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
|