Introduction to molecular and reproductive toxicology
Overall Course Objectives
This course aims to give the students a basic understanding of how chemicals from foods and the environment can affect normal development and cause various diseases. Focus is put on endocrine disrupting chemicals affecting the male, female and thyroid hormone systems.
See course description in Danish
Learning Objectives
- Explain the concept of endocrine disruption and the basic principles of toxicology
- Describe how endocrine disrupting chemicals can affect the male, female and thyroid hormone systems
- Outline classical in vivo study designs used to test and risk-assess chemicals for suspected endocrine disrupting activities
- Explain principles, and give examples of various test methods and strategies for chemical risk assessment
- Assess the likelihood of developing disease based on doses and timing of exposure
- Analyze how hormones during fetal life impacts on the development of the reproductive and thyroid hormone systems
- Evaluate toxicological data and surmise the likelihood of a chemical causing harm to humans
- Obtain a broad understanding of how anthropogenic chemicals can have various effects on human health, including mixture effects
Course Content
Humans are constantly exposed to many chemicals from foods, consumer products and the environment in general. Some of these chemicals can have negative effects on our health and cause a wide range of diseases, such as fertility problems, metabolic disorders, lower IQ or cancers. This course will give a general introduction to toxicology with specific focus on chemicals that can mimic or disturb hormone signaling and thereby disturb development of the reproductive or thyroid hormone systems. The course will also cover basic knowledge on chemical risk assessment and regulation internationally. The course will include project work on a specific toxicological problem, where groups of 3-4 students writes and present a report that must be passed to be able to sit an oral exam at the end of the course. The project work is a significant learning tool for this course.
Teaching Method
Lectures and group project work.
Faculty
Limited number of seats
Minimum: 10, Maximum: 30.
Please be aware that this course has a minimum requirement for the number of participants needed, in order for it to be held. If these requirements are not met, then the course will not be held. Furthermore, there is a limited number of seats available. If there are too many applicants, a pool will be created for the remainder of the qualified applicants, and they will be selected at random. You will be informed 8 days before the start of the course, whether you have been allocated a spot.