Basic Research Methods and Methodology

Course details

General
FacultyHealth Sciences
DepartmentMedicine
Education levelPostgraduate / Master of Science
Course codeC3Semester1
Course titleBasic Research Methodology
Independent teaching activitiesHours per weekECTS
Lectures2
Practice6
Total88
CoursetypeGeneral setting course, skills development
Prerequisite coursesNone
Teaching and assessment languageEnglish

Learning outcomes

Objective

The in-depth presentation of modern laboratory techniques and methods that are necessary in biomedical research. The acquaintance of students with techniques and methods that are widely used in biomedical research.

Knowledge

Upon completion of the course, graduate students will be familiar with:

  • The basics of modern methods of basic sciences.
  • The process of gathering information and experimental data, and choosing the right technique to answer a given research question.
  • The molecular basis of various pathological conditions.
Skills

The course participants upon completion will be able to:

  • To understand, reading a scientific publication, why specific techniques and methods were used in order to answer specific questions.
  • To determine the strategy and to choose the appropriate techniques and methods in order to answer a research question.
  • To choose the appropriate techniques and methods in order to answer a research question.
  • To understand the molecular basis of various pathologies and to organize their results into a coherent and integrated work.

Course contents

  1. Systematic and theoretical analysis of research methodology for the Biomedical Sciences
  2. Regenerative Medicine
  3. Cell cultures
  4. DNA and RNA isolation. Hybridization by Southern and Northern blotting
  5. PCR – RT PCR – Real time PCR -stains, RFLPs
  6. SNPs, DNA sequencing methods, Next generation sequencing
    Proteomic analysis. Immunoprecipitation
  7. Cellular electrical activity recordings
  8. Optical recordings. Sensory system research methodology.
    Recordings of large cellular assemblies (electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyogram, electroneurogram, evoked potentials)
  9. Mapping-Functional magnetic resonance imaging
  10. Muscle strength -Time course of muscle contraction recordings
  11. Brain stimulation technique

Teaching and learning methods – evaluation

Teaching methodsFace to face
Distance learning
Use of information and
communication technologies (ICT)

  • Use of ICT in Teaching- Moodle Virtual learning environment (VLE)
    (asynchronous learning, wikis, Online Discussion Fora, Educational Portfolio, assignment submission, assessment process)

  • Use of ICT in Communication with students
    (email, instant messaging via Moodle)

Module structureWork Hours per SemesterActivity
Lectures 78
Exercises (Quiz) 20
Exercises (Wikis) 18
Exercises (Online discussion fora) 20
Exercises (Study relevant papers) 20
Essay background work64
Essay writing30
Overall work for the course250
Assessment Methods
  • Written assignment, in English, approximately 2,500 words long, to be submitted by each student at the end of the course

  • Assessment of knowledge at the beginning and the end of the course with short-answer questions and essays development

  • Weekly quizes, with multiple choice questions

  • Assessment based on comments submitted by each student in online discussion fora

Recommended Bibliography

The course material derives from a variety of sources because of the range of the areas covered. During the course, references and suggested books, for the areas covered, will be given