Study Programmes 2016-2017
SBIM0495-1  
Molecular and cellular basis of disease
Duration :
20h Th, 10h Mon. WS, 40h Pers. Res.
Number of credits :
Master in biomedicine (120 ECTS)7
Lecturer :
Vincent Seutin
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
This course details the different cellular and tissular mechanisms classically involved in the pathophysiology of human diseases.
Based on the concepts of normal cell biology and physiology reviewed in Course 1 (SBIM0494), this course is divided into 5 main sections according to the main causes of human diseases:
  • Genetic perturbations
  • Dysfunction of nuclear receptors
  • Protein misfolding and aggregation
  • Alteration of membrane proteins
  • Alteration in the regulation of cell functions
 Each class is given by a specific teacher according to his/her area of expertise.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
At the end of this course, students should be able to apprehend the main cellular and tissular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of human diseases.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
This course is dedicated to medical and biomedical students with a strong background in normal cell biology and physiology.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
This course is mainly given ex cathedra, with additional references to renowned book chapters and reviews.
Journal-club sessions are organized at the end of the course, and involve the active participation of the students.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face: this course is mainly given ex cathedra.
Distance-learning: the students are encouraged to read additional book chapters and reviews and to prepare in advance journal club sessions.
Recommended or required readings :
Book chapters and up-to-date reviews are provided by each teacher at the beginning of each class.
Assessment methods and criteria :
The evaluation of this course is based on an oral presentation about one specific topic of the course chosen by the student (among a pre-established list of topics).
The criteria of evaluation include : - Proactivity during lectures (20 %) - Oral presentation (15') (50 %)


  • Adequacy of coverage, knowledge and understanding
  • Quality of the English (oral mostly + written (slides))
  • Ability to convey a message, to communicate
 - Answers to questions (15') (30 %)


  • Understanding and quality of discussion
Work placement(s) :
None
Organizational remarks :
The teachers are : K. Durkin, L. Delacroix, Ch. Cornil, M. Dumoulin and S. Wislet, V. Seutin, J. Hanson, S. Sayyed, J. Caerts, P. Close and N. Rocks.
Contacts :
V. Seutin : V.Seutin@ulg.ac.be