The aim of the course is to increase knowledge and understanding of biochemistry at a fundamental level and to develop a perspective on the role of biochemistry in health and disease.

Contents of the course:
* Biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which cellular adhesion, communication and signalling is regulated in the human body.
* Changes of these mechanisms in diseases with clinical examples of congenital and acquired diseases such as heart and vascular diseases, (chronic) infectious diseases, multiple sclerosis, alzheimer disease, congenital disorders of glycosylation and cancer.
* Metabolic aspects of biochemistry are combined with their application to the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases, and the development of therapies including drug design.

Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.