Course Catalogue

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Diseases of and injuries to the brain and CNS contribute substantially to global morbidity and mortality. This course provides medical and dental students with a deeper insight into the pathophysiology of such diseases and injuries, together with exposure to the current research advances informing clinical practice in this area.

On average approximately 6 x 1.5 hour sessions per week in Semester One, and 2 x 1.5 hour session per week in Semester 2.

Mandatory Entry Requirements

Actively enrolled in an MBChB or BDS and normally have successfully completed at least the first 3 years. Exceptionally, some external students from specific partner institutions may join the course after completion of two years of MBChB or BDS (or equivalent); however award of the intercalated degree will be withheld until they have subsequently completed the required number of additional credits (or equivalent) at their home institution.

Recommended Entry Requirements

Will normally be placed within the top 50% of the year and have demonstrated good academic progress.

None

BSc (Med Sci), BSc (Dent Sci) Clinical Medicine Core Course

BSc (Med Sci), BSc (Dent Sci) Clinical Medicine Research Project

BSc (Med Sci), BSc (Dent Sci) Clinical Medicine Statistics

Assessment

65% written examination in April/May.

35% review essay completed during 2nd semester

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The aim of this course is to introduce students to advanced concepts in the understanding of pathophysiological bases of nervous system injuries and disease. The course also aims to provide students with insight into approaches to the design, assessment and clinical integration of novel treatments.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Describe nervous system structure and function in terms of gross neuroanatomy, cell morphology and neuropathology;

Discuss brain development and describe brain imaging technology and its application to disease states;

List neurotransmitter systems and sites of drug action;

Identify the biological bases of psychiatric diseases;

Give a detailed account of stroke, in relation to imaging, cellular mechanisms, therapies;

Discuss common movement disorders - therapeutics and brain imaging;

Describe in detail various disorders of the nervous system, including autoimmune diseases, peripheral nerve disease, sleeping sickness, traumatic brain injury and dementia, spinal cord injury and repair, glial cell biology and cell-based repair.

Describe the pathophysiology of and discuss recent research into multiple sclerosis (including experimental models and strategies for disease modification)

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

Attendance of at least 80% of lectures and tutorials is mandatory along with active participation in the seminar and other teaching opportunities.