Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease

BIO-480 / 5 credits

Teacher(s): Gräff Johannes, Mahul Mellier Anne-Laure, Schneider Bernard

Language: English

Summary

The goal of the course is to guide students through the essential aspects of molecular neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases. The student will gain the ability to dissect the molecular basis of disease in the nervous system in order to begin to understand and identify therapeutic strategies.

Content

 

  • Anatomical and functional organization of the brain
  • Unique biology of neurons
  • Unique biology of glial cells
  • Generation, survival and integration of nerve cells
  • Synapse formation, regeneration and plasticity
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Motor neuron diseases
  • Prion diseases
  • Polyglutamine expansion diseases
  • Protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disease
  • Animal models of disease and translational neuroscience
  • Neuroepigenetics

Learning Prerequisites

Important concepts to start the course

Understanding of molecular and cellular biology.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Define key concepts in neurodegenerative diseases
  • Assess / Evaluate novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases
  • Compare the unique properties of neuronal and glial cells
  • Hypothesize therapeutic strategies for treating brain diseases
  • Describe the function of genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases
  • Design experiments to evaluate genetic mutations associated with neurodegenerative diseases
  • Define key concepts in neurodegenerative diseases
  • Assess / Evaluate novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases
  • Compare the unique properties of neuronal and glial cells
  • Hypothesize therapeutic strategies for treating brain diseases
  • Describe he function of genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases
  • Design experiments to evaluate genetic mutations associated with neurodegenerative diseases

Transversal skills

  • Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
  • Summarize an article or a technical report.

Assessment methods

Written exam. 3 hours duration. Will contain short essay-style questions.

Resources

Bibliography

Purves, Neuroscience. 2012. 5th Ed. Sinauer Associates

Kandel, Principles of Neural Science. 2012. 5th Ed. McGraw Hill

Ressources en bibliothèque

Ressources en bibliothèque

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

Related courses

Results from graphsearch.epfl.ch.