Course Stereology

The course C85/21 Stereology is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, fall 2022.

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).

Recommended knowledge 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).

Aim: To introduce stereological techniques which can be used for three-dimensional quantification by means of measurements on physical, optical, or virtual section planes obtained by microscopy and other imaging techniques.

Learning outcomes: After completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Understand and be able to implement random sampling, systematic sampling, and smooth systematic sampling
• Understand and be able to implement Cavalieri estimator and nucleator/rotator for volume estimation using section planes
• Understand and be able to implement dissector and fractionator for number/connectivity estimation using section planes
• Understand and be able to implement length and surface estimation using isotropic or vertical section planes
• Understand the effect of tissue deformation, over- and under projection and ratios on final conclusions

Workload: The full workload of the course is expected to be 59 hours.

Content: Theory of general stereology including the determination of number, connectivity, length, surface, volume, and shape by means of microscopy and other imaging techniques. A significant part of the course is informal workshops in the evening where the students' own projects can be discussed with all teachers. Special designed software will be demonstrated, and it can be used for participants’ own projects. Notes comprising theoretical background and practical stereological methods are provided for use during and after the course. The course will be finished with an exam.

Instructors: Jens Randel Nyengaard, Karl-Anton Dorph-Petersen, Karsten Nielsen, Stine Hasselholt Andersen and Abdel-Rahman Al-Absi

Venue: The Victor Albeck building, 1266, Vennelyst Blvd. 4, 8000 Aarhus C

Participation in the course is without cost for:

• PhD students, Health Research Year students and Health Research Honours Programme 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:

• 23 August 2022 09:00 - 22:00
• 24 August 2022 09:00 - 22:00
• 25 August 2022 09:00 - 22:00