Module: Neuro & Cardiovascular Therapeutics

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).

As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Neuro & Cardiovascular Therapeutics
Module Code	BE559 (ITS) / BTE1043 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Biotechnology
Module Co-ordinator	Janosch Heller
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Repeat examination

Description

Module Aims: The aim of this module is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the current state of neurotherapeutics and cardiovascular therapeutics, including the underlying physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical aspects. Key biotherapeutics isolated from a variety of natural sources - human, animal, or microorganisms and produced by biotechnology methods and other cutting-edge technologies will be addressed including gene-based biologics and extracellular vesicles (EVs). The module will cover a range of topics including the molecular and cellular basis of nervous and cardiovascular system diseases, the development of new biotherapeutics treatment options, and the clinical application of these therapies. Module Outcomes: By the end of this module, students will be able to: • LO1: describe the key features of the nervous system and of the cardiovascular system and the interplay between these systems. • LO2: Understand the basic science underlying nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders and their treatment options. • LO3: Understand the mechanisms of action, benefits, and adverse effects of various neurotherapeutic agents, including pharmaceuticals and biologics. • LO4: Understand the mechanisms of action, benefits, and adverse effects of various cardiovascular therapeutic agents, including pharmaceuticals and biologics. • LO5: Appraise the clinical use and administration of neurotherapeutic agents in a range of neurological conditions, including stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. • LO6: Evaluate the clinical use and administration of cardiovascular therapeutic agents in cardiovascular disease, caused for example by thrombosis or atherosclerosis. • LO7: Critically interpret the available literature on neurotherapeutic agents (preclinical and clinical data) and propose future directions for the development of new and improved neurotherapeutic agents. • LO8: Critically interpret the available literature on cardiovascular therapeutic agents (preclinical and clinical data) and propose future directions for the development of new and improved cardiovascular therapeutic agents. Module Content: Overview of nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders: This section will provide a comprehensive overview of brain disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and others. Additionally, this section will cover cardiovascular disease and its many causes, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, heart failure, in-stent restenosis and aneurysms. It will cover the molecular and cellular basis of these diseases and the latest research in this area. Developing new therapies: Biologics are isolated from a variety of natural sources - human, animal, or microorganism - and may be produced by biotechnology methods and other cutting-edge technologies, including gene-based and cellular biologics, which are often at the forefront of biomedical research, and may be used to treat a variety of medical conditions for which no other treatments are available. This section will address the development of biotherapeutics, composed of sugars, proteins, or nucleic acids or complex combinations of these substances, or may be biological entities such as extracellular vesicles (EVs). It will examine the current state of biotherapeutic discovery and development for nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders. Topics covered will include drug target identification, purification, preclinical testing, and clinical trials. Clinical application of neuro and cardiovascular therapeutics: This section will focus on the practical aspects of biotherapeutics in nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders, their delivery and therapy outcomes, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), fusion proteins, recombinant proteins, gene therapy products and immunomodulatory and bioengineered extracellular vesicles Module Assessment: The module will be assessed through a combination of online tests and oral exams. The online tests will include multiple choice and short answer questions. The oral exam will be an interactive oral exam assessing course content in an engaging and focused way. Overall, this module will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field of neuro- and cardiovascular therapeutics and the latest developments in this area. It will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers in academia, industry, or the healthcare sector.

Learning Outcomes

1. Gain advanced knowledge of the key features of the nervous system and of the cardiovascular system and the interplay between these systems.
2. Gain critical awareness of the basic science underlying nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders and their treatment options.
3. Gain a critical awareness of the mechanisms of action, benefits, and adverse effects of various neurotherapeutic agents, including pharmaceuticals and biologics.
4. Gain a critical awareness of the mechanisms of action, benefits, and adverse effects of various cardiovascular therapeutic agents, including pharmaceuticals and biologics.
5. Critically appraise the clinical use and administration of neurotherapeutic agents in a range of neurological conditions, including stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
6. Systematically evaluate the clinical use and administration of cardiovascular therapeutic agents in cardiovascular disease, caused for example by thrombosis or atherosclerosis.
7. Critically interpret the available literature on neurotherapeutic agents (preclinical and clinical data) and propose future directions for the development of new and improved neurotherapeutic agents.
8. Critically interpret the available literature on cardiovascular therapeutic agents (preclinical and clinical data) and propose future directions for the development of new and improved cardiovascular therapeutic agents.
9. Effectively demonstrate your creativity, problem-solving and reflection competencies to produce a valuable report.
10. Work effectively within a group to create recommendations for policy, governance and clinical engagement.
11. Effectively peer-review the work of others and defend their stakeholder positions.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	In-person Lecture
Tutorial	12	In-person Tutorial
Independent Study	56	Reference to reading material and preparation for assessments.
Assignment Completion	2	Completion of in class test and oral exam.
Assessment Feedback	1	Feedback given to students regarding assignment.
Group work	30	Working on group assignments.
Lecture	24	In-person Lecture
Tutorial	12	In-person tutorial
Independent Study	56	Reference to reading material and preparation for assessments.
Assignment Completion	2	Completion of in class test and oral exam.
Assessment Feedback	1	Feedback given to students regarding assignment.
Group work	30	Working on group assignments.
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Overview of nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders
This section will provide a comprehensive overview of brain disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and others. Additionally, this section will cover cardiovascular disease and its many causes, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, heart failure, in-stent restenosis and aneurysms. It will cover the molecular and cellular basis of these diseases and the latest research in this area.

Developing new therapies
Biologics are isolated from a variety of natural sources - human, animal, or microorganism - and may be produced by biotechnology methods and other cutting-edge technologies, including gene-based and cellular biologics, which are often at the forefront of biomedical research, and may be used to treat a variety of medical conditions for which no other treatments are available. This section will address the development of biotherapeutics, composed of sugars, proteins, or nucleic acids or complex combinations of these substances, or may be biological entities such as extracellular vesicles (EVs). It will examine the current state of biotherapeutic discovery and development for nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders. Topics covered will include drug target identification, purification, preclinical testing, and clinical trials.

Clinical application of neuro and cardiovascular therapeutics
This section will focus on the practical aspects of biotherapeutics in nervous system and cardiovascular system disorders, their delivery and therapy outcomes, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), fusion proteins, recombinant proteins, gene therapy products and immunomodulatory and bioengineered extracellular vesicles.

Case studies in biotherapeutics
Case studies will be supported by core reading material from peer-reviewed scientific literature. For consistency, each group will be required i) to provide a critical succinct account of the underlying science, ii) to describe how you worked as a group to analyse the problem, iii) to identify the basis underlying your recommendations, iv) to provide a succinct account of your recommendations and v) to discuss implications for policy, governance and clinical engagement.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
In Class Test	This will consist of a series of problem- or challenge-based MCQs to address the students' critical understanding of the curriculum by MCQs that specifically address the students' knowledge of one specific area and use it in another area; sample questions will be provided to students in advance of the exam. The exam will take place in week 15.	10%	Sem 1 End
Group assignment	The students will be divided into groups in order to review cases of successful or unsuccessful novel therapeutic development cases from therapeutic target identification to drug design and clinical trial. The students will then have to present the rationale that led to the particular clinical trial and apply critical thinking in order to assess the strengths and shortcomings of the study and ultimately propose better alternatives. Each student will be given a role (ie clinician, patient, preclinical data scientist, trial manager) and the students as a group will have to produce a 1500-word report and give a 15-minute presentation with each student participating within their given role.	30%	Week 30
Group assignment	Peer review of case study group work for the other teams' case study. This is a group mark because each group submits one report discussing another group's case study.	10%	Sem 2 End
Oral Examination	Individual oral exams (5-10 minutes) will be used to assess the deep knowledge and understanding of students covering the module content by using challenge or problem-based questions. The assessment will take place in week 33.	50%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Eric R. Kandel,Thomas M. Jessell,James H. Schwartz,Steven A. Siegelbaum,A.J. Hudspeth: 2013, Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Edition, McGraw Hill Professional, 9780071390118
John Noseworthy: 2006, Neurological Therapeutics, CRC Press, 1-84184-583-3
Robert Fitridge: 2020, Mechanisms of Vascular Disease A Textbook for Vascular Specialists, Springer Cham, 978-3-030-436
Chaya Gopalan, Erik Kirk: 2022, Biology of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Academic Press, 978-0-12-8234
Richard A. Smith, Brian K. Kaspar and Clive N. Svendsen: 2020, Neurotherapeutics in the Era of Translational Medicine,

Other Resources

None