Admission requirements
This course is only open for students enrolled in the Minor Molecular Biotechnology.
Description
The Medical Biotechnology course provides an overview of how living cells and animal models are used to investigate and develop pharmaceutical and diagnostic products for the identification, treatment, and prevention of human diseases. The course highlights how an integrated and multidisciplinary approach can generate new insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Through a series of lectures by invited academic and industry experts, students will become familiar with key techniques, approaches, and innovations driving the development of next-generation therapeutics. Contributions from specialists based at the Leiden Bio Science Park will illustrate current applications and translational aspects of biotechnology. Topics covered include the drug discovery pipeline, vaccine development, biopharmaceuticals, transgenesis, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and tissue engineering. In addition, students will engage in independent study through critical reading of scientific literature and online assessments. They will further develop their analytical and problem-solving skills in a group assignment, in which they collaboratively design and evaluate potential biotechnological solutions for a human disease. This project concludes with an oral presentation, fostering communication skills and encouraging reflection on the strengths and limitations of current approaches.
Course objectives
After completion of the course, students are able to:
Explain the principles and give definitions of commonly used terminology concerning the drug discovery pipeline; medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics.
Explain different biotechnological approaches to vaccine development and evaluation.
Name different types of pharmaceutical drugs and explain how they are clinically applied.
Explain methods for transgenesis or gene-editing to generate animal models for biotechnological research and explain the current state-of-the-art applications of gene editing for clinical use.
Explain different approaches and molecular tools for ex vivo and in vivo gene therapy.
Explain the principles and clinical application of stem cells and tissue engineering.
Perform literature research into biotechnological strategies for a specific disease, assess their potential, and propose and justify novel therapeutic approaches.
Present and discuss findings in a collaborative setting, and reflect on the strengths and limitations of current approaches, working both independently and in a group**.**
Schedule
The timetables are available through My Timetable (see the button in the upper right corner). A detailed schedule will be provided on Brightspace before the start of the course.
Teaching method
The course comprises a series of obligatory lectures provided by invited specialist speakers, which will be combined with self study from selected review articles that will be announced on Brightspace. The students will have to prepare for the lectures by submitting online multiple choice tests.
Assesment method
Student performance is assessed through a combination of individual and group-based components, evaluating knowledge, analytical skills, independent learning, collaboration, and communication.
Written examination (60%) Assesses understanding and application of key concepts in medical biotechnology.
Group assignment and presentation (30%) Students collaboratively design and evaluate a biotechnological strategy for a specific disease, present their findings, and briefly reflect on the strengths and limitations of their approach and collaboration.
Online tests (10%) Individual assessments evaluating independent study, knowledge retention, and understanding of core concepts.
The final mark for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average of the partial grades combined with (ii) a minimum assessment of 5.5 for each partial grade.
Resit, review & feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest.
Reading list
Selected review articles, see Brightspace.
Registration
As a student; you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video; you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Exchange and Study Abroad students; please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the course coordinator: Dr. M.A. Dona
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc., contact the Education Office
Remarks
The course information, timetable, test questions, and powerpoint presentations of the lectures will be available via Brightspace.