Graduate Programs: The Neuroscience Paradigm

Anastasia S. Tsingotjidouand

Georgios C. Papadopoulos

Lab. of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Bologna Declaration is based on the following themes:

Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees

Adoption of a system essentially based on two main cycles, undergraduate and graduate

Establishment of a system of credits

Promotion of mobility by overcoming obstacles to the effective

exercise of free movement

Promotion of European co-operation in quality assurance

Promotion of the necessary European dimensions in higher education, particularly in regards to curricular development.

Neuroscience investigates:

the molecular and cellular levels of the nervous system;

the neuronal systems responsible for sensory and motor function;

the basis of higher order processes, such as cognition and emotion.

Neuroscience provides the basis for understanding the medical and veterinary fields that are concerned with treating nervous system disorders. These medical specialties include basic and clinical sectors.

The Society for Neuroscience (SfN),

based in the United States of America

formed in 1970

has more than 36,000 members and is the world's largest organization of scientists devoted to the study of the brain.

represents a large number of national European neuroscience societies and several monodisciplinary societies.

FENS was founded in 1998

European Brain Council

Established in 2002; umbrella body

Includes pan European scientific bodies, patient federations, and relevant areas of industry and commerce

IBRO is an independent, international organization dedicated to the promotion of neuroscience and of communication between brain researchers in all

countries of the world.

Society for Neuroscience Meetings

Annually (every fall)

This year expected numbers:

30,000 participants

17,000 presentations

14 special lectures,

28 symposia, and

27 minisymposia, covering research ranging from single molecules to human behavior.

This is indicative of a network well organized based on local societies to form gradually larger scientific groups both in Europe and the United States, but elsewhere around the world as well.

It provides a promotion of mobility between individuals, which is one of the prerequisites of Bologna declaration. The flow of information is moving easier among the groups and gives opportunities for collaboration in research.

Neuroscience network

THE IMPORTANCE OF NEUROSCIENCE

In the United States more than 1,000 disorders of the brain and nervous system result in more hospitalizations than any other disease group, including heart disease and cancer. Neurological illnesses affect more than 50 million Americans annually at costs exceeding $400 billion .

In Europe, 3 out of 10 people suffer from brain dysfunction, and 1 out of 5 from depression. Neurological diseases cost over the 1/3 of the total cost for any other illness in the European Health Network. In 2004, this cost reached 386 billion Euros.

The significance of Neuroscience is also shown by the activities taken place during the congressionally designated Decade of the Brain.

The Decade of the Brain

During this decade, neuroscience made significant discoveries in the following areas: genetics, brain plasticity and development, new drugs, imaging and cell death.

Apparently, the standardization of post-graduate studies in Neuroscience facilitates the progress of research in this area and the continuation of scientific accomplishments leading in translational discoveries for treatment of many neurological diseases

Brain Briefings, a monthly two-page newsletter explaining how basic neuroscience discoveries lead to clinical applications

Brain Facts, a 52-page primer on the brain and nervous system.

SfN Publications

NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAMS

More than 300 training programs exist in neuroscience alone, and neuroscience is one of the most exciting areas of biomedical research.

In the United States, every state possesses more than one Neuroscience Graduate programs.

In the West Coast areas more than 22 programs exist.

The Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program for Neuroscience at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA; http://www.neuroscience.ucla.edu) is one of the world's largest and most diverse faculties in this discipline.

The Gonda (Goldschmied) Neuroscience and Genetics Research Center at

UCLA, Los Angeles, USA

The Gonda (Goldschmied) Neuroscience and Genetics Research Center at

UCLA, Los Angeles, USA

In Northeast side of USA there are 60 Neuroscience programs, given by different Schools. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences stands at the nexus of neuroscience, biology and psychology.

At Yale, the Inter-departmental Neuroscience Program offers flexible but structured interdisciplinary training for independent research and teaching in neuroscience.

The mouse olfactory system

In Canada, at least 20 Graduate Neuroscience Programs exist, leading to Master’s and/or Ph.D. degrees.

Usually, the program is run in conjunction with numerous departments in the Medical Schools (e.g.: Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biophysics) and in the Faculties of Science (Psychology).

In continental Europe there is an example of how degrees can be given by two collaborating institutes located overseas:

There is an ongoing collaboration between National Institutes of Health (USA) and Karolinska Institute (Sweden)

This program provides the possibility for graduate students from both the United States and Sweden to divide their training for a doctoral degree between the two participating Institutes.

In United Kingdom and Ireland there are over 20 Neuroscience Programs

Elsewhere in the world, including India, China and Korea 20 more programs are taken place

In Australia and New Zealand 12 Neuroscience Graduate Programs exist

In Veterinary Medicine Schools many Departments conduct research in neuroscience,

e.g. the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in UK

and

the Department of Veterinary & Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology & Physiology of Veterinary Medicine School of Washington State University .

What is apparent in Neuroscience Programs in different Universities the promotion of appropriate interdepartmental communication, initiation of development of grant proposal and new program activities as needs and opportunities arise.

These characteristics strengthen the integration of the studies which is based on promotion of mobility, co-operation in quality assurance, and promotion of the attractiveness of the European Higher Education area.

Neuroscience programs and Bologna Declaration

CONCLUSIONS

THE NEUROSCIENCE PARADIGM

curricular development,

inter-institutional co-operation,

mobility schemes and

integrated programs of study, training and research.

A fulfilled objective of Bologna declaration is:

the promotion of the necessary European (and not only) dimensions in higher education, particularly with regards to:

A process for quality assurance of integrated curricula leading

to joint degrees has not yet been established.

However, this goal is apparently achieved in almost every

neuroscience graduate program, since the degrees are given by

different departments of the same institution, and sometimes

by different universities located in different countries.

Neuroscience represents a paradigm as a scientific field

structured and organized in compliance to Bologna declaration

objectives. The organizational experience gained in

Neuroscience can hopefully be transferred to other scientific

fields.

The Neuroscience Paradigm