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Convenors: Prof Mary Reilly and Dr Matilde Laura
This
short course gives an introduction to the anatomy and development of the
peripheral nervous system and its physiology and function. It also gives
an overview of clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment options as well
as updates on ongoing clinical and basic research trends in peripheral nerve
diseases. Formal lectures are supplemented by masterclasses on how to utilize
and interpret techniques in histopathology, electrophysiology and live imaging
(MRI) for diagnosis and clinical trials.
This course took place 13-17 November 2017.
Participants also gain entry to attend and listen to lectures of the British Peripheral Nerve Society meeting on the 17th November 2017.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course (module) students will understand the anatomy, development and functional characteristics of the peripheral nervous system.
Students will be able to describe and explain the clinical presentation of the several conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system.
Students will be able to understand and interpret neurophysiological and neuropathological assessments in peripheral neuropathies. Through practical demonstrations, students will be able to recognize diagnostic criteria using tissue histology and clinical assessment data. Students will be also able to critically evaluate the validity of disease models for the development of future therapies.
Journal club
Participants of this short course will have the opportunity to get an insight and to take part in a journal club organized by research groups at the Institute of Neurology. From this science focused journal club participants will learn to present and interpret research publications in the field of peripheral nerve diseases.
Lay summary writing task
In this short course we give our participants a relevant practical skills workshop on clinical and scientific lay summary writing. This gives our students the right skill set to communicate scientific findings, clinical research and clinical practice to patient groups and the general public.
Examples of lecture topics in the Peripheral Nerves and Associated Diseases short course:
- Emryonic development and pathfinding of peripheral nerves (Andrew Stoker)
- Biology of Schwann cells (Rhona Mirsky)
- Nerve injury and regeneration (Kristjan Jessen)
- Biophysical properties of peripheral axons (Roope Mannikko)
- Nerve biopsies and hitopathology (Sebastian Brandner)
- Diabetic and small fibre neuropathies (Dave Bennett)
- Acute inflammatory neuropathies (Jeremy Radcliffe)
- Chronic inflammatory neuropathies (Mike Lunn)
Assessment schedule
If a student chooses to participate in the assessments, they will take place as follows:
- Lay summary assignment (20%)
- 2 hour unseen exam consisting of 2 essays (80%) - provisionally scheduled for the 15th December 2017