Islet Biology I: Gene to Cell to Organ to Disease - BCH2139H
This 1/4 FCE graduate-level course will focus on a wide range of topics focused on the pancreatic islet. Each lecture will cover fundamental concepts in biochemistry with an emphasis on islet biology. These will include the impact of genetic variation on islet cells, the development of islet cell subpopulations, transcriptional networks and cell identity, biotechnological approaches, as well as communication between islet cells and the local environment, including components of the immune system, and how these interact to affect islet loss and dysfunction. A more integrated understanding of these processes will be facilitated in a discussion of islet-hormone regulated metabolic pathways and integrative physiology.
*THIS COURSE WILL BE ONLINE ONLY
Please see below for Sign up procedure:
Students must take both BCH 2139H and BCH 2140H. Enrollment in only one of the courses is not permitted.
Requests for BCH2139H & BCH 2140H starting in January 2026 are now open: please click HERE
Deadline to submit a request is: Friday October 24, 2025 (5:00 PM EST)
Given the current interest in this course, auditing will not be permitted this time.
Drop date – Students have until the day before the first class to drop the course. Students can only drop the course after the first class with the permission of the instructor.
University of Toronto Students: If approved for the course, you can request BCH 2139H on ACORN.
Non-University of Toronto Students from Ontario and Canada: If approved for the course, you will need to complete one of the following:
- Students from Ontario Universities except (McGill University, Université de Montréal, and University of British Columbia) will need to complete an Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Agreement (OVGS) from their home University
- Students outside of Ontario and within Canada only will need to complete a Canadian University Graduate Transfer Agreement (CUGTA) from their home University
- Students from McGill University, Université de Montréal, and University of British Columbia will need to complete a Graduate Exchange Agreement (GEA) from their home University
*All paperwork must be submitted to the University of Toronto no later than Friday November 21, 2025 to ensure sufficient processing time.
Method of Student Evaluation:
20% Participation
40% News and Views Article
40% Lay News and Views Article
Course Coordinator:
Robert Screaton
Course Instructor:
Erin Mulvihill
Enrollment Limit:
15 - 5 spaces reserved for Biochemistry Students