Owain Howell and his research team are interested in the biology of neuroinflammation and study the disease mechanisms of multiple sclerosis. Although great strides have been made in treating those people with the early form of the disease, we still do not understand why some people will experience a more severe, progressive disease. Our work looks at the pathomechanisms of multiple sclerosis using patient samples, cell cultures and post-mortem brain tissues.
Owain Howell leads undergraduate neuroscience teaching at Swansea University. Owain teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students and is a guest lecturer on the MSc in Translational Neuroscience program at Imperial College London.
Current projects focus on the role of complement in chronic neuroinflammatory disease, mapping cholesterol and oxysterols to sites of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology and using digital pathology approaches to understand the pathophysiology of progressive MS.
We have active collaborations with Profs William Griffiths and Yuqin Wang and Dr Jeff Davies at Swansea University, Prof Richard Reynolds and Dr David Owen at Imperial College, Dr Roberta Magliozzi at the University Hospital Verona and with Prof Denise Fitzgerald at Queen’s University Belfast. We work in partnership with Prof William Gray, Cardiff University, as part of BRAIN.
This module will provide students with a broad introduction to fundamental concepts in Eukaryotic cell biology, such as investigating the origins of the cell, the structure or eukaryotic cells, the different types of specialised cells, and cells which help prevent disease. There will be a general focus on human cells throughout the module with some references to other organisms when needed. Students will gain practical experience in identification and differentiation of cells from different human and animal species.
Bydd y modiwl hwn yn darparu cyflwyniad bras i gysyniadau sylfaenol ym maes bioleg celloedd Ewcaryotig, gan ymchwilio i darddiad y gell, strwythur y gell a chelloedd arbenigol a chelloedd mewn clefyd. Bydd ffocws cyffredinol ar gelloedd dynol drwy gydol y modiwl, gan gyfeirio at organebau eraill yn ôl yr angen. Bydd myfyrwyr yn cael profiad ymarferol o nodi celloedd, gwahaniaethu rhwng gwahanol gelloedd dynol a rhywogaethau o anifeiliaid.
In order to help students understand the biological basis for behavioural neuroscience and neurological disorders, this module seeks to integrate cell biology, physiology and biochemistry to understand the founding principles of neuroscience. The aim is to gain a mechanistic and holistic knowledge of the nervous system that builds from the molecular, cellular and developmental, to the systems level. In addition to exploring normal function, this module will introduce common disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems in an integrated way. Students will be guided in exploring the scientific evidence around what is known and unknown and will be introduced to current research findings in the scientific literature.
Building on `An introduction to Neuroscience¿ this module will combine fundamental neuroscience with clinical neurology to provide a comprehensive understanding of the nervous system in health and disease.
The modern scientist graduate is expected to have gained extensive laboratory-based experience and this is certainly essential for any student intent on pursuing a research-based career. Skills for Researchers provides students with the opportunity to acquire the core skills to be able to conduct, analyse, interpret and present scientific experiments. A proportion of the module will be spent in the laboratory gaining hands-on experience. Skills acquired in this module will form the basis for future experimental work, including the final year project. Students will have the opportunity to provide feedback to peers and engage with a variety of online learning materials.
The aim of this module is to provide a capstone experience to students¿ learning, through participating in their own enquiry-based research project, with guidance from an academic supervisor. The project may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, but it will always involve a research question that is drawn from the literature, and focused on a topic relevant to the life sciences. It will ask a research question and involve the critical analysis of research findings. Students will refine their oral and written communication skills to a graduate level through an oral presentation and dissertation on their research findings and conclusions.
Nod y modiwl hwn yw darparu crynodeb o brofiad a dysgu myfyrwyr drwy ganiatáu iddynt gymryd rhan mewn prosiect ymchwil sy'n seiliedig ar eu hymholiadau eu hunain o dan arweiniad goruchwyliwr academaidd. Gellir cyflwyno'r prosiect yn y labordy neu'r tu allan iddo ond bydd bob amser yn cynnwys cwestiwn ymchwil a ddeillir o'r llenyddiaeth ac sy'n canolbwyntio ar bwnc sy'n gysylltiedig â¿r gwyddorau bywyd. Bydd yn gofyn cwestiwn ymchwil ac yn cynnwys dadansoddiad beirniadol o ganfyddiadau'r ymchwil. Bydd myfyrwyr yn mireinio eu sgiliau cyfathrebu llafar ac ysgrifenedig i lefel raddedig drwy roi cyflwyniad llafar a llunio traethawd hir ar eu canfyddiadau ymchwil a'u casgliadau.
The module aims to provide students with a greater understanding of the human immune system and the causes of a range of diseases associated with immune dysfunction including autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders and neurological conditions.
The advanced research project is a key component of the final year of study, providing students with experience of conducting cutting-edge research in the Institute of Life Science and Centre for Nanohealth over an extended period. The projects undertaken will fall into one of the current medically-related research themes. Students will employ a range of advanced analytical procedures to investigate a specific topic. In addition, they will gain experience in preparing a research proposal and presenting their data in various formats. Research topics will be assigned that are appropriate to a specific degree title.
This module will provide an introduction to the clinical presentation and manifestations of rare inherited and common diseases, and considers the patient and family perspective with respect to the role and impact of genomics. It reviews traditional and current strategies and techniques used to identify genes responsible for both common multifactorial and rare inherited diseases.
The module is for students to build on their previous knowledge, skills and experience by undertaking a laboratory based or suitable non-laboratory based project on a specific subject related to genomics.
This module will allow students to choose from a range of short contemporary topics in Medical Sciences including screening for new therapeutic compounds, using model systems to understand human disease and disorders, using behavioral tools and open-source analysis software to answer contemporary questions in neuroscience such as how defects in genes or drugs influence behavior. There will also be the opportunity to select introductory journal club or lean sessions with potential dissertation supervisors. The focus on techniques is complemented by seminars on the ethics of human and animal studies. Each topic will be approximately 1 day and students will be able to pick 4-5 topics.
This MSc Medical Neuroscience module will study the processes involved in brain degeneration and repair. We will review disease pathology and diagnosis, the cellular and molecular basis of disease, and possible new therapies aimed at restoring brain function, including cell replacement strategies. Content will involve lectures, tutorials, expert guest seminars and workshops.
This module will allow students to choose from a range of short contemporary topics in Medical Sciences including screening for new therapeutic compounds, using model systems to understand human disease and disorders, using behavioral tools and open-source analysis software to answer contemporary questions in neuroscience such as how defects in genes or drugs influence behavior. There will also be the opportunity to select introductory journal club or lean sessions with potential dissertation supervisors. The focus on techniques is complemented by seminars on the ethics of human and animal studies. Each topic will be approximately 1 day and students will be able to pick 4-5 topics.
