Single-Course English 5 ECTS

Introduction to molecular and reproductive toxicology

Overall Course Objectives

Toxicology is the science of poisons. This course aims to give the students basic understanding of how chemicals from foods and the environment can affect normal development and cause various diseases. Particular focus are endocrine disrupting chemicals affecting the reproductive system and thyroid hormone-dependent brain development.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the basic principles of toxicology
  • Describe specific toxicological effects, drawing examples from reproduction and brain development
  • Outline classical in vivo study designs used to test and risk-assess chemicals for suspected endocrine disrupting activities
  • Explain principles, and give examples, to alternative test methods for risk assessment of chemicals
  • Summarize the process of chemical risk assessment, from initial testing to policy decisions, exemplified with OECD Test Guidelines
  • Assess the likelihood of developing disease based on exposure doses, timing of exposure and likely co-exposure
  • Analyze how hormones during fetal life impacts on the development of the reproductive system and the brain
  • Evaluate toxicological data and surmise the likelihood of a chemcial causing harm to humans

Course Content

Humans are constantly exposed to a large number of 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 variety of diseases, such as fertility problems, metabolic disorders, lower IQ or cancers. This course will give a general introduction to toxicology and give examples of various chemicals (heavy metals, acrylamides, dioxins, pesticides, phthalates etc) and downstream health effects. From this broader scope, the course will focus in on chemicals that can mimic or disturb hormone signaling and disturb development of the reproductive system or the brain. The course will also teach how we can test chemicals for their harmful effects (risk assessment) and how it can be used to regulate the use of certain chemicals, again drawing examples from molecular and reproductive toxicology. 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: 28.

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.

See course in the course database.

Registration

Language

English

Duration

3 weeks

Institute

Food

Place

DTU Lyngby Campus

Course code 23662
Course type Candidate
Semester start Week 1
Semester end Week 35
Days Mon-fri 8:00-17:00
Price

7.500,00 kr.

Please note that this course has participants limitation. Read more

Registration