Course coordinator: K. Giftopoulos

The purpose of the course is the critical understanding of the subject of pathobiology in human diseases. Within the course, postgraduate students are expected to comprehend the basic concepts and principles governing the biological processes involved in the development of various human diseases. The processes and biological mechanisms related to common diseases that pose significant public health challenges are presented in detail. Particularly, the course focuses on the biological mechanisms underlying frequently encountered diseases such as neoplasia and metastatic disease, erectile dysfunction, osteoarthritis, hearing loss, thrombosis, and embolism, which have a significant impact on global health. Additionally, the course aims to familiarize students with the concept of the clinical application of biological mechanism knowledge in both the diagnosis and treatment of related diseases. Finally, the necessary knowledge at the cellular and molecular levels is analyzed, which can serve as a foundation for the development of research tools in basic biomedical research, for interpreting biological mechanisms, and for developing therapeutic options for the aforementioned diseases.

Educational Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide postgraduate students with the necessary knowledge that will enable them to understand and analyze the main biological processes involved in the development of various human diseases.

Course Contents

• Cellular Pathology: understanding the basic mechanisms of cellular damage, cell necrosis, and cell aging, with reference to clinical pathological conditions.
• Inflammation: understanding the forms and mechanisms of inflammation and the actions of chemical mediators.
• Tissue Damage Repair: understanding fibrosis, tissue remodeling, wound healing and the mechanisms that drive these processes.
• Neoplasia: understanding the clinical and pathological characteristics of benign and malignant neoplasms and the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis.
• Genetic Diseases of the Nervous System: understanding the clinical and pathological characteristics of selected diseases of the nervous system caused by disorders which occur during neurogenesis.
• Immunopathology: understanding the fundamental immunological mechanisms involved in selected pathological conditions.