MEDFL5235 ¨C Molecular Cancer Medicine

Course content

This course focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cancer, combining textbook-based lectures, research discussions, student presentations, and lab visits to provide a comprehensive understanding of modern Cancer Biology, personalized medicine, and translational research. Students gain practical insights and up-to-date knowledge necessary for advancing in cutting-edge cancer research and therapy development.

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 to allow for in depth discussions of the subjects and state of the art techniques in cancer research.
• Site visits in research labs at the comprehensive cancer centre to provide a practical understanding of select techniques and approaches used in modern molecular cancer biology research.
• Examples of translational research and personalized treatment.
• 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.

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 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 to the course

The course is reserved for students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.

Students sign up for?classes and exam to this course in StudentWeb.

Students will upon registration receive an immediate reply in StudentWeb?as to whether a seat at this course is granted or not.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Students should have a prior thorough understanding of cell biology and molecular biology.

Recommended previous knowledge

Passed exam in MBV3020 Molecular Genetics and developmental biology or equivalent.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with MF9235 ¨C Molecular Cancer Medicine.

Teaching

The course is an intensive full two weeks course and consist of:

• Lectures: 36 hours
• Journal club/group work: 14 hours
• Site visits: 3 hours

You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance will be registered.

Examination

The exam consists of two parts?that aim to test the students overall comprehension, overview and ability to criticallly evaluate current research within cancer biology.

The exam consists of:

• An oral examination
• A written home exam to be submitted 4 weeks after the course

Both parts must be passed to pass the course.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• How to use AI as a student
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.