Pathology 430/826
The Molecular Basis of Disease
Path 430/826 - 0.5 credits
Course Coordinator
David Lillicrap
dpl@queensu.ca
Room 201G Richardson Laboratory
http://clinlabs.path.queensu.ca/path430/
PATH 430/826
Course Teaching Assistant
Alison Michels
8am64@queensu.ca
Monday 8.30 – 10.30 am
Room 101 Richardson Laboratory
Will need to start at 8.35 am
Course Format
5 Human Disease Themes
Blood malignancy
Bleeding diseases
Thrombotic diseases
Neurological disorders
Urological cancer
Course Instructors
Dr. David Lillicrap
Coordinator/Anemia/Thrombosis/
Bleeding diseases
Dr. Laura Swystun
Bleeding diseases/Thrombosis
Dr. Michael Rauh
Blood malignancies
Dr. David Good
Blood malignancies
Dr. Harriet Feilotter
Neurologic disease
Dr. John Rossiter
Neurologic disease
Dr. David Berman
Urological Cancer
Human Disease Themes
1. Common and rare
2. Inherited and acquired
3. Malignant and benign
4. Different organ systems
Course Objectives
1. To understand the molecular basis of a group of
“model” human diseases (molecular pathogenesis).
2. To gain insights into diagnostic and therapeutic
strategies for human disease.
Diagnosis of Disease
Human Disease Pathology/Pathogenesis
Treatment of Disease
Central Place of Disease Mechanisms
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Immunology
Human Pathology - Disease
Histology
Molecular biology
Diagnosis and Therapy
Genetics
Week 1
1. Introduction to Path 430-826/Evaluations/Expectations
2. Introduction to Molecular Medicine/Personalized Medicine
3. A highly prevalent inherited disease – Thalassemia
Week 2
Introductory background to blood malignancies
Lymphoma/leukemia
~40 mins
-
Then 10 min break
Student Presentation #1
20 mins + 15 mins discussion/questions
Week 3
Leukemia/Lymphoma - introductory presentation (~30 mins)
2 X 20 minute students presentations
~15 mins discussion/questions per presentation
Evaluative Components
Path 430 and Path 826
1 oral presentation
30%
1 Term paper
50%
Course Participation
20%
No mid-term or final exam
Term Paper Choice and Format
Path 430
• 5 paper titles will be distributed just before Reading Week
• 10 pages – double spaced, not including figures/references
• Include at least 1 figure and 15 references
• Return by Monday April 4th 2016 at 4pm.
Term Paper Choice and Format
Path 826
• 1 paper title will be available by Reading Week
• 12 pages – double spaced, not including figures/references
• Include at least 2 figures and 25 references
• Return by Tuesday April 4th 2016 at 4pm.
Student Presentations
• No longer than 20 mins
• No more than 30 slides
• Focus on
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•
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•
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Brief background
Study objectives
Overall study results
Study conclusions
Any study limitations/weaknesses
Do not get distracted/confused by the minutia of results
Better to present a clear representative example from the data - ie. several
illustrative graphs or figures
Course Participation
• Expectation that everyone in class has read some of the
assigned papers, and can ask relevant questions about the work.
• Each week, every student will be expected to hand to the
Course TA, 2 questions pertinent to the papers being
presented. Two or three of these questions will be asked during
the class.
• In addition, for each paper presentation, two students will be
asked at random (everyone will be asked equally over the term)
to either comment on a weakness of the work, or to ask the
presenter a question.
Course Expectations
1. Possession of a good background knowledge of the biological
sciences
2. Show an interest in furthering this knowledge
3. Class involvement –
interest in discussion
responses to questions
4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific knowledge,
both orally and in writing, in a clear, precise and succinct
manner.