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. Gabor G. Kovacs

Office address: Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave. Rm 6KD414

gabor.kovacs@uhnresearch.ca

Teaching assistant

Marc Shenouda

marc.shenouda@mail.utoronto.ca

Term	Fall 2022
Class time	Wednesday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tutorial time	December 7
Last day to drop course	November 16 (25% of final mark released before November 7)
Office hours	In-person meetings can be arranged with short notice.

Course details

Hours: 24 hrs = 10 lectures plus TA review, as well as mid-term and final exam
Prerequisite: BCH311H1/(PSL300H1, PSL301H1)
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 and estimated time spent	instructor
September 14	Introduction to course and overview (2 hours)	Dr. Gabor Kovacs
September 21	Neuroanatomy / pathology (80 mins plus 30 min Q&A)	Dr. Forrest
September 28	Prion Diseases (60 mins plus 20 min Q&A) How to improve scientific writing in general (20 mins plus 10 min Q&A)	Dr. Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
October 5	Genetics (60 mins plus 20 min Q&A) How to develop an introduction/rationale section for a project proposal (20 mins plus 10 min Q&A)	Dr. Ekaterina Rogaeva ekaterina.rogaeva@utoronto.ca
October 12	Parkinson’s Disease (60 mins plus 20 min Q&A) How to come up with a project title and write a significance section (20 mins plus 10 min Q&A)	Dr. Anurag Tandon a.tandon@utoronto.ca
October 19	Tauopathies (60 mins plus 20 min Q&A) How to generate a hypothesis and break a project into 2-3 specific aims (20 mins plus 10 min Q&A)	Dr. Joel Watts joel.watts@utoronto.ca
October 26	ALS/FTD (60 mins plus 20 min Q&A) How to write a concise work plan (20 mins plus 10 min Q&A)	Dr. Janice Robertson
November 2	Mid-term (2 hours)	Monitored by Teaching Assistant (TA)
November 7	Reading week November 8 - 12. No classes
November 16	Imaging and diagnostics (80 mins plus 30 min Q&A)	Dr. Carmela Tartaglia carmela.tartaglia@utoronto.ca
November 23	Alzheimer’s disease (80 mins plus 30 min Q&A)	Dr. JoAnne McLaurin
November 30	Poly-glutamine disease (80 mins plus 30 min Q&A)	Dr. Park
December 7	Optional review of exam materials/study break (2 hours)	Teaching Assistant (TA)
TBC	Final exam (2 hours)	Monitored by Teaching Assistant (TA)