Bioanalytical Sciences

Course manual 2020/2021

Course content

The Bioanalytical Sciences course focuses on the state-of-the-art and novel analytical approaches that are used in the field of bioanalysis. During the course, we will cover a large diversity of bioanalytical applications in the field of clinical toxicology, forensic toxicology (including doping analysis), therapeutic monitoring, and biomarker discovery. We will discuss how to implement a bioanalytical procedure that is suited for the characterization and/or quantitation of endogenous or exogenous compounds in complex biological fluids. Approaches and procedures with respect to sampling, sample preparation, separation, detection (e.g., mass spectrometry), and interpretation will be discussed. For all aspects covered, real-life applications will be discussed to illustrate them.

During the group assignment, students will learn how to develop an adequate analytical procedure - from the sample collection to the data analysis - in a specific bioanalytical application. Students will present their approach and findings during a group presentation at the end of the course. Students will also write a small report/article (5 pages) on the method they have developed.

Study materials

Literature

• Powerpoint slides, as well as additional tutorials or review articles provided during the course.

Practical training material

• Hand-outs (electronically available); lectures will be given live but recorded and made available to students.

Objectives

• Get familiar with the bioanalytical techniques and strategies used in clinical and toxicological fields.
• Be capable of developing a bioanalytical strategy based on a clinical/toxicological question, from the sampling to the data analysis and interpretation.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Self-study
• Case studies
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Supervision/feedback meeting

1. Lectures, including case studies: during the lectures, the students will learn about the analytical strategies implemented in the field of bioanalysis, including sample collection, sample storage, sample preparation, separation of analytes, detection, and data analysis/interpretation. The lectures focus on relevant bioanalytical applications in the field of clinical and forensic toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring, and biomarker discovery. By focusing on the application and on real-life case studies, students will better understand the requirements needed for the development of a suitable method, which will help them understand which choices should be made for each step of the bioanalytical workflow, and why.

2. Self-study: during the group assignment, performed in small groups (max 5 students/group), students will propose an analytical strategy suited for the qualitative or quantitative analysis of endogenous or exogenous compounds in a complex biological matrix. Students will have to think about the biological/clinical question (why?), the compounds to be measured (what?), and the analytical workflow they need to develop to measure those compounds (how?). This group assignment will help students (i) improving their understanding of the concepts presented during the lecture, (ii) stimulate their scientific curiosity, (iii) extend their literature search skills, (iv) train their writing skills, and (v) train their presentation skills.

3. Feedback meeting: each group of students will have one on campus meeting organized with the coordinator during the first weeks of the course where they can request feedback on their findings and ask their questions. If it is not possible to have this meeting on campus due to the current corona-related restrictions, this meeting will take place online (also for students who cannot come to the university).

4. Fieldwork/excursion: a virtual lab tour within the Endocrinology Lab of the Department of Clinical Chemistry at the AUMC will take place during the last week of course, allowing the students to see real-life applications of the concepts they have learnt during the course in a hospital clinical chemistry lab.

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Assessment

The final grade will be calculated based on the following:

• Exam: 50% of the final grade (individual grade)
• Weekly Quiz 10% of the final grade (individual grade)
• Written report: 20% of the final grade (group grade)
• Oral presentation: 20% of the final grade (group grade)

Students need at least a 5.0 for the exam and at least a 5.0 for the assignment grade (average between written report and oral presentation, rounded to 0.1). Not more than one 5.0 is allowed in total. The final grade has to be at least a 6.0 to successfully validate the course Bioanalytical Sciences.

Assignments

Written report

• Students will have to write a report on the method they have developed in the group assignment (1 report/group). Guidelines for this report are provided in the syllabus and will be presented during the first week. This report will be evaluated based on its structure (20%), scientific content (60%), and written skills (20%). The obtained grade (1 grade/group) will represent 20% of the final grade.

Oral presentation

• Students will have to present their developed method during the last week of the course (1 presentation/group). Guidelines for this presentation are provided in the syllabus and will be presented during the first week. The presentation will be evaluated based on its structure (20%), scientific quality (30%), quality of the slides (20%), communication skills (15%) and answers to questions (15%). The obtained grade (1 grade/group) will represent 20% of the final grade.

Weekly quizz

• Each week, students will have to answer a mini-quiz in Canvas testing the knowledge they have acquired during the lectures. This quiz is mandatory; the average grade obtained for all weekly quizzes will represent 10% of the final grade.

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

Additional information

Recommended prior knowledge: Basic knowledge of biochemistry, chromatography, electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.

Contact information

Coordinator

• Isabelle Kohler