Course catalogue doctoral education - VT24

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Title Vascular Cell Biology
Course number 1544
Programme Cardiovascular Research
Language English
Credits 1.5
Date 2019-04-08 -- 2019-04-12
Responsible KI department Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery
Specific entry requirements _
Purpose of the course The course provides an overview of the healthy and diseased vessel wall from the cellular and molecular perspective, including vascular development, biomechanics, blood flow and role of lipid metabolism. The course is designed to build up knowledge in the field of cardiovascular biology towards commitment to basic, clinical, and translational research to utilize the most advanced technologies and expertise in the field.
Intended learning outcomes Learning outcomes of the course are defined on multiple levels:
1. At the basic level doctoral students should be able to account for the various cell types and extracellular matrix components in the vessel wall, and critically review/discuss the potential cellular transdifferentiations in pathological conditions relevant to cardiovascular disease.
2. On the level that combines knowledge and understanding, they should be able to interprete the complex interactions among the different components, biomechanical and systemic influences within the vessel wall, and use it to explain the causality in the development of vascular disease.
3. By conducting experimental projects during the course, students should be able to make a synthesis of the theoretical and practical knowledge and step out of the course framework by understanding how that knowledge could be applicable in their own research projects.
4. Finally, through team work and joint presentations/discussions, students should exhibit strengthened skills for collaborative networking, scientific presentation and communication to peers and to the public.
Contents of the course The course will provide a theoretical and practical introduction to the basic cell types and extracellular components present in the vascular wall, with special emphasis on smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. Focus will also be on the signaling and basic biological process of cell activation, migration, proliferation and turnover involved in the vessel wall homeostasis during vascular development (arteriogenesis, angiogenesis), as well as the main vascular pathologies and vascular remodeling during injury and healing reactions. The impact of vessel biomechanics and components from the systemic blood flow on cell plasticity will also be covered.
Teaching and learning activities The learning methods in this course include both individual and group studies, exemplified through literature reading, journal club discussions and practical workshops related to the intended learning outcomes. Seminars with expert lecturers from KI and externally invited, will initiate and enhance the learning process. A practical laboratory project, where the students will test relevant methods for vascular research (in vitro, in situ and in vivo) and produce their own results, will be integrated. Course leaders will serve as facilitators for discussions, promote networking and collaboration skills during team work and a joint social event.
Compulsory elements The course is work-intensive. Full presence is required during the whole course, particularly during group work, practical experimental tasks and examination. Necessary absence will be regulated with the course leaders and a written report will be required for compensation.
Examination All learning outcomes of the course must be reached to pass the course. Every participant will be individually assessed and examination will be based on several formats:
i) oral presentations of assigned group work. Time for group work will be designated during the whole course where teams prepare a presentation based on the experimental project they have designed and results they produced during laborations, supervised by the seminar leaders.
ii) participation during journal club discussion among teams (evaluation of methods, results, discussion, etc.) facilitated by the course organizers
iii) individual answers to a short questionnaire based on course lectures and literature
Literature and other teaching material Lecturers and course organisers will recommend suitable research articles for optional individual studies prior to the course start. Literature, lectures and other information will be provided in the CANVAS system for KI doctoral students. Examples of papers are given below:
1. M. Piper, (Ed.), Cell Culture Techniques in Heart and Vessel Research, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1990.
2. G.K. Owens, M. S. Kumar, B.R. Wamhoff. Molecular regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation in development and disease. Physiol Rev 84(3): 767-801. 2004
3. Lacolley P(1), Regnault V, Nicoletti A, Li Z, Michel JB. The vascular smooth muscle cell in arterial pathology: a cell that can take on multiple roles. Cardiovasc Res. 2012
4. Herbert SP(1), Stainier DY. Molecular control of endothelial cell behaviour during blood vessel
morphogenesis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2011
5. Zhang et al. Blood flow and stem cells in vascular disease. Cardiovasc Res 2013
6. Gomez et al. Epigenetic Control of Smooth Muscle Cell Identity and Lineage Memory. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2015
Number of students 10 - 20
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (according to written motivation), 2) date for registration as a doctoral student (priority given to earlier registration date)
More information
Additional course leader Assoc Prof Joy Roy, MD, PhD
Latest course evaluation Course evaluation report
Course responsible Ljubica Matic
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery

ljubica.matic@ki.se
Contact person Joy Roy
Institutionen för molekylär medicin och kirurgi

Joy.Roy@ki.se


Ljubica Matic
Institutionen för molekylär medicin och kirurgi

ljubica.matic@ki.se