.
- C4 - Design complex experiments, planning and executing them properly to solve a hypothesis or research issue.
- C5 - Acquire a high degree of autonomy in practical activity, which prepares students to undertake doctoral studies in biomedical research.
- C6 - Identify the employment possibilities of a scientific career, considering the principles of ethics and research integrity.
- C7 - Respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights, democratic and peace culture values.
- C8 - Use language that avoids androcentrism and stereotypes in oral and written media.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- K1 - Understand the different research demands in which the different experimental methodologies can be put into practice.
- K2 - Understand the concept of scientific integrity in the field of biomedical research from a critical point of view.
- K3 - Have knowledge of the main financing options for research and innovation projects, nationally and internationally.
- K4 - Demonstrate a critical and advanced understanding of a wide diversity of theories, principles and concepts, on major human diseases.
- K5 - Develop the ability to critically evaluate research in the field of biomedical sciences, assessing methodologies and, if appropriate, proposing new approaches/hypotheses.
- K7 - Have knowledge of mechanisms that allow classifying and summarising the information that emerges from the research activity in the biomedicine laboratory.
- K8 - Develop the ability to write and publicly defend a master’s final degree project related to the area of biomedical research.
- S1 - Analyse and critically manage the advanced research methodologies available in the field of biomedical sciences, discussing their use in various kinds of research.
- S2 - Manage the complexity involved in research following a position of scientific integrity, including, if appropriate, a reflection on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the different cases.
- S3 - Be able to analyse, interpret and critically evaluate information, theories and complex concepts in the different areas of biomedical research.
- S4 - Have the ability to solve problems associated with practice in a biomedical research laboratory with a high degree of autonomy.
- S5 - Be able to solve hypotheses or research problems by designing, planning and executing complex experiments.
- S6 - Be able to decide which experimental methodology is most appropriate for the objectives that arise in the different fields of biomedical research.
- S7 - Be able to disseminate the research results in the biomedicine area that contribute to the knowledge of specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- S8 - Be able to argue, the of scientific results one’s own research or those of other researchers in an oral presentation.
- S9 - Be aware of how to correctly use scientific verbal and non-verbal language in oral defences.
Syllabus
Lesson 1. Introduction and CNS function
Lesson 2. Techniques and preparation in CNS research
Lesson 3. Research on astrocytes
Lesson 4. Research on behaviour and endocannabinoids signalling
Lesson 5. Mitochondrial neuropathologies
Lesson 6. Neuroplasticity and regeneration
Lesson 7. Neuropharmacology and pain
Lesson 8. Parkinson’s disease
Lesson 9. Huntington’s disease
Lesson 10. Alzheimer’s disease
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Lectures: Face-to-face and occasionally online. They represent the theoretical basis of the content of the master’s degree. In the face-to-face lectures, all students will be in the classroom attending and participating in the presentation given by the lecturers.
Case Method: In face-to-face classes, students will develop skills for detecting needs, communicating and defining and solving problems. This is mostly associated with achieving the skills mentioned in the learning outcomes. It is a type of experience-based and reflective learning that helps generate knowledge and skills. In case method activities, all students are in the classroom working in small groups (3-5 students). The teacher guides and leads the activities and makes them more dynamic.
Practicums/Laboratory Work: Face-to-face, providing students the opportunity to interact with the work tools, through practical demonstrations of the theoretical knowledge they acquire.
Virtual learning: Online teaching material; the follow-up and assessment is carried out in face-to-face format (in the lectures) or in virtual forums. This promotes student autonomy.
Autonomous work: Students will be encouraged to carry out personal work, such as the elaboration of assignments in the different subjects, contributing to the achievement of all types of proposed learning outcomes.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
First sitting:
- Written work and tests: 70%.
- Oral presentation: 5%.
- Class participation: 5%.
- Laboratory practicums: 20%.
Students who provide interesting ideas or ask pertinent questions that improve the quality of lectures, case method activities or practical sessions may earn an additional 5%. Only those students who actively participate in the subject will receive this bonus.
Second and subsequent sittings:
Students will be assessed by means of a practical and theoretical test that will account for 100% of the mark.
General information about the assessment system to bear in mind:
- Attendance in the theoretical and practical sessions is compulsory.
- The laboratory practicums will be assessed once they have finished.
- To pass the subject, students must have an average mark o 5 or higher.