COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This block will be subdivided into four, weekly sessions devoted to neurological and psychiatric disorders, as follows:
- Psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, addiction)
- Speech and hearing disorders; auditory processing
- Neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Huntington Disease)
- Neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, stroke)

The lectures will combine a clinical description of the disorders with the modern approaches being used to understanding their molecular and genetic basis, for the purpose of developing novel therapies. The methods that will be discussed include genome wide association studies (GWAS), copy number variant (CNV) analysis, whole genome and exome sequencing, induced pluripotent stem cell disease-modeling, CRISPR-editing, high throughput drug screening using human neuronal cells, regenerative medicine, and gene therapy/antisense oligonucleotides.

The course provides an overview of a broad range of neurological, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, along with descriptions of modern research tools designed to help understand their underlying basis. The course has a unique translational perspective. There is not other course at Einstein dedicated to teaching about brain disorders.

Course Objectives: Acquaint Ph.D. students with the clinical features of various neurological and psychiatric disorders, which are among the most disabling disorders in the world, and show how the tools of modern basic science research are being used to develop novel therapies.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Suggested reading: Each lecture will be accompanied by one article; either a review or a relevant research paper related to that particular lecture.

PREREQUISITES: None.

SUITABLE FOR 1ST YEAR STUDENTS: Yes.

STUDENT ASSESSMENTS: 40% of the final grade will be based on attendance and class participation. At the end of each class, the students are expected to upload a short (250 word) paragraph to canvas on what they have learned in class.

CREDIT HOURS: 1.25