MEDFL5250 – Methods in Cardiac Research
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Heart research is increasingly multi-modal, reflecting improvements and innovations in methodology, and a demand for robust assessment of scientific findings. Cardiac scientists benefit from understanding and utilizing a wide set of techniques, also outside of their own field of expertise. The host institute of this course, the Institute for Experimental Medical Research (IEMR), is a hub for multidisciplinary clinicians and scientists to advance cardiac research. Combining the knowledge of these researchers with invited experts, this course will introduce students to a wide range of key methodologies used in cardiac research today, covering the theory and general principles of each method in short lectures focused on key need-to-know-aspects for the non-expert.
Students will have the opportunity to observe the practical application of several cardiac techniques across the 3 day course, and are expected to present their own ongoing or planned work in a short presentation.
The course is hosted by Institute for Experimental Medical Research in association with NORHEART - The Norwegian PhD School of Heart Research.
Learning outcome
This course will give you knowledge about:
- Commonly used and cutting edge methods in the field of cardiac research.
- Methods in molecular biology including: real-time qPCR, RNA sequencing,
immunolocalisation, protein-protein interactions, western blotting, flow cytometry, FRET and ELISA. - Methods in cellular biology including: cell isolation and cell culturing, transfection, GM-mice, cell-stretching, calcium imaging, and quantification of intracellular signalling pathways.
- In vivo and ex vivo testing of cardiac function in research animals, such as echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, telemetric ECG surveillance, pressure-volume measurements, exercise training and cardiac surgery in laboratory animals.
- Cardiac examination of patients, such as MR, CT, SPECT.
This course will give you the skills to:
- Select the appropriate method to use in your research.
- Gain insight into the benefits and limitations of each method.
- Explain the core principles of the presented methods.
The course attendees will submit an abstract with a focus on the methods they expect to utilize during their research projects, which they shall also present during a 3 minute oral presentation. Details regarding the format of the abstract and presentations will be distributed before the course.
Admission
Members of The Norwegian PhD School of Heart Research (NORHEART) will get first priority to the course. NORHEART membership is open and free for all PhD and Research Curriculum students at Norwegian universities. Maximum number of participants is 20.
MEDFL5250 is restricted to students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.
Course registration:
- Students apply in StudentWeb.
- Enrollment to this course is automatically registered in StudentWeb.
- Applicants will upon registration immediately receive a reply in StudentWeb if the application is granted.
The courses MEDFL5250 and MF9250 have common admission.
Overlapping courses
2 credits overlap with MF9250 – Methods in Cardiac Research
Teaching
This is a 3 day course. Students will be evaluated with an examination on the final, 3rd day, of the course. To pass the course, the student must participate in at least 80% of the teaching and pass the examination. Attendance will be registered.
Examination
The course concludes with an examination on the final day, which will be comprised of multiple choice questions (no negative marking). Students will be permitted and encouraged to use their course material and notes during the exam, however the use of electronic devices is strictly prohibited.
To pass the course MF9250:
1. Students must attend at least 80% of the taught course (registers shall be taken throughout the day)
2. The final exam must be evaluated as passed.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.