Fundamentals of Medicine Course

Based on UAlg’s groundbreaking medical program, which employs a problem-based learning approach, the “Fundamentals of Medicine Course” will provide a select group of scientists from the Champalimaud’s basic research program a strong foundation on the principles of human physiology, pathology and medicine. This course is integrated in the Champalimaud Foundation’s mission to bring science & clinical practice together to both advance translational research and directly improve the lives of patients.

The Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach brings together a small group of Champalimaud Foundation’s scientists and tutors from the University of Algarve Medical School for 33 weekly modules. Each module is a case study, a diagnostic riddle posed by a patient admitted to a hospital or clinic. Scientists in the “Fundamentals of Medicine Course” proceed each week from symptoms and clinical exams down to the basic principles of human physiology, and then back again, to explain the patient’s symptoms. Through this approach, from “George M complains of hearing loss” down to the molecular mechanisms of auditory signal processing by hair cells in the inner ear, and then back to George’s diagnosis and treatment options, Champalimaud scientists will become proficient in bridging the gap between clinical presentation and the type of data gathered and analysed by them in their own research.

The participants, a mixed group of Champalimaud Principal Investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and staff scientists, will be guided in this process of discussing “differential diagnoses” promoting active and dynamic learning by UAlg’s experienced tutors. The “Fundamentals of Medicine Course” is another step in the Champalimaud Foundation’s march to bring together fundamental research and clinical practice in a way that puts doctors and scientists working side by side to achieve new discoveries.