Master of Science in Neuroscience and Biotechnology
Hybrid
Courses
Common Core
NSBT550Behavior, Emotion and Cognition
2 credits
The main objective is to provide solid and updated training in a number of specialties including cognitive neuroscience. This module will indeed help students to know the anatomical and functional bases and fundamental mechanisms of emotions and cognitive functions in relation to behavior, and to understand the nature of interactions between emotion, cognition and behavior.
NSBT525Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
3 credits
The objective of this course is for the students to: know the cell cultures, have an ability to apply plasmid construction technology, of transfection and protractors genes, know the main morphological cellular imaging, know the biochemical approaches, know the databases and their importance in biotechnology and neurobiology, understand the methods used in structure prediction, and understand the methods used in the analysis of sequences.
NSBT535Cellular Neurobiology and Physiology
3 credits
The educational objectives are to clarify the mechanisms that steer the transmission and integration of messages in the nervous system. The mechanisms of synaptic transmission and its modulation, the role of interactions between neurons and glial cells and the functioning of neural networks (genesis and control of rhythmic electrical activity) will be the main topics in this course.
NSBT575Drug Development
1 credits
The purpose of this course is to enable the students to acquire the necessary concepts of neuroscience and biotechnology, to understand the basic principles of current drug design and to be informed about the different stages of drug development (identification of the therapeutic target, identification of possible HITS, optimization of lead compounds), preclinical testing, clinical stages and administrative steps (registration, pharmacovigilance).
NSBT565Economy
1 credits
The management and use of animals, plants or microorganisms raises issues of philosophy, ethics, environmental sustainability and the biosphere. Thus it becomes necessary to take into account operating conditions of biological material and compliance with ethical rules. The objective is to provide an overview of the principles of development, bioethics, economic rules and studying drug development: ethical and legal bases that should govern research in neuroscience; understand the reasoning mechanisms and choices in situations that challenge the ethics in this field, principles and economic laws that run the research; understand the implications of these principles and the practical steps that should be installed to ensure quality, profitability and sustainability; describe the different stages of clinical research; the various research oversight bodies; and understand the major stages of pharmaceuticals development.
NSBT545Experimental Approaches of Neuropathology
2 credits
This course aims to give students a clear view of pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to disease through the development of animal models. These bases will enable the students to understand the origin and molecular cellular dysfunctions of neural networks that can result in neurological or psychiatric disorders.
NSBT530Functional and Cognitive Anatomy
2 credits
The objective of this course is to give the students a vision that is both comprehensive and detailed of functional neuroanatomy, to know: the basic principles of the organization of the nervous system and the main function of each part; the main neural pathways involved in the main functions of neural processing; the sensory input and behavioral responses; the basic methods of functional neuroanatomy; understand how the information is generated in each system and subsystem; how different modalities of information are superimposed along the neural pathways; how neural processing in a nucleus or a structure can induce behavioral changes; and how an injury can induce a variety of symptoms.
NSBT520Language and Communication
1 credits
The main objective of this course is to enhance skills in basic modern languages (French and English) and adapt them to communication and scientific language. It is also to improve integration in the professional world on one hand and validate mastery of a language on the other.
NSBT540Methodologies
2 credits
The objective of this course is to introduce and implement the various methodological approaches used in research in neurosciences. The various practical sessions, organized in workshops (4 hours) are associated with a session of tutorials (1 hour) to present the problems, or analyze experimental results. Practical sessions were chosen in order to implement the latest technologies used in research in neurobiology (pharmacology, imaging, cellular and molecular biology, behavioral analysis). In addition, this course includes concepts of biostatistics which aims to provide students with knowledge bases in biological data analysis, including the ability to determine methods adapted to current situations. A high level knowledge of statistical methods is essential for proper planning of numerous scientific investigations. Students also learn how to use specialized software using concrete examples.
NSBT570Regulations, Laws and Bioethics
2 credits
The course aims to promote students’ reflection on current problems and teach them how to analyze and solve ethical problems such as cloning, abortion, sperm donation, confidentiality and privacy, informed consent, body dignity and integrity, aggressive treatment, euthanasia and genetic therapies.
Electives
NSBT557Biophysics
NSBT650Case Study in Biotechnology
2 credits
The course aims to propose a strategy for answering a biological question, or for constructing a specific tool.
NSBT562Developmental Biology and Ageing
NSBT560Genomics and Proteomics
2 credits
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the intellectual approach of genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, explaining the different techniques used in these areas. These concepts will be illustrated with examples in the field of basic and clinical neurosciences.
NSBT555Neuropharmacology
2 credits
The objective of this course is to give students the basics of neuropharmacology covering the molecular, cellular and integrated neurotransmission, for the study of psychotropic pharmaceuticals and their modes of action. This will enable them to understand the specifics of each of these neurotransmitters including questioning their functional organization in the brain, their involvement in cellular and behavioral responses and pharmacological interactions between these systems. This course is an important prerequisite for the development of central nervous system pharmaceuticals.
Specialization - Option: Medical Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
NSBT590Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tools Development
2 credits
Students will acquire and deepen their knowledge relevant in the biotechnology research oriented perspective, in highly advanced therapeutic and diagnosis techniques.
NSBT580Morpho-functionnal Imaging
3 credits
Students in this course can acquire relevant knowledge and deepen the perspective of fundamental and clinical research in neuromorphology and functional imaging of the brain. The skills acquired by students at the end of this course are: the ability to recognize the main anatomical structures of the brain in 2D and 3D MRI in humans and primates in vivo and post mortem; ability to analyze and identify the cerebral cortex primary furrows, secondary and tertiary main grooves, and recognize the major interindividual variations; ability to identify key eloquent areas of the brain on MRI volumetric representations and fMRI; ability to perform a tractographic analysis and recognition of the main projection pathways and associations, such as the corners on the imaging workstation.
NSBT585Physiopathology of the Nervous System
2 credits
The purpose of this course is to acquire and deepen knowledge relevant in a clinical research perspective of pathophysiology of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system.
Specialization - Option: Integrative and System Biology
NSBT635Computational Neurosciences
1 credits
This course covers the basis of computational neuroscience from ionic channels to networks from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
NSBT625From Perception to Action
2 credits
Students will study neuronal pathways, specifically the cortex, subcortical pathways, the spinal cord, and effectors.
NSBT620From Sensation to Perception
2 credits
This course will focus on two main examples: somatosensory and visual perception (transduction, coding, elaboration of the sensation, representation, and integration).
NSBT630Integrative Physiology
2 credits
The aim of integrative physiology is to understand the mechanisms underlying the various physiological functions at every level of integration at which they appear: from the cell to the organism as a whole. The nervous system has a major place because it coordinates the activity of the different organs. After the first section of this course, students will realize that many events in a body are rhythmic, and that any individuals or species are defined by their temporal organization as much as their anatomy. It is why this course is a "focus on biological rhythms".
Specialization – Option: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
NSBT648Neuroendocrinology and Neurobiology of Food Intake
2 credits
The aim of this course will focus on the following:
Basics of Neuroendocrinology
Neuropeptidergic transmission
Hypothalamic regulations
Example of an integrated neuroendocrine regulation: the control of food intake
- CNS Control of Food Intake and Energy Balance
- Metabolic Signals in the Control of Food Intake
- Gastrointestinal Signaling in the Control of Food Intake
- Interactions Between Enteric Microbiota, Central and Enteric Nervous Systems
- Rewarding and Motivating Effects of Food
- Stress and Food Intake
- Food Intake Disorders
NSBT645Neurogenesis, Stem and Transplantation
2 credits
The aim of this course is to develop the following topics: Neural progenitors, Migration, Differentiation, Apoptosis.
NSBT640Plasticity and Cell Communication
3 credits
This course will focus on: Synaptic plasticity, Neuron-glia interaction, Membrane receptors, trafficking.
Capstone
NSBT690ALong Training Period
6 credits
Students must complete a 6 credits research project applied to the major. They are expected to realize a research work in the laboratory, submit a written report and give an oral presentation.
Mission
Students are provided with an international curriculum with identical core courses and specialization tracks based on each person’s expertise in fundamental or biomedical sciences. We offer a unique wide range of complementary competences and methods that cover all fields of modern neuroscience, from molecular aspects to in vivo analysis. Students also benefit from our dense network of expert research labs and easy access to highlevel specialized core facilities, R&D projects in academic and industrial fields, and Bilingual teaching and close collaboration between universities to offer mobility opportunities.
Program Educational Objectives
1. Graduates will have extended knowledge, skills, and experience in neuroscience and biotechnology and developed abilities of leadership, collaboration, and communication.
2. Graduates will be able to conduct original research in a neuroscience, including the design of experiments with appropriate controls.
3. Graduates will be able to apply professional ethics in the conduct of science.
4. Graduates will be able to use their knowledge and abilities to answer questions and solve problems in the complex and interactive context of local, regional, and global issues and concerns.
Program Outcomes
a. Students will acquire highlevel innovative and interdisciplinary training in Neuroscience.
b. Manipulate theoretical concepts together with a broad range of experimental methods used in biotechnology and biomedicine.
c. Master competences required to implement and use modern techniques, and to serve complex experimental setup.
d. Conceive and conducting individual projects in Neuroscience and Biotechnology.
e. Elaborate and communicating scientific data and concepts.
f. Develop connections and networking in neuroscience across the Mediterranean region.