Cellular Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics

Unit Code

01293

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Centre of Neuroscience
The University of Melbourne
Parkville
Victoria 3010 Australia

Unit Points

Research Points: 87.5 - 100

Coursework Points: 0 - 12.5

top of page

Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:


Dr Colleen Thomas
Howard Florey Institute
The University of Melbourne
VIC, 3010, AUSTRALIA
Ph:+61 3 8344 1888
Fax: +61 3 9348 1707
www.hfi.unimelb.edu.au


email: colleen.thomas@florey.edu.au



top of page

Overall Objectives

The overall objectives are to give the student some background experience in basic neuroscience research pertaining to a common neurological disorder. The University of Melbourne Centre for Neuroscience contains five laboratories each researching key areas of neurological disease. Several of the laboratories are basic biochemistry/molecular biology laboratories and these are investigating chronic neurodegenerative disease especially motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis among other problems. In these areas the student would have exposure to some of the current ideas driving research and would gain some experience with basic laboratory techniques in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. One of the laboratories in the centre is neuroimaging and neuroinformatics. This group is using spohisticated computing techniques to analyse functional and structural images of the brain. The research programs of this laboratory include imaging the major neuropsychiatric disorders, scientific computing and image processing. An attachment to this laboratory would give the student considerable experience in the evolving fields of neuroimaging and bioinformatics.

top of page

Content

Coursework: Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics OR Qualitative Health Research as appropriate to the project selected.

Research: Research topics will be offered in

• Basic research into mechanisms and potential therapies in motor neurone disease
• Basic research and potential therapies in multiple sclerosis
• Neuroimaging and Neuroinfomatics
• Pain Research

Sample Research Topics:

1. Studies with treatment strategies in animal models of motor neurone disease.
2. Investigations looking at cellular mechanisms in neuronal cultures established from animal models of multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.
3. Neuroinfomatics studies in complex neuropsychiatric disorders.

top of page

Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 87.5 - 100 points
Research Report (9000-10,000 words): 80%
Oral presentation: 20%


Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics will be assessed as per subject description

top of page

Student Numbers

Number of places available:
4