Postgraduate Course: Neurodegeneration and Regeneration (NEBM11013)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This is an elective course for the MSc by Research in Integrative Neuroscience. Students learn about key areas of Neurodegeneration and Regeneration and current research.
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| Course description |
The aims of this course elective are to develop knowledge of:
1) neural development and the consequences of injury, tumour growth and degenerative disease, the role of the immune system in these processes and potential repair strategies for both the central and peripheral nervous systems;
2) the experimental models and technical approaches used to provide insight to the molecular and cellular alterations underlying neural development and the pathological and functional (e.g. cognitive) alterations in injury and disease;
3) the relevance of models to human diseases (e.g. Inherited Peripheral Neuropathies, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor neuron Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, brain malignancies).
This knowledge is developed through seminars and practicals given by researchers and by student-led literature reviews and presentations.
Formative feedback is given on a weekly basis in advance of the final summative assessment. During the weekly tutorials students will present research papers and based on these, their own research proposal. These presentations will be critically discussed and constructive feedback given.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 18,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 36,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
137 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In-course assessment: 100%
Oral presentation of 1) a research paper and 2) a research proposal relevant to ongoing research covered within the course (approx. 20 minutes).
First, the presentation will focus on the critical evaluation of a relevant research paper. At the outset students should place the research paper in the context of the work within the wider literature and clearly introduce the background and motivation for the study. The key research questions/hypotheses addressed in the paper should be summarised and the experimental design, results and interpretation before ending by identifying open questions directly arising from the paper. This will cover learning outcomes 1-4.
Following this, students should propose a research project that addresses an original question related to the research paper. The presentation should outline the motivation for the specific focus chosen, the hypothesis/hypotheses, the aims of the proposal and experimental strategy used to address the hypothesis(es), and the importance and long-term impact outlined. This will cover learning outcomes 1-5.
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| Feedback |
Formative feedback will be given on student presentations of research papers, and based on these, their own research proposal.
Summative feedback will be given on their oral presentation.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key aspects of neurodegeneration and regeneration.
- Demonstrate awareness of the current state of research.
- Develop and apply analytical skills to interpret research data accurately and critically.
- Demonstrate ability to communicate information effectively.
- Demonstrate ability to develop own research ideas and projects.
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Reading List
| Recommended reading or other learning resources will be discussed with the Supervisor/Elective Organiser at the time of establishing the project. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will develop a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts in their chosen elective field of interest. They will learn to apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues in their elective field of interest. They will learn to critically evaluate numerical and graphical data. Students will learn to communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists. |
| Special Arrangements |
Course is restricted to MSc Integrative Neuroscience students only |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Dirk Sieger
Tel: (0131) 242 6161
Email: Dirk.Sieger@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Debbie Grahames
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: debbie.grahames@ed.ac.uk |
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