Learning outcomes

To know how to identify and integrate relevant pieces of scientific information to create a clearer picture of a biomedical question.

To know how apply scientific reasoning skills to formulate research hypotheses and to propose experimental strategies to investigate them.

 

Goals

-        Acquire a general knowledge of how dysfunction at an intracellular organelle can affect various aspects of the cell physiology, and have deleterious effects leading to organ dysfunctions and pathologies.

-        Acquire a better understanding of the link between the fundamental and more applied aspects of researches on organelle dysfunctions.

-        Further develop the ability to critically assess scientific data.

-        Acquire the ability to summarize and present critical findings related to a question of biomedical importance.

-        Develop the reasoning and interpretation skills required to use the current knowledge about a biomedical question as a stepping-stone to propose/develop new research, diagnostic or treatment avenues.

 

Content

Biomedical researchers are at the interface of multiple worlds, including those of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic research laboratories and medical facilities. They are often asked to master theoretical aspects of molecular and cellular mechanisms to translate them into new research avenues, for instance to develop new diagnostic methods, identify new biomarkers, uncover the molecular basis of diseases, or improve therapeutic approaches.  Biomedical researchers are therefore key players in the translation of clinical observations into fundamental research questions, and in the transfer of the knowledge acquired through fundamental research to clinical researchers and other health professionals.

The aim of this course is to emphasize the importance of integrative approaches by teaching the students how to link the data generated in different research fields in order to comprehend the causes and consequences of cellular dysfunctions, as well as their relationship to diseases and treatment options. In order to reach this objective, the course will be built around case stories involving molecular dysfunctions of subcellular organelles. The students will be asked to answer a set of questions and to propose new fundamental and/or applied research strategies to investigate unresolved issues. 

 

Assessment method

A note will be compiled from:

-        The assessment of the involvement, general understanding of the question, and ability of each student to integrate the different pieces of data and to propose ideas (assessment made during meetings).

-        The quality of a written report

-        The teaching/presentation skills of the students and their ability to answer clearly and accurately to questions relating to their work.

N.B. The evaluation method may be adapted depending on the evolution of the COVID-19 situation.

The exact modalities of the evaluation are likely to be modified during the preparation of the examination schedules, depending on the practical constraints with which the faculty administration may be confronted, or in the event of illness / force majeure / encroachment with an internship, or because of the health situation related to the coronavirus.

Language of instruction

French