SNEU20002U Experimental design in Neuroscience

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge

• Discuss and critically evaluate scientific methods applied within experimental neuroscience
• Explain the principles, research and clinical applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI
• Explain the principles, research and clinical applications of positron emission tomography (PET)
• Evaluate the utility of PET for drug development
• Discuss the principles of neurogenetics including DNA variation, genotype, haplotype, allele frequencies, Linkage Disequlibrium and heritability.
• Discuss the basics of genetic mapping including both common and rare variants
• Principles and methods for downstream analyses of genetic datasets
• Allen Brain Atlas and other relevant online resources for data analysis in neuroscience
• Single-cell RNA sequencing data processing and visualization

Skills

• Design and evaluate research studies in the following disciplines: studies using live animals, neuroimaging, neurogenetics, epidemiology
• Describe and explain the fundamental principles of magnetic resonance imaging including functional MRI
• Describe and explain the fundamental principles of positron emission transmission imaging
• Name and describe in general terms what can be measured with PET and MR
• Describe research and clinical applications of neuroimaging techniques
• Describe and explain the fundamental principles of neurogenetics
• Describe principles of genetic mapping and downstream analysis of genetic datasets
• Perform basic data processing and data visualization in R
• Describe and explain principles of processing nervous system single cell RNA sequencing data

Laboratory Animal Science - Function B

• The candidate must be able to fulfill all learning outcomes as described in the European Union guidelines for training animal researchers for Function B  which implies being able to:

Knowledge

• Describe the concepts of fidelity and discrimination, randomization, blinding and bias and how this is handled in animal studies
• Recognize causes of biological variability, and and how consistency between animal studies is ensured
• Identify the experimental unit and recognize issues of non-independence in animal studies.
• Explain the terms significance and power and identify variables affecting these in animal studies.
• Describe the principles of a good scientific strategy in animal studies necessary to achieve robust results, including
  • definition of hypotheses
  • determination of the sample size
  • different types of experimental designs
  • experimental measures
  • analysis of results
  • the need for pilot studies
  • the need and methods for proper literature review before the study
  • tools to support proper planning of animal studies, such as PREPARE guidelines and be able to provide examples of the consequences of failing to implement a sound scientific strategy.

Skills

• Use appropriate statistical methods for the evaluation of an animal study, and explain how and when to access expert help in the design of an animal study and the interpretation of experimental results
• Explain the importance of rigorous scientific technique in animal studies and the requirements of assured quality standards, such as Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).
• Explain the importance of dissemination of the study results irrespective of the outcome and describe the key issues to be reported when using live animals in research, such as ARRIVE guidelines 

Competencies

• Design and evaluate experiments using live animals (EU Function B)
• Design and evaluate experiments in the subdisciplines neuroimaging, neurogenetics, epidemiology
• Independently and critically assess literature covering neuroimaging, neurogenetics and epidemiology.
• Independently interpret neuroscientific data and literature
• Communicate and discuss neuroscientific knowledge and theories
• After supplementary examination in practical skills relating to EU Function A and D achieve a personal license to independently plan, implement and take responsibility for the design and performance of animal experimentation within the European Union according to the EU Directive 2010/63/EU Article 23.2 and the Danish executive order 12 of 07/01/2016, §56.