Description
Period: May 16 – June 3, 2016
The metabolic syndrome is defined by the co-occurrence of obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and low grade inflammation. It may be obvious that the metabolic syndrome is strongly associated with the increased dysbalance between energy intake and expenditure in the Western world. The main complications of the Metabolic Syndrome are type 2 diabetes and premature cardiovascular disease. This course will provide detailed insight into the latest developments in fundamental biological research aimed at understanding the different aspect of the metabolic syndrome as well as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. General and detailed overviews will be given by both basic scientists as well as physician-scientists. PhD-students will present their projects to illustrate the scientific approaches taken to address the various questions concerning metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some practical studies as well as demonstrations will be included for illustration purposes.
In this three weeks course, one week will be devoted to lectures, discussions and self-study assignments on the different aspects of the metabolic syndrome and one week to cardiovascular disease. Some three to four afternoons will be spent on practical insight and will include some (self)experimentation (for example a fat and glucose tolerance test). The third 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 more review of the field, but again will also include their own research.
Course objectives
-the student can describe the link between the complex of abnormalities that comprise the “Metabolic Syndrome” and the development of premature cardiovascular disease.
-the student is able to implement this knowledge in a review and translate this knowledge into a written research proposal and a presentation.
Sub-aims:
gain insight in current research into Metabolic Syndrome and cardiovascular disease at the LUMC
identify topics of interest and define current status of the field
Assessment method
The student’s oral and written report of the two in-lab trainings The hot topic review itself. Student behaviour (motivation, independency, oral reporting, participation in discussion).