Tentative Fall 2012 Course Syllabus BME 6938 (section 8132)
Foundations of Neural Engineering: Molecular basis of CNS Disease
Catalog Description: BME 6938 is an introduction to Neurobiology/Neuroscience and the
molecular bases of CNS disease for Biomedical Engineers. Lectures will be given by Dr.
Ormerod and students enrolled in the class. Topics will include an introduction to the central
nervous system (CNS), its cytoarchitectonic and functional organization, and behaviors that
different brain regions control. Finally diseases that affect the CNS and their molecular bases
will be described and students will devise BME strategies geared toward treating the disease.
This information is essential for Biomedical Engineers to understand in their attempts to
repair/rebuild the central nervous system. (3 credits)
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: This course is open to all graduate students enrolled in
Biomedical Engineering. Please contact Dr. Ormerod for more information regarding course
enrollment if you are not a graduate student in the Biomedical Engineering Department.
Course Objectives:
To expose Biomedical Engineering students to CNS structure and function, as well as
CNS disease and potential avenues for repairing the brain/spinal cord. The course will provide
experience in thoroughly researching and teaching a topic, which will hone the problem solving
and communication skills of students.
Instructor:
Dr. Brandi Ormerod
Office location: Room Biomedical Sciences Building Room J296.
Telephone: 273-8125
E-mail: bormerod@bme.ufl.edu
Web site: http://stemcell.bme.ufl.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 2-4pm.
Teaching Assistant: TBA
*Note: Please contact instructor and teaching assistant via e-mail to set-up appointments
outside normal office hours.
Class schedule: The class meets once per week on Tuesdays.
Meeting Times and Locations:
Wednesday, Periods 5-7 (11:45am – 2:45pm), Room: Biomedical Sciences Room TBA.
Required Textbooks:
Principles of Neural Science, 4th Edition. 2000. Eric R. Kandel, James H. Schwartz and
Thomas M. Jessell (Eds). ISBN 9780838577011.
*This is the quinetessential textbook for anyone researching the CNS.
Suggested Textbook:
The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology. 2003. Jack R. Cooper, Floyd E. Bloom and
Robert H. Roth.
Outline (Subject to change once enrollment is determined):
Formal Lectures:
August 22ND – Lecture 1: Organizational meeting and Overview
August 29TH – The Neurobiology of Behavior (Part I)
September 5th – Molecular Biology of the Neuron (Part II)
September 12th – Synaptic Transmission (Part III)
September 19th – Neural Basis of Cognition (Part IV)
September 26h – Perception (Part V)
October 3rd – Movement (Part VI and VII)
October 10th – Cognition (Part IX)
Student Led Discussions (topics are flexible and enrollment dependent; discussion required)
October 17th – 1. Neurotransmitters 2. Neurotransmitters 3. Neurotransmitters
October 24th – 4. Neurotransmitters 5. Neurotransmitters 6. Neurotransmitters
October 31st – 7. Neurotransmitters 8. Neurotransmitters 9. Neurotransmitters
November 7th – 10-12. BME Disease Strategies
November 14th – 13-15. BME Strategies for Disease
November 21st – No Class Meeting - THANKSGIVING
November 28th – 16-18. BME Strategies for Disease
1. Attendance and Expectations
a) Respect for others
i) No cell phone or laptop use during any classes (you will be asked to leave and will
receive 0 for participation that day).
ii) No off-topic discussion during class (you will be asked to leave and will receive 0 for
participation that day).
b) Professionalism
i) Be on time to class
ii) Be well prepared for classes (assigned readings should be completed BEFORE
class).
iii) Actively participate in classes, but stay on topic (off topic discussion will subtract
points from your grade).
iv) Be courteous and cooperative
v) Uphold UF’s Honor Code
c) Attendance is required as your grade will reflect your class participation.
d) Students missing classes will not be able to make up grades for class participation.
2. Grading:
a) Participation: 30% (you must read prior to class, attend class, and ask questions during
class)
b) Presentation 1: 25% - talk handouts should be provided before talk
Bii) Annotated Bibliography (Complete version due 1 day after Talk 1) – 10%
ci) Presentation 2: 25% - talk handouts should be provided before talk
cii) Annotated Bibliography (Prelim due 1 week before talk; Final due 1 day after talk):
10%
3. Grading Scale:
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
E
> 90
87-89
84-86
80-83
77-79
74-76
70-73
67-69
64-66
60-63
57-59
< 56
4. Make-up Exam Policy – not applicable.
5. Late Policy – DON’T hand things in late. This is graduate school.
6. Honesty Policy – All students admitted to the University of Florida have signed a
statement of academic honesty. Doing so commits them to be honest in all academic work
and failure to comply with this commitment will result in disciplinary action. Thus, this is a
reminder to uphold your obligation as a UF student and to be honest in all work submitted
and quizzes/exams taken in this course and all others. An honor code violation will
receive a zero grades on the assignment or exam and will be referred to the honor
court for prosecution.
Note: Any information that has been copied to any degree from the internet or from published
material is considered to be plagiarized. Any idea that is recycled (reworded) without being
appropriately cited is also considered to be plagiarized. Plagiarism is a violation of the
academic honesty policy. You are responsible for understanding what plagiarism is. If you
plagiarize, you will receive ZERO for the assignment and will be reported to the department
(no exceptions – this is graduate school).
7. Accommodation for Students with Disabilities – Students requesting classroom
accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. That office will provide
the student with documentation that he/she must provide to the course instructor when
requesting accommodation.
8. UF Counseling Services – Resources are available on-campus for students having
personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals. The resources include:
a) University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, Personal and Career
Counseling.
b) SHCC mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, Personal and Counseling.
c) Center for Sexual Assault/Abuse Recovery and Education (CARE), Student Health Care
Center, 392-1161, sexual assault counseling.
d) Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and
counseling.