Course Introduction to neurodegenerative diseases and disease models

The course Introduction to neurodegenerative diseases and disease models is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, 2025.

Criteria for participation: 
University degree in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or Master’s degree in other fields and/or postgraduate research fellows (PhD students and research-year medical students).

Requirements for participation:
Basic knowledge of neurobiology

Aim: 
The main goal of this course is to make the students familiar with the most common neurodegenerative diseases, their investigative tools and disease models. This stand-alone course is not part of a specific study program. Any student with background in neurobiology can participate in the course.

Learning outcomes: 

(1) explain the pathophysiology of common neurodegenerative disorders (what cells and regions are affected and potential mechanisms of disease progression);

(2) demonstrate a critical understanding of the methods of investigation and (differential) diagnosis;

(3) critically evaluate the different in vivo and in vitro disease models available, be able to judge the advantages and disadvantages;

(4) critically discuss the management options available for patients with neurodegenerative disorders, as well as potential future disease-modifying treatment options;

(5) critically appraise the scientific literature on the clinical and research aspects of neurodegenerative diseases.

Workload: The full workload of the course is expected to be 74 hours

Content:
Changes may occur, so please note that the hours are tentative.

1) Fundamental aspects of neurodegenerative diseases, common pathogenic mechanisms, and the prion concept (day 1: 7 hours, incl.4 hrs for assignment)

2) Alzheimer’s disease (Symptoms, disease mechanisms, pathophysiology, experimental AD models) (day 2: 7 hours, incl. 4 hrs for assignment)

3) Alpha-synucleinopthies(Symptoms, disease mechanisms, pathophysiology, experimental alpha-synucleinopathymodels (incl. immune response, strain hypothesis & cross-seeding)) (day 3: 7 hours, incl. 1-hour assignment)

 4) Imaging neurodegenerative disorders (Introduction to structural and functional imaging techniques, multi-modality diagnostic imaging of AD and PD, imaging biomarkers) (day 4: 7 hours, incl. 4 hrsfor practicum)

5) Small animal imaging and symptomatic treatments (day 5: 7 hours, incl. 4 hrsfor practicum)

6) Other biomarkers and treatments and less common neurodegenerative disorders with focus on tauopathies(day 6: 7 hours, incl. 3 hours for assignment)

7) Exam –assignment to be submitted to Brightspace (estimated 32 hours of work)

Students will be taught by lectures that will be made available online as the course progresses, introducing students to the newtopics in order. Students are required to carry out pre-class activities prior to each course day. During class, quizzes and other exercises will be used to keep students engaged and to reiterate the key learning outcomes for the specific material. Each day, students will havea mix of lectures and interactive sessions. Alongside students should be studying and research independently for their final assignment.

Instructors: Caroline Cristiano Real (AUH), Associate prof. Marina Romero-Ramos (AU), prof. Poul Henning Jensen (AU), Associate prof. Anne Landau (AUH), Assistant researcher - Artur Coutinho (University of Sao Paulo Medical School–FMUSP,Brazil), prof. Erdem Tamgüney (Universität Düsseldorf, Germany), ass. Prof. Jonas Folke (University of Copenhagen), Jacob Kuhlmann Horsager (AUH), Mie Kristine Just (AU), Allan Hansen (AUH), Pernille Louise Kjeldsen (AUH).

Venue: Aarhus University, Aarhus

Participation in the course is without cost for:

• PhD students, Health Research Year students from Aarhus University
• PhD students enrolled at partner universities of the Nordoc collaboration
• PhD students from other institutions in the open market agreement for PhD courses

Course dates:

• 20 October 2025 09:00 - 16:00
• 21 October 2025 09:00 - 16:00
• 22 October 2025 09:00 - 16:00
• 03 November 2025 09:00 - 16:00
• 04 November 2025 09:00 - 16:00
• 05 November 2025 09:00 - 16:00