LMP410H1 - Pathobiology of Neurodegenerative Disease 24L

Course description

Focussing on the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

We cover the molecular pathobiology of neurodegenerative diseases, current research developments, and writing research proposals.

You will practice the assembly of a succinct research proposal and query neurodegenerative disease material taught in the course in the mid-term and final exams.

Course coordinator

Dr. Gerold Schmitt-Ulms

Krembil Discovery Centre, 60 Leonard Ave., Room 4KD487, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 0S8

g.schmittulms@utoronto.ca

Teaching assistant

Nareh Tahmasian 

nareh.tahmasian@mail.utoronto.ca

Term	Fall 2025
Class and tutorial details	Available on Quercus Wednesday 9 - 11 am
Last day to drop course	November 11 (25% of final mark released before November 5)
Office hours	In-person meetings can be arranged with short notice.

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

Mid-term: 25% for in-class component plus 25% for homework grant proposal

Final exam: 50% for neurodegenerative disease material test

See information on Academic Integrity

Schedule

Date	Topic	Estimated time spent	Lecturer
September 3, 2025	Introduction to course and overview	2 hours	Dr. Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
September 10, 2025	Prion Diseases How to improve scientific writing in general	60 min + 20 min Q&A 20 min + 10 min Q&A	Dr. Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
September 17, 2025	Genetics How to develop an introduction/rationale section for a project proposal	60 min + 20 min Q&A 20 min + 10 min Q&A	Dr. Ekaterina Rogaeva
September 24, 2025	TBD - ALS How to come up with a project title and write a significance section	60 min + 20 min Q&A 20 min + 10 min Q&A	Dr. Paul McKeever
October 1, 2025	Tauopathies How to generate a hypothesis and break a project into 2 - 3 specific aims	60 min + 20 min Q&A 20 min + 10 min Q&A	Dr. Joel Watts
October 8, 2025	TBD How to write a concise work plan	60 min + 20 min Q&A 20 min + 10 min Q&A	TBD
October 15, 2025	Imaging and diagnostics Optional review of mid-term materials	1 hour 1 hour	Dr. Carmela Tartaglia Dr. Gerold Schmitt-Ulms or TA
October 22, 2025	Mid-term	2 hours	Monitored by TA
October 27-31, 2025	Reading Week
November 5, 2025	Degenerative diseases of the eye	80 min + 30 min Q&A	Dr. Jeremy Sivak
November 12, 2025	Neuroanatomy and pathology	80 min + 30 min Q&A	Dr. Martin Ingelsson
November 19, 2025	Alzheimer's disease and therapy	80 min + 30 min Q&A	Dr. Gabor Kovacs
November 26, 2025	Parkinson’s Disease Optional review of exam materials	1 hour 1 hour	Dr. Anurag Tandon Dr. Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
TBA (December 5 - 23)	Final Exam	2 hours	Monitored by TA