SluitenHelpPrint
Switch to English
Cursus: FA-CPS211
FA-CPS211
Intercellular Communication
Cursus informatie
CursuscodeFA-CPS211
Studiepunten (EC)7,5
Cursusdoelen
Course Aims
This course aims to provide sufficient background in immunology, neuroscience and the interaction between these two fields to understand both mechanisms underlying neuroimmunological diseases as well as treatment strategies.
In addition, this course aims to train you in some of the most important tasks of a scientist: formulating innovative research questions, designing appropriate experiments to answer these research questions and writing a research proposal to receive financial support for these experiments.
 After this course you will be able to:
1.       Use the basic working mechanisms of neurological and immunological systems to explain the putative pathophysiology of the neuroimmunological diseases as well as treatment strategies discussed during the course.
2.       Perform basic laboratory skills and evaluate how these techniques can be used to solve problems in the field of neuroimmunopharmacology.
Key words: Brain dissection, histology, ELISA, RT-PCR.
3.        Analyse, interpret and communicate data obtained during a research project.
4.       Gather and critically analyse research literature in order to formulate research questions.
5.       To choose, rationalize and defend the appropriate in vivo experimental design to answer research questions within the field of neuroimmunopharmacology.
Key words: experimental techniques, disease models, experimental groups, treatment conditions, power analysis, validity.
6.       Communicate neuropharmacological and immunopharmacological concepts, research ideas and experimental set up in written and oral form.
7.       Translate the experimental design from a research proposal to an effective Animal Ethics Committee proposal.
 
Inhoud
Approaches
CPS-211: during the first 5 weeks of this course you will get insight in the most important concepts within the fields of immunology, neuroscience and neuroimmunopharmacology. During several workshops, you will learn to work with these concepts. These workshops will be supported by lectures, ‘Meet-the-Expert’ sessions, practical work in the laboratory and a Neuroimmunopharmacology quiz. In addition, you will work on a project, preparing your own lecture. You will also visit the FIGON Dutch Medicine Days 2013.
 
The second 5 weeks (major elective courses FA-CPS-212 and FA-CPS-213) will be concentrated on another project: Writing your own research proposal.
FA-CPS-212: immunopharmacology or neuroimmunopharmacology
FA- CPS-213: psychopharmacology
 
This project consists of two parts:  ‘NWO research grant proposal’ and animal ethical committee proposal’. Under the guidance of PhD students you will write and defend your proposals. This project will be supported by lectures, feedback meetings, a biostatistics workshop and an excursion to Dutch psychiatry museum ‘Het Dolhuys’, Haarlem. At the end of this course you and your fellow students will organize a debate on animal welfare.
 
Assessment
CPS211: The grade is based on the assessment of the lecture, making of Quiz questions, individual participation and the grade for the individual exam.
CPS212 or CPS213: The grade is based on the assessment of Animal ethical committee proposal, NWO research grant proposal, NWO research grant defence and individual participation.
 
Contents
Neuroimmunopharmacology is a very important and relatively new field of work within drug discovery and development. Nicholas Cohan already said in Brain, Behavior and Immunity (2006): “Defining the pathways and mediators associated with behavioural regulation of immunity, and understanding how manipulation of these pathways and mediators influences health and pathology are of obvious clinical importance.
Understanding of the reciprocal interactions between immune system and the peripheral and central nervous system are crucial for the development of new and better drugs that treat Parkinson’s disease, autism, major depression, but also for chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases and allergy.
The course aims to provide sufficient background in immunology and neuroscience to both understand mechanisms underlying neuroimmunological diseases and understand treatment strategies. Pharmacologists contribute by doing basic research on underlying mechanisms and pathways in order to detect and validate new therapeutic targets and to contribute to new drug discovery and development in immunological, neural and neuroimmunological disorders using translational approaches.

Strength and breadth of neuroimmunopharmacological research in Utrecht allows us to offer you an exceptionally broad and exciting range of options. Most projects will involve co-supervision between a neuroscientist, immunologist and/or neuroimmunopharmacologist. 
 
Educational Material
All material developed by the teachers will be available both in printed and digital form (also tablet compatible).
 
Coordinator
Mw. Dr. E.Y, Bijlsma, email: E.Y.Bijlsma@uu.nl

 
SluitenHelpPrint
Switch to English