Biochemical Basis of Disease

BIOL31332 Biochemical Basis of Disease 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 3 Susan Taylor Unit coordinator School of Biological Sciences School of Medical Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 Major diseases of man such as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and fibrosis, are increasingly significant contributors to morbidity and mortality in the western world. Developing treatments for these diseases is a major challenge to the pharmaceutical industry and there is great interest in the biochemistry underlying their pathogenesis.  Major diseases of man such as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and fibrosis, are increasingly significant contributors to morbidity and fatality in the western world. Developing treatments for these diseases is a major challenge to the pharmaceutical industry and there is great interest in the biochemistry underlying their pathogenesis. This unit aims to describe the biochemistry of these diseases and highlight how understanding disease mechanisms is necessary for the development of novel therapies.  This unit aims to describe the biochemistry of these common diseases and highlight how our current understanding of disease mechanisms informs the development of novel therapies.  Students should have an understanding of the biochemical basis of a number of major diseases of man and appreciate how and why specific disease mechanisms are being targeted in the development of new treatments.  Research Students encouraged to read around the lecture material including recommended primary literature and review papers. Written communication Students have the opportunity to submit and receive feedback on an exam style essay outline which is based on relevant questions from past papers. A significant proportion of this course will be delivered in the form of directed reading supported by lectures and will focus on biochemical aspects of disease mechanisms and potential therapies relating to:Diabetes and Obesity: metabolic syndrome, beta cells and insulin secretion, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, secondary complications of diabetes.Vascular disease: Atherosclerosis, dyslipidaemia and aberrant angiogenesis.Fibrotic disease: ECM biology in tissue homeostasis, remodelling, repair and fibrosis.Aberrant TGF-beta signalling: Lung fibrosis and Marfan Syndrome.Protein folding/misfolding diseases: amyloid diseases, prion disease and therapeutic strategies. Chronic inflammation, protein misfolding and treatments for COPD.   1 Written exam 70% 7 Oral assessment/presentation 30% Group feedback will be given for the assessment and an online discussion forum on Blackboard or Padlet will be available to facilitate communication amongst students and teaching staff.The focus will be to provide a review of the previous year’s exam paper and guidance on exam preparation. An exam preparation workshop will run mid-way through the unit to cover the first half of the lecture content. A second exam preparation workshop will run at the end of a unit to cover the second half of the unit content.  BIOL21132 Cell Metabolism & Metabolic Control Pre-Requisite Recommended N Review papers and some primary literature will be provided on Blackboard to compliment the lecture topics. Assessment written exam 1.5 Lectures 18 0 80.5