The inspiration for the course was to introduce students to ongoing clinical trials at UNC and provide insight into the translational research that is happening to connect discoveries in basic science to clinical tools that can help patients. It is a unique way for students to supplement their undergraduate biology and chemistry education. Given my involvement with clinical and basic science research in both neurology and neurosurgery at UNC, I\u00a0 found myself in a position to be able to expose students to the work being done to further understand and manage these brain diseases.<\/p>\n
For many of the diseases we cover, UNC is often at times the only center in the country offering particular clinical trials, and we spends a lot of time on delving into that.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
A distinctive feature of the course is the involvement of guest speakers from UNC Health, who are actively engaged in translational research and patient care. Leading experts, including Dr. Garden (Alzheimer’s), Dr. Vibhor Krishna (Neurosurgery\/Neurology – Parkinson’s), Dr. Higgins (Neurosurgery – Glioblastoma), and Dr. Almodovar (ALS), have shared their insights and experiences, bridging the gap between academic theory and clinical practice.<\/p>\n
The course, which boasts approximately 17 students, primarily juniors and seniors, caters to a diverse group of aspiring medical professionals and research scientists. The curriculum is meticulously crafted to be relevant to both future physicians and PhD candidates.<\/p>\n
The culmination of the course involves a challenging project where students design and pitch a novel therapeutic intervention for a chosen brain disease. They are tasked with articulating the therapeutic product’s function, its market niche, the design of clinical trials for efficacy testing, and the specific data to be collected from patients. This hands-on, project-based learning experience provides students with invaluable skills in scientific innovation and clinical application.<\/p>\n
Most recently, Dr. Jorge Almodovar visited the class and gave an in depth lecture on the current landscape of ALS treatment and management.
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