Enhancing Rigor and Reproducibility in Translational Research Involving Mice

ME680.712 – Summer Session Short Course – In person – East Baltimore Campus.

Graduate Student /Postdoc Registration via https://my.jh.edu/myJH/ EDUCATION SIS/SEAM.
SOM post-doc fellows submit registration requests via SEAM, using the case reason ‘Add/Drop’ or ‘Interdivisional Registration’, depending on the course. SOM Change of Schedule form, is optional for post-docs and no program director signature is required.
Section 0002 is a 1 credit, audit option for lectures only (no lab sessions).
FACULTY/STAFF: should be able to register for audit lecture option via myJH / SIS / SEAM, then request tuition remission via HR.

Since 2010 this has been offered in a short course format, largely for continuity of the practical laboratory training experience.

Faculty from JHU School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health introduce concepts in mouse biology, pathology, genetics, normal ‘phenotypes’, concepts and established phenotyping capabilities in multiple disciplines.
JHU cores and resources are highlighted. See previous course programs/schedules below.
Syllabus material is provided.

Course Co-Directors: Cory Brayton, DVM, DipACLAM, DipACVP , Jason Villano, DVM, MS, DipACLAM; Jonathan Harrold, ACUC

Course Administrator: Momina Malik mmalik21@jh.edu

This course offers up to ~34 contact hours: ~11hr Laboratory sessions and ~23hr Lectures.

The three hands-on laboratory sessions include clinical and physical examination of mice, specimen collection, clinical and anatomic pathology.
Familiarity with basic anatomy and with the laboratory manual is expected for participation in laboratory sessions.
JH Graduate students taking this course FOR CREDIT must participate in laboratory sessions
Laboratory Manual, Lecture material and resources are provided electronically, it is NOT necessary to purchase a text book.

Learning Objectives (goals): Students completing this course will be able to:

Critically analyze and select mouse models and conditions for research aims;
Select and Implement humane and useful procedures for research aims;
Plan for analyses, pathology, histology, to achieve useful specimens and data.

OVERALL AIM (Learning Outcome): Achieve Rigor, Reproducibility, Validity, Translatability in research involving mice, using practical skills, and resources, from the course, for the humane and optimal use of mice and GEM in translational research.

Credit/grade based on:

Lab participation (required).
IN person lecture attendance is expected unless excused. Daily AM /PM sign in.
Quiz A brief (Qualtrics) survey relevant to articles for the group project.
Quiz B (in Canvas) write/draft Animal portions of your Methods sections for a paper, an example/template is provided.
Group Project: 3 or 4 groups will each assess ‘methods’ of an influential article; (everyone will read excerpts to complete quiz A). On Friday morning each group will present the strengths and weaknesses of their article, and its methods reporting, in 10 or fewer minutes, and 10 or fewer PPT (or similar) slides, and the class will discuss ~10min per article. PPT template is provided – alternative presentation options are welcomed.

Phenotyping Program Schedule

Current information/program is updated in CANVAS

MONDAY ~ 9am-5pm
THEME: Phenotyping & Research Relevant Mousology

Registration Starting ~8:30am

Introduction: Phenotyping, Mouse pathobiology & Famous Mice
Common Phenotypes & Disease (Spontaneous/NON infectious & research impacts)
External Environmental (X) Factors (& research impacts)
INFO On Quizzes & Group PROJECT

LUNCH break – Meet Participants/Cores/Group Work

Microbial & infectious Research Challenges (& research impacts)
Immunovariability (immune sufficient and immune deficient) mice (& research impacts)
Research relevant social life and behaviors of mice (& research impacts)