MEDSCI 717 : Advanced Neuroscience: Neuropharmacology
Medical and Health Sciences
2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course is concerned with advanced topics including the chemistry, cellular and molecular biology of the normal and diseased brain and the mechanism of action of drugs (and other therapies) that interact with brain function. Students will be expected to critically analyse scientific papers within the context of a series of major research themes. Each theme will encompass research from molecular through to systems level neuroscience with aspects of clinical neuroscience introduced. It is assumed students taking the course are familiar with basic neuropharmacology as presented in the MEDSCI 307 Neuropharmacology course.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the current therapeutic options available for neurological disease and injury and identify their limitations. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Understand and critically evaluate the role and limitations of in vitro and in vivo disease models and the importance of appropriate model selection to address a particular research question. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Summarise the requirement for animal welfare and ethics regulations in research. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Identify and describe potential targets/strategies for disease-modifications for specific neurological diseases/injuries (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Critically examine , review and discuss current literature in the field. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Identify, evaluate and explore experimental hypotheses, and develop appropriate experimental design. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Enhance presentation and writing skills (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
- Demonstrate the ability to group work in a collaborative manner. (Capability 1 and 4)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 10% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Project | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 60% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
| Project | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures/tutorials, 5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience or Online
This course is offered in two delivery modes:
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Online
Attendance is required at scheduled online activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.