Teaching, internships & more

In the form of a seminar with an integrated student presentation component, the basic principles of pharmaceutical, pharmacological/toxicological and clinical development as well as the drug regulatory affairs of biopharmaceuticals are dealt with. In addition, the course provides an introduction to the theoretical fundamentals of pharmacology.

The theme blocks include:

• Theoretical fundamentals of pharmacology (pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics)
• Classes of biotechnologically manufactured medicinal products and the deliniation of chemically defined medicinal products and medical devices
• Pharmaceutical development, production and quality assurance: process and legal basics
• Pharmacological/toxicological development: process and legal basics
• Clinical trials: procedures and legal basics
• Market authorization of biopharmaceuticals: national and international procedures as well as legal basics

The students receive in-depth knowledge of the origin and propagation of electrical signals in the human body. Through the hands-on lab work, they use their knowledge to detect the electrical signals in order to identify and interpret the signal and the possible sources of electrical interference.

• Rest and action potential
• Excitation in neurons, neuron conduction velocity
• Structure and function of synapses
• Motor unit, excitation in the muscles
• Electromechanical coupling
• Excitation, propagation in the heart, vectorcardiography
• Electrocardiography (ECG), various derivations including pathological changes, derivations techniques
• Excitation transmission in the brain
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• EEG activity in development stages, during sleep, in pathological changes, derivation techniques
• Acoustically and visually evoked potentials
• Change of the signal-to-noise ratio ba averaging, disturbance variables
• Reflexes (e.g. blinking reflex), reflex arc
• Molecular signal processing of the eye from a single photon to its processing in the visual center

The students expand their medical qualifications by learning about the diagnostics and therapy of specific diseases.The The student's communicative and independent abilities are reinforced through the thorough research and presentation of self-chosen topic. Current diagnostic and therapeutic methods are studied through the examination of selected diseases. Prophylactic methods are also addressed.  

Pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnosis and therapy of:

• Oncological diseases
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Metabolic disorders (diabetes)
• Disorders of the central nervous system
• Disorders of the blood and immune system
• Infectious diseases

Students of biomedical technology visit the world's largest trade fair in the medical sector - in 2019 with more than 5,500 exhibitors from 71 nations, with an upward trend. Prof. Mittmann conducts this excursion annually to give students first-hand access to the latest research and development in medical technology and laboratory medicine directly from innovative companies.

The students acqiure an in-depth knowledge in a wide range of the most current methods and techniques in the biotechnological and medical laboratory. Through hands-on lab work, they will learn the independent application of medical and genetic technology, as well as the preparation of experimental protocols and the critical discussion of their results. The strengthening of their communiation and presentation skills will be gained through the confrontation with English technical literature.

Genetic engineering hands-on lab work (in a S1 laboratory for the production of genetically modified organisms, GMOs)

• Plasmid isolation from Escherichia coli
• PCR amplification of a DNA fragment
• Cleavage of DNA by restriction endonucleases
• Gel electrophoretic analysis of the PCR product and the restriction digestion
• Ligation of a DNA fragment into a vector and transformation of E. coli
• Fluorescence control of the transformed clonesProtein expression in E. coli followed by protein purification and control through SDS-PAGE

In both submodules, the latest developments for in vitro und in vivo diagnostics are discussed in a seminar format.

Lecturer: Dr. Hans-Gerd Pauels

The students extend their professional qualification by the understanding of the immune system and the clinical basics of immune-relevant diseases as well as detailed knowledge of modern antibodies and vaccine technologies. The aim is to enable the students to develop biotechnological immunodiagnostics, immunomodulators and immunodepressants and to independently familiarise themselves with a chosen topic and present it orally and in writing.

The basics and biotechnological aspects of immunology are dealt with in the form of a seminar with an integrated lecture part. The topic blocks contain:

• General Immunology: immune system, infection defense mechanisms, antigen recognition, immune regulation
• Clinical Immunology/Immunopathology: Transplantation and Transfusion Immunology, Autoimmune Diseases
• Immunological Methods
• Antibody and vaccine technologies
• Immunomodulators and immunodepressants

Students acquire a well-grounded knowledge of a wide range of the latest methods and techniques in biotechnological and medical laboratories. In the practical course they learn the independent application of laboratory medical or genetic technologies as well as the preparation of test protocols and the critical discussion of their results. The reinforcement of their communicative abilities and independent presentation ability as well as the interlectively demanding and intensive discussion among other things under use of English technical literature is learned here.

Topics of the internship:

• Spectrophotometry of haemoglobin and blood coagulation
• Glucose and lactate determination before/after physical burden
• Immunoassay (ELISA) of the tumor marker CEA
• Fluorescence microscopy of tissue sections
• Flow cytometry

The students acquire, among other things, expertise in medical biochemistry as well as laboratory equipment and basic techniques of a research, development and diagnostic laboratory in medicine.

• Biochemical Basics: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids, Proteins
• Carbohydrate metabolism: glycolysis, citrate cycle, respiratory chain, oxidative phosphorylation, Cori cycle
• Hormones, principle of cellular signal transduction
• Equipment and basic techniques of the medical laboratory
• Photometry: UV/VIS, photodiode array
• Chromatography: Principle of liquid chromatography incl. HPLC
• Detectors: UV/VIS, photodiode array, RI detectors
• Fluorescence detection and organic fluorochromes
• Immunodiagnostics and immunoassays
• Flow cytometry and blood cell diagnostics

The students acquire basic professional competence in anatomy, physiology and medical biochemistry, especially in the following areas:

Anatomy und physiology

• Motion system
• Cardiovascular System
• Blood and immunological basics
• Respiratory system
• Gastrointestinal tract
• Urogenital system
• Sensory organs
• Brain and CNS

Medical biochemistry

• Carbohydrates
• Fats and nucleotides
• Proteins and enzymes
• Metabolism and hormones

Further information can be found in the module manual (in German language).

Students of biomedical engineering train sterile work in the operating theatre in the advanced training with Dr. med. Helmut Ahrens of the University Hospital Münster. At Münster University of Applied Sciences, the doctor transforms the seminar room into an operating theatre and the students into operating theatre assistants.

The students are trained in the correct behaviour in the operating theatre such as disinfection and distance rules and get a detailed insight into the subject matter through anecdotes from the seminar leader and the demonstration of the operation on the ankle joint. The training includes a practical part, so that each participant is trained for use in the operating theatre.

At the end of the training of several hours, everyone receives a certificate.