LMP410H1 - Pathobiology of Neurodegenerative Disease 24L
Course description
Molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Emphasis on the molecular pathobiology of neurodegenerative diseases, current research developments and guidance with writing of research proposals. Mid-term and final exams will practice assembly of a succinct research proposal and query neurodegenerative disease material taught in the course.
Course coordinator
Office address: Krembil Discovery Tower, 6KD -418, 60 Leonard Street, Tkaronto/Toronto/Treaty 13, Ontario, M5T 0S8
Teaching assistant
Nareh Tahmasian
nareh.tahmasian@mail.utoronto.ca
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Term |
Fall 2026 |
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Class and tutorial details |
Available on Quercus Wednesday 9 - 11 am |
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Last day to drop course |
November 17 (25% of final mark released before November 5) |
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Office hours |
In-person meetings can be arranged. |
Course details
- Hours: Approximately 24 hours for lectures, as well as mid-term and final exam
- Prerequisite: BCH311H1/( PSL300H1, PSL301H1) Pre-requisite waiver requests must be made to the academic unit (lmp.undergraduate@utoronto.ca).
- Exclusions: none
- Breadth requirement: none
- Enrolment limits: 35 students
Student evaluation
Midterm: 25% for in-class neurodegenerative disease material test.
Research proposal: 25% for 2-page research proposal.
Final exam: 50% for neurodegenerative disease material test.
See information on Academic Integrity
Schedule
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Date |
Topic |
Estimated time spent |
Lecturer |
|---|---|---|---|
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September 9, 2026 |
Introduction to course & writing a research proposal |
2 hours |
Dr. Jane Freeman |
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September 16, 2026 |
Parkinsons Disease |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
Dr. Ekaterina Rogaeva |
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September 23, 2026 |
Genetics |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
Dr. Ekaterina Rogaeva |
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September 30, 2026 |
Alzheimer's disease |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
|
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October 7, 2026 |
Nodding Syndrome |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
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October 14, 2026 |
ALS/FTD |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
Dr. Paul McKeever |
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October 21, 2026 |
Midterm |
2 hour |
Monitored by TA |
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October 28, 2026 |
Reading week |
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|
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November 4, 2026 |
Tauopathies |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
Dr. Joel Watts |
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November 11, 2026 |
Imaging & diagnostics |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
Dr. Carmela Tartaglia |
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November 18, 2026 |
Prion Diseases |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
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November 25, 2026 |
Neuroanatomy/pathology |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
Dr. Gabor Kovacs |
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December 2, 2026 |
Degenerative diseases of the eye |
80 min + 30 min Q&A |
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December 9, 2026 |
Study day |
No class |
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TBA (December 10 - 22) |
Final Exam |
2 hours |
Monitored by TA |
Recommended reading or text book
You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with software packages that automate the management and assembly of bibliographies (e.g., Endnote, Mendeley, Zotero, RefWorks).
The following is a list of useful resources (none of these are essential for this course but they should provide useful information and context):
Free online resources for general information on scientific writing
- Scientific Literacy: Clear as mud (by Jonathan Knight) (source: Nature)
- Scientific Writing (source: Duke University Graduate School)
- Ten Simple Rules for Getting Grants Bourne PE, & Chalupa LM. 2016. PLoS Computational Biology
- Writing in the Sciences. Kristina Sainani. Stanford University. One of several Coursera online training courses related to this subject (several sessions are also available on YouTube)
Books you can purchase:
- The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science. Scott L. Montgomery. Published December 15th, 2002, by University Of Chicago Press. ISBN: 0226534855
- Scientific and Medical Communication. Scott A. Mogull. Published April 8, 2016, by Routledge. ISBN: 1138842559.
- Grant Writing in Higher Education: A Step‐by‐Step Guide. Kenneth T. Hensen. Published 2003 by Allyn & Bacon. ISBN‐13: 978‐0205389193