Offered in Spring 2007 |
|||
What will the course be about?
The
barriers that have traditionally existed between disciplines are rapidly
eroding. This is especially true in the field of endothelial cell biology.
As a cell layer that traverses virtually every organ in the body, and
one that is highly vulnerable to dysfunction and disease, the endothelium
has far-reaching impact on human physiology and pathophysiology. This
course provides an overview of the endothelium as a model system for
understanding biological complexity in health and disease. Emphasis
will be placed on: 1) mechanisms of endothelial cell heterogeneity,
including genetic and microenvironmental determinants, 2) the role
of endothelial cell function in physiology, including cell trafficking,
hemostasis, barrier function, and vasomotor tone, and 3) the role of
endothelial cell dysfunction in disease, including tumors, sickle cell
disease, pulmonary hypertension, and xenotransplanation. Additional
topics that will be discussed include novel proteomic and genomic strategies
for mapping endothelial cell phenotypes, evolutionary (Darwinian) principles,
and complexity theory. |
|||
Can I take this course? This course is aimed towards graduate level students interested in applying a systems biology approach to a newly recognized organ system (the endothelium). The course is open (but not limited) to students in HST affiliated MD and PhD programs and Harvard University BBS. If you have any questions about eligibilty, please contact the course directors.
|
|||
|