NEUR602: Current Topics in Neurosciences (Fundamental and Clinical Knowledge of Pain Research)

Faculty: Medicine, Dept of Neurology & Neurosurgery Course Leads: Dr. Catherine Ferland and Dr. Arkady Khoutorsky This unit of Current Topics in Neurosciences will address the basic science and clinical aspects of pain research. The course utilizes a novel mock journal editorial board format which aims to encourage class participation and to teach critical analysis of scientific articles. An introductory lecture is given by the Editors-in-chief of the mock journal – Drs. Catherine Ferland and Arkady Khoutorsky. Further background is given and additional discussion will be stimulated by the participation of various Neuroscience researchers that are members of the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain. Each presents one review paper and act as a discussant (Section Editors) for a student presentation of a second paper they suggest. Students alternately act as pseudo-author/defender or reviewer of the papers presented. Topics included: animal models of pain, gene expression mechanisms in pain including translational control, and human pain genetics, inflammation in the CNS in chronic pain, cancer pain, pain assessment in the critically ill patients, postsurgical pain and opioid abuse in chronic pain. Evaluation: There is no exam for this course. Participation, attendance and ability to critically assess information will account for 50% of the grade. This will be assessed by the instructor for each student at each class. The remainder of the grade is derived from a mock grant (25%), and an oral presentation of the grant (25%).