Xiaorun Zhai, Yunjuan Nie

Department of Basic Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Yunjuan Nie, Department of Basic Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13812078105, Email nieyunjuan@jiangnan.edu.cn

Introduction: This article examines the teaching method of experimental design in the context of Chinese universities, specifically focusing on the exploration of the disease development process. Cultivating innovative and research-oriented medical skills is a crucial objective within medical education, and the design of high-quality experimental courses is a significant aspect of optimizing and reforming medical education.
Methods: Innovative experimental teaching design serves as a novel approach to integrating scientific research into undergraduate instruction. Centered on the exploration of the disease development process and combining the characteristics of clinical diseases, this method integrates experimental techniques from diverse disciplines such as anatomy, pathology, and molecular biology. It achieves a seamless fusion of theoretical knowledge and experimental operations. In this teaching initiative, students are fully immersed in the entire journey, from establishing disease-model mice to collecting and identifying samples at various time points during disease progression. Through hands-on engagement, students not only enhance their experimental skills but also gain a vivid and profound understanding of the dynamic evolution of diseases.
Results: From the perspective of experimental exploration, students’ theoretical understanding is reinforced, and they grasp the occurrence and progression of diseases. This approach provides technical support for scientific research and offers a new line of thinking for the treatment of clinical diseases.
Conclusion: Experimental teaching focused on exploring the disease development process can foster students’ scientific thinking, enhance their practical capabilities, and cultivate research-oriented medical professionals while they learn experimental techniques.

Keywords: disease progression, experimental design, disciplinary integration, experimental teaching