MF9235 – Molecular Cancer Medicine
Course description
Course content
Modern Cancer Biology research, translational research and personalized cancer medicine rely heavily on the molecular understanding of cancer. This course provides a state of the art thorough overview of the current understanding of molecular Cancer Biology.
The purpose of the course is to equip students with a solid foundation to work in the forefront of Cancer Research, and to provide a foundation for effective translational cancer research.
This is achieved by combining the following elements:
- Classical lectures based on a comprehensive textbook in Cancer Biology (The Biology of Cancer, Robert A, Weinberg) to assure a solid understanding of cancer biology
- Research-based lectures by active researchers at the forefront of Cancer Biology Research.
- Group work and student presentations of recent research papers, for in depth discussions of the subjects.
- Site visits in research labs and the comprehensive cancer centre that provides a practical understanding of select techniques and approaches used in modern molecular cancer biology research.
- Examples of translational research and personalized treatment.
All teaching is conducted by active national and international researchers in molecular cancer biology.
Learning outcome
Modern Cancer Biology research, translational research and personalized cancer medicine rely heavily on the molecular understanding of cancer. This course provides a state of the art thorough overview of the current understanding of molecular Cancer Biology.
The purpose of the course is to equip students with a solid foundation to work in the forefront of Cancer Research, and to provide a foundation for effective translational cancer research.
This is achieved by combining the following elements: Classical lectures based on a comprehensive textbook in Cancer Biology. Group work and student presentations of recent research papers to allow for in depth discussions of the subjects and state of the art techniques in cancer research. Site visits in research labs and the comprehensive cancer centre that provide you with practical understanding of select techniques and approaches used in modern molecular cancer biology research. Examples of translational biology research and rational cancer therapy will be given.
All teaching is conducted by active national and international researchers in molecular Cancer Biology.
The course will give you knowledge about:
- The complex biology of cancer
- In depth understanding of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
- The genes and pathways altered during cellular transformation
- Cellular signaling pathways in cancer and how to study them in a cancer context.
- Multistep tumorigenesis
- Invasion and metastasis
- Bioinformatics in cancer research
- Transcriptomics and proteomics for cancer research
- Model systems in cancer research
- Tumor microenvironment interactions
- Cancer cachexia
- Tumor immunology
- Rational cancer therapy
- Techniques in cancer research
Admission
PhD candidates and master students can apply for this course.
Maximum number of participants is 40.
How to apply:
- PhD candidates admitted to a PhD programme at UiO:
- Apply in StudentWeb
- Applicants who are not admitted to a PhD programme at UiO:
- Must apply for a right to study PhD courses in medicine and health sciences in S?knadsWeb before they can apply for this course.
- External applicants should apply for a right to study minimum 3 weeks before the course application deadline.
- When a right to study is granted, external applicants apply for this course in StudentWeb.
- See information about how to apply for at right to study and how to apply for PhD courses here: How external applicants can apply for elective PhD courses in medicine and health sciences.
Reply to course application:
- This course has registration type Automatic reply.
- Applicants to a course with registration type automatic reply, will upon registration immediately receive a reply in StudentWeb as to whether the application is granted, the course is full, or if the applicant do not meet the formal prerequisite knowledge.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students should have a prior thorough understanding of cell biology and molecular biology.
Passed exam in MBV3020 Molecular Genetics and developmental biology or equivalent
Recommended previous knowledge
Recommended prior course:
Overlapping courses
- 2 credits overlap with MBV9160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued)
- 2 credits overlap with MBV4160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued)
Teaching
The course is an intensive full 4 weeks course. Week 1-3. Each day typically has 3 Lectures and 2 hours of group work/journal club per day. Some days also will have site visits. Week 4 is reserved for journal club presentations by students, reading and exam writing.
- Journal club: 26 hours
- Lectures: 38 hours
- Site visits: 6 hours
The curriculum is based on the text book “The biology of Cancer, 2nd edition, Robert A. Weinberg, Garland Science and lecture notes.
Required reading 500 pages and original research articles or reviews connected to the lectures as journal clubs provided by the lecturers. At the end of the course, each student will present a selected article as a journal club. The extensive use of articles and current reviews ensure up to date understanding of technologies, current controversies and outstanding questions in each field.
You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance at lectures will be registered.
Examination
The exam will consist of two parts:
- An oral article presentation given by each student.
- A written home exam in the form of a mini review at the end of the course.
The oral presentation must be awarded a passing grade before the date of the written exam.
Submit assignments in Inspera
You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit your assignment.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.
Other information
The course is organized by the CanCell, Norwegian Centre of Excellence.
The course will be held in the localities of the Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello.
Course organizer: Associate professor Tor Erik Rusten, Institute for Clinical Medicine.
Lecturers: Researchers in CanCell, Institute for Cancer Research, Institute for Cancer Research and international invited lecturers.
Travel and stay for invited lecturers will be covered by CanCell.
Site visits at the Institute for Cancer Research and Institute for Basic Medical Sciences.