Integrated Project V

Objectives

This subject belongs to a series of subjects, Integrated Projects I-VI, on the undergraduate programme in Biomedicine which culminate each semester from the first to third year. The common objective of this set of subjects is to work at a practical level on the knowledge that students have acquired in other subjects during the semester, while facilitating the acquisition of skills related to biomedical research. The teaching methodology is problem- or project-based learning.

In particular, Integrated Project V aims to introduce students to the use of animal models to study human physiology and pathology. To do this, they will use experimental design, molecular and cell biology techniques to handle animals or samples from experimental animals and then analyse these experiments, using different techniques. Finally, statistical data analysis and discussion of the data will be carried out.

For this purpose, we strongly recommend that students enrolling in this subject have taken Experimental Design, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Molecular and Cellular Basis of Disease, Developmental Biology, Genetic Engineering, and Cell Culture and Tissue Engineering Laboratory.

Learning outcomes

• LO1. Works appropriately in a laboratory with biological material, taking into account safety measures, handling and elimination of biological waste, as well as the recording of activities.
• LO2. Uses sources of specialised information on science and technology in English.
• LO3. Knows and applies the main guidelines for structuring presentations, projects and publications in the field of scientific communication.
• LO4. Manages databases and applies advanced statistical methods to analyse these data.
• LO5. Solves problems and situations typical of professional practice with an enterprising and innovative attitude.
• LO6. Designs interventions that address needs in the field in a multidisciplinary manner.
• LO7. Shows skills for critical thoughts in the processes linked to the exercise of the profession.
• LO8. Prepares reports and written documents (mainly of a technical nature) with spelling and grammatical accuracy in Catalan, Spanish and English.
• LO9. Communicates clearly and precisely knowledge, methodology, ideas, problems and solutions to all types of audiences (specialised and non-specialised).
• LO10. Can identify his/her own learning needs and is able to organise his/her own learning with a high degree of autonomy in all types of contexts (structured or not).

Competencies

General skills

• Show a positive attitude to innovating, creating value and integrating scientific knowledge and improving one's own training.

Specific skills

• Analyse biomedical data and biological sequences through the use of statistics and computation.
• Be able to critically interpret the results and conclusions of scientific studies.
• Formulate hypotheses and design experiments in the field of biomedical research.
• Have technical skill in a research laboratory for working on cell and tissue samples, and with experimental animals.
• Recognise the applicability of genetic engineering methods and omics technology in preclinical and clinical research.

Basic skills

• Students can apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and have competencies typically demonstrated through drafting and defending arguments and solving problems in their field of study.
• Students can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialists and non-specialists.
• Students have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of independent learning.

Core skills

• Develop strategies for promoting gender equality and equity for all.
• Exercise active citizenship and individual responsibility with a commitment to democratic values and sustainable development.
• Interact in international contexts to transfer knowledge to current and emerging fields of professional development and research.
• Reflect critically on knowledge of all kinds, with a commitment to professional rigour and quality.

Content

• Model organisms of human diseases
• Invertebrate and vertebrate models
• Project to adapt animal models to the study of human diseases
• Experimental part
  • Analysis of murine model samples
  • Model of Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Chorioalantoid membrane model (CAM) of the chicken embryo
    • Embryonic development
    • Tumour growth in a CAM model
  • Experimental design and biostatistics

Evaluation

The course will be evaluated through:

• Active participation during all the course:
  • Participation, attitude, attendance: 10%
    Attendance is compulsory. Absences are not allowed, but it is possible to miss 1 or 2 sessions for justified reasons. More than 2 unexcused absences mean failing the whole course.
• In laboratory:
  • Global practical evaluation: 30%
  • Laboratory competences: 10%
• In class:
  • Deep analysis of adequation of animal models for the study of diseases (scientific revision of the topic): 25% (individual assessment: 12,5% + group assessment: 12,5%)
  • Scientific presentation: 25% (individual evaluation: 12,5% + group evaluation: 12,5%)

Excused absences do not exclude students from doing the work derived from the session they did not attend.

Excused absences allowed are:

• Hospital admission
• Court summons
• Death of a family member of 1st or 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity
• Medically diagnosed illness that makes it impossible to attend the session
• Attendance at a scheduled visit to the hospital, which cannot be postponed and which involves diagnosis, follow-up and/or medical treatment.

In case of a justified absence

If it is not possible to make up the class, the student must do a work (proposed by the teacher) that allows him/her to recover, totally or partially, the content of the session he/she has missed. The elaboration of this work is compulsory and the non-presentation of the work implies a penalty equivalent to the reduction of 5% of the final grade of the course.

In the case of unexcused absence

It is not possible to recover the class and a penalty equivalent to the reduction of 10% of the final grade of the course for each session to which it is missed (therefore, one absence supposes a reduction of 10% of the final grade and two, one of 20%).

Absence from 3 or more sessions means failing the course.

The student can do a recommended work to recover, totally or partially, the content of the session to which he/she has missed, but it is not obligatory. If the student makes up the work satisfactorily, he/she can recover 5% of the penalty imposed for the absence.

Methodology

The course is based on Problem Based Learning (PBL) methodology, which involves both individual and group work to respond to a challenge and produce a scientific document. In parallel, it also involves carrying out animal model experiments in the laboratory and analysing the results. All of this must be presented and discussed both orally and in writing.

Bibliography

Key references

• Ibeh, B. (2018). Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases: An Effective Therapeutic Strategy. Retrieved from https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/130333
• Mahmut, K., Volkan, G., & Abdulsamed, K. (2023). Animal Models and Experimental Research in Medicine. Retrieved from https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/113307

Further reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.