Course summary

Dementia (including a raft of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease) has recently become the leading cause of death in the UK. Stem cells are a novel and relatively young branch of scientific research that hold the potential for not only therapies but to be able to accurately model these distinctly human diseases. This unique programme will offer students real-world perspectives from patients, carers, scientists and a range of health care professionals including world-leading experts on the impact of neurological diseases. This programme offers cutting edge translational neuroscience focused on stem cells, neurodegenerative diseases, regeneration and models (both animal and cell). Furthermore the inclusion of patients and importantly their carers and the real-life impacts of these diseases on individuals will be a common thread running throughout this programme making it truly unique and exceptionally novel. This programme is designed for medical and/or scientific professionals and aims to introduce students to the fields of neurodegenerative diseases, stem cells, industry and emerging therapeutic opportunities in regenerative / translational neurology. Overall students will gain the knowledge and understanding of the clinical, real-life impact and scientific realities of these fields and thus advance their own learning and be able to carry this forward into their future careers. Therefore students will be introduced to a range of topics as they progress through the programme from introducing the basic anatomy, structure and development of the central nervous system, a critical understanding of stem cells including sources, locations and roles, an introduction to multiple neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s, Motor Neurone Disease and Parkinson’s disease), from both clinical and patient angles, before being introduced to in vitro and in vivo modelling of these diseases, neuroimaging techniques, stem cells and industry.