CCBIO904 – Biomarkers and tumor biology in clinical practice, 2022

When: April 20-22, 2022

Program: Not yet available, see program here for the last course for reference (Subject to changes.)

Where:  We aim for a hybrid solution where you can choose between personal attendance in an auditorium at campus Haukeland University Hospital, or join from home through a digital platform. 

Who: Mainly intended for PhD candidates, but open to all.

Deadline for ECTS providing registration is February 1, 2022. If you are already enrolled at the University of Bergen (UiB), you register through Studentweb. If you are not enrolled at the UiB, but need the ECTS, you register through Søknadsweb, where you simultaneously apply for UiB guest student status (also deadline Feb. 1). 

If you don't need the ECTS registered as part of an education/degree, and just want to join the lectures for professional update, you register through this link, with deadline March 20, 2022. Note that registration might be closed earlier when fully booked.

Topics:

The 4 ECTS course covers broad tumor biological topics that are important for understanding how cancer occurs, the mechanisms that control tumor growth, proliferation and morbidity. The course will focus especially on tumor biological changes that may have or already have significance for personalized cancer treatment and clinical trial studies of new diagnostics and treatment

The course includes lectures, demonstrations, curriculum and a written exam, and aims to give PhD candidates who does cancer research, a broad understanding of all aspects of tumor biology based on updated knowledge. The PhD candidates will also gain deeper insight into how knowledge about tumor biological changes affects our strategies to customize assessment and treatment for this group of patients. 

Upon completing this course the candidate should have:

Knowledge regarding

• Evaluation of the purpose and advantage of using methods to detect molecular changes in malignant lesions.
• Deeper insight into:
  • Tumor biological aspects of cancer.
  • Oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, gene re-arrangements, DNA repair, apoptosis and growth factors.
  • Different methods applied for "Gen-mapping". DNA analysis and sequencing.
  • Principals for cytokine therapy, gene therapy, rational "drug design," monoclonal antibodies and protein engineering.
  • The interaction between tumor cells and microenvironment.
  • Relevant methods for specimen collection in the clinical setting for use of molecular techniques.

Skills

• Can formulate problems and suggest research of molecular biological aspects in cancer and cancer development in order to map tumor biological mechanisms.
• Be able to critically assess the expediency and challenges of using different methods for researching molecular biological aspects of cancer.
• Be able to select relevant literature that deals with molecular aspects important in cancer.

General Competency

• Be able to evaluate how knowledge about molecular changes in cancer may provide a better and more precise diagnosis.
• Be able to propose new strategies for development of more targeted therapies and testing of cancer drugs.
• Be able to understand challenges and possibilities for introducing more targeted therapies and better follow up of cancer patients.

Who can participate

The course is primarily intended for PhD candidates who are affiliated with the Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), but is also open to other students, PhD candidates and students attending the designated Medical Student Research Program (forskerlinjen) and other interested researchers. This is a 4 credits course. Others not interested in the ECTS, might also attend. The course is free of charge.

Contact: If you have any questions, please contact course coordinator Reidun Kopperud reidun.kristin.kopperud@uib.no or academic responsible Oddbjørn Straume oddbjorn.straume@uib.no.

More information here.