Course summary

Overview The aim of this programme is to train a new generation of physicians and scientists able to successfully transfer neuroscience and pharmacology discoveries from the bench to the bedside. The course emphasizes a true translational approach by teaching basic science in an academic environment, involving you in current research techniques and also offering the opportunity to meet patients suffering from a range of neurological diseases. The topics covered range from the principles of drug design and development to clinical aspects of the management of major neurological diseases, thus providing specialised training and essential skills for translational research. The clinical component is unique to this course and ties together the scientific, clinical and personal aspects of neurological disease. This programme will give you a thorough training in the main concepts and methods of translational medicine, with a particular focus on unmet needs in diseases of the nervous system, and will critically discuss the challenges associates with developing better therapies in various diseases. At the end of their studies students will have a detailed knowledge of the drug discovery and development process, and of clinical trial design and methodology and also a thorough understanding of the regulatory environment. The formal teaching includes lectures, seminars, clinical workshops and a research project. Our lecturers are specialists in their field and are well-known pre-clinical scientists and expert clinicians. There are also invited speakers - leading researchers from other UK or international academic institutions and senior scientists from the pharmaceutical industry and the research councils.