Admission requirements
Description
Period: 24 October 2022 - 18 November 2022
Cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and low grade inflammation, collectively termed the ‘metabolic syndrome’, are strongly associated with type 2 diabetes and premature cardiovascular disease. The metabolic syndrome is predominantly caused by the prevalent disbalance between energy intake and expenditure in the Western world. Chronic and excess consumption of the wrong food at the wrong time dysregulates the complex interplay between neuronal and metabolic circuits that control normal energy homeostasis and drives the obesity epidemic.
This course will provide detailed insight into the latest developments in fundamental biological research aimed at understanding the etiology of the cardiometabolic diseases, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This will be combined with theoretical and practical insight in the application of metabolomics technologies, which aim to comprehensively map metabolites in body fluids to gain understanding of pathophysiological processes.
General and detailed overviews will be given by both basic scientists as well as research physicians. PhD-students will present their projects to illustrate the scientific approaches taken to address the various questions concerning cardiometabolic disease and the application of metabolomics. Some practical studies as well as demonstrations will be included for illustration purposes.
In this four week course, overall, one week will be devoted to lectures, discussions and self-study assignments on the different aspects of type 2 diabetes, one week to cardiovascular disease and one week to metabolomics technologies. Two to three afternoons per week will be spent on practical insight and will include some (self)experimentation including a glucose tolerance test. The fourth week is assigned to the writing of a review.
Approximately half of the lectures will be given by PhD students and they will try to enthuse you for their specific research question. The other half of the lectures will be given by more senior scientists and clinicians and will include a more general review of the field, but again will also include emphasis of their own research.
Course objectives
The student can describe the links between the various abnormalities that are termed cardiometabolic risk factors and the development of type 2 diabetes and premature cardiovascular disease.
the student has gained insight in the application of metabolomics technologies to gain insight into pathophysiological processes.
the student is able to implement the knowledge gained to define a hot topic and translate this knowledge into a written review and a presentation.
the student has gained insight in current research into metabolomics and cardiometabolic disease at the LUMC.
the student shows communication skills in order to write and present coherently and convincingly while taking into account modern presentation and writing principles.
the student is able to acquire and extend knowledge and understanding independently and efficiently and in doing so reflecting on own actions in order to improve his/her own product or approach.
the student is able to assess work by peers based on (provided) criteria for giving and receiving constructive feedback.
Timetable
All course and group schedules are published on MyTimeTable.
The exam dates have been determined by the Education Board and are published in MyTimeTable.
It will be announced in MyTimeTable and/or Brightspace when and how the post-exam feedback will be organized.
Mode of instruction
Assessment method
The paper presentations in week 1 will be graded individually by the coordinators. The final presentations of the hot topic in week 3 will be graded individually by the coordinators plus the tutors present. The written review of the hot topic will be graded groupwise by the tutors.
Final grade is determined for 20% by the paper presentation, 40% by the hot topic presentation and 40% by the review itself. Student participation and contribution to the discussions and workgroups will be taken into account when determining the individual grade.
An email with a brief motivation for the final grade will be sent to the students.
Reading list
Will be distributed during the course.
Registration
Registration for FOS courses, H2W, Scientific Conduct, Course on Lab Animal Sciences and CRiP takes place in lottery rounds in the beginning of July. After the lottery rounds: if you want to register for a course you are kindly asked to contact the student administration at masterbms-courses@lumc.nl.