Biomedical Systems Biology

6 EC

Semester 1, period 1

5234BISB6Y

Owner Master Biomedical Sciences
Coordinator prof. dr. S. Brul
Part of Master Biomedical Sciences, track Biochemistry and Metabolic Diseases, year 1

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

In the course Biomedical Systems Biology the teachers will introduce you to a thorough understanding of how molecules interact in cellular systems and thus determine important chemical and cellular processes that occur during health and disease. The recurrent theme is the integrative analysis of stress response in biology where genetic, signal transduction and metabolic reactions form an integrated complex network of spatially and temporally resolved interactions that strive to homeostasis in response to environmental perturbations. The approach reflects the focus on Systems Biology that the course takes and that is in-line with the research done in the masters program as a whole. We offer different biomedical research challenges for the students to work on. These are the development of insight in personalised medicine and cell division (cancer) regulation, stems-cell biology, modelorganisms in Biomedical science, the development of novel  antibiotics to cure infection as well as leads for antimicrobials relevant to microbial food safety, the microbiome and human health. By the end of week 2 key-note lectures provide perspectives of how contemporary biomedical topics are studied with systems biology approaches and a computer practical is taught.New this year is the introduction of more chemical tools such as proteomics, an introduction to enzyme catalysis as well as bio-inspired organic synthesis.

Week 1: Biological systems: from microbes to modelorganisms & man
Week 2: Systems Biology tools & techniques
Week 3: Towards a research proposal
Week 4: Finalizing research proposal and examination

The combination of courses in Biomedical Systems Biology and Biotechnology is intended to give students a full apprehension of both the theoretical background and practical application of clinically relevant biochemical and molecular biological research.

Study materials

Literature

  • Molecular Biology of the Cell, Alberts et al., Taylor & Francis Inc (6th ed.)

  • Recommended but not necessary: Biochemistry, Berg et al., Freeman Palgrave Macmillan (7th ed.)

Syllabus

  • hand-outs & papers posted on Blackboard.

Software

  • Copasi (available at the course)

Objectives

After the course students;

  • are able to demonstrate the application of state of the art genomics, genome wide transcript and protein, as well as comprehensive cellular metabolite analysis in the context of Biomedical Systems Biology.
  • can apply innovative microscopic analysis in the context of biomedical systems biology.
  • are proficient in analysing microorganisms as well as single and multi-cellular eukaryotic model organisms to study aspects of human health and disease.
  • can apply bioinformatics analysis of data obtained and have a basic understanding of network models. A case study is worked at in a tutorial computer practicum.
  • have a basic understanding of the scope of state of the art chemical approaches  (proteomics, enzyme catalysis, bio-inspired organic synthesis) for application in biomedical research.
  • are independently able to transform a biomedical query into a scientific biomedical systems biology research proposal.

Teaching methods

  • Lectures: 30 hours
  • Tutorials: 6 hours
  • Assignment: 40 hours (mainly as unsupervised group work)
  • Symposium (presentation including preperation): 16 hours
  • Selfstudy: ~60 hours
  • Question hour: 2 hours
  • Exam: 3 hours

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Tutorials

6

Lectures

30

Assignment

(mainly as unsupervised group work)

40

Symposium (presentation including preparation)

16

Exam

3

Question hour

2

Self study

71

Total 6 x 28 h

168

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

Additional requirements for this course:

The lectures are all crucial so also those on the topics that you will not work on! Examination questions may be drawn from any of the topics presented in the first week. Attendance of the lectures in the second week is to familiarise yourself  with the technological possibilities!

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

50%

Tentamen

50%

Research Proposal

Inspection of assessed work

The date, time and location of the inspection moment are in the DataNose timetable.

Assignments

Assignment

  • The Assignment involves the evaluation of a research proposal; an oral presentation and the assessment and discussion of a proposal of fellow students is a formative assignment.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
1  Topics for assignments & individual test  lecture hand-outs & assignment explanation
2  Tools to work on the assignments (couples)  lecture hand-outs & computer practical
3  Work on the assignment & presentation  NWO-Open Competition project structure  
4  finalize assignment & individual examination (open book)  
5    
6    
7    
8    

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Contact information

Coordinator

  • prof. dr. S. Brul

Staff

  • dr. R. van Amerongen
  • dr. T. den Blaauwen
  • ing. R.M.P. Breedijk
  • Garry Corthals
  • dr. ir. H.C.J. Hoefsloot
  • Antoine van Kampen
  • prof. dr. B.H. ter Kuile
  • prof. dr. J.H. van Maarseveen
  • dr. E.M.M. Manders
  • dr. Francesco Mutti
  • dr. Gertien Smits
  • dr. J.C. van der Spek
  • dr. P.J. Verschure
  • prof. dr. H.V. Westerhoff