Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Neuroscience is fundamentally dedicated to advancing human health by creating new knowledge about the nervous system and its disorders. The program's core mission is to produce high-caliber researchers and academics who can create internationally recognized innovations, making it a powerful contributor to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). By training experts in cutting-edge research methodologies, including regenerative medicine and advanced molecular techniques, the curriculum is a key driver for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) within the biomedical and healthcare sectors. As an advanced research degree, it is a flagship for SDG 4 (Quality Education), cultivating the next generation of scientists. Through its requirement for internationally recognized research, the program fosters the global knowledge-sharing and collaboration essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-beingAlignment Summary: This program is centrally focused on ensuring healthy lives by elucidating the mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The curriculum provides an advanced, research-intensive education on neurodegenerative diseases, pain, neuro-immunology, and epilepsy, directly contributing to the research and development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for a wide range of non-communicable diseases.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 817 801 | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Provides a deep understanding of cellular and molecular function, which is foundational for research into the mechanisms of neurological diseases (Target 3.4). |
| MD 817 811 | Neurodegenerative disorders and aging | Directly supports research to combat major non-communicable diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, contributing to Target 3.4 by training experts in age-related neurological disorders. |
| MD 817 812 | Pain biology | Contributes to health and well-being by focusing on the mechanisms of pain, a major global health burden, leading to the development of better pain management strategies. |
| MD 817 814 | Neuro-immunology | Supports research into a wide range of neurological disorders with an immune component, such as multiple sclerosis, contributing to Target 3.4. |
| MD 817 815 | Neurobiology of psychiatric disorders | Directly supports the promotion of mental health and well-being (Target 3.4) by training experts in the biological basis of psychiatric conditions like depression and schizophrenia. |
| MD 817 817 | Pathophysiology of epilepsy | Addresses a major non-communicable neurological disease, directly contributing to Target 3.4 by focusing on the mechanisms and potential treatments for epilepsy. |
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: As a doctoral program, this curriculum represents the highest level of quality education. It is designed to cultivate expert researchers and academics by providing advanced training in scientific research, ethics, and communication, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and contributing to the global knowledge economy in the biomedical sciences.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 817 804 | Advanced research methodology in neuroscience | Provides essential doctoral-level skills in research design and data analysis, which is a cornerstone of quality tertiary education (Target 4.3 and 4.4). |
| MD 819 99X | Dissertation | Represents a capstone lifelong learning opportunity (Target 4.3), where students conduct original, in-depth research, acquiring superior skills for employment and innovation (Target 4.4). |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureAlignment Summary: The program is a catalyst for innovation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. By providing advanced training in cutting-edge fields like neural stem cells and regenerative medicine, it enhances scientific research and upgrades the technological capabilities of sectors focused on developing novel therapies for neurological disorders.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 817 813 | Neural stem cells and regenerative medicine | Drives innovation (Target 9.5) by training experts in a frontier area of biomedical science with vast potential for developing new industries and therapeutic applications for nervous system repair. |
| MD 819 99X | Dissertation | Fosters innovation by generating new knowledge that can be translated into novel diagnostics, therapeutic targets, and health technologies, thereby enhancing scientific research (Target 9.5). |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: The international nature of this program and its focus on globally relevant health issues inherently foster partnerships. The curriculum requires engagement with the international scientific community through seminars and research dissemination, promoting the knowledge-sharing and collaborations vital for achieving global health goals.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| MD 819 991 | Seminar in Neuroscience 1 | Promotes the global partnership for sustainable development (Target 17.6) by requiring students to engage with and present on the latest international research, fostering a culture of global knowledge-sharing. |
| MD 819 99X | Dissertation | Represents a significant contribution to global partnerships (Target 17.16) by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared internationally to help solve critical health and disease challenges. |