Six to seven journal clubs are offered each semester on a diverse set of topics that change each semester and year. Each journal club is run by two to three faculty members who select a group of papers on a specific subject of their choice. Students chose which journal club they participate in each semester from among the topics offered. Papers are presented by students, while faculty mentors assist in facilitating discussion amongst the audience.
All track students are required to actively participate in a Journal Club each semester that they are in the program. More than 3 absences (for any reason) in any given semester, or failure to suitably participate, will result in a grade of Unsatisfactory for this component of training.
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Fall 2009 Biochemistry/Cell Regulation Journal Clubs
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Current Topics in Pharmacology
Tuesdays; 8:30-9:30; ND7.218
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David Mangelsdorf / Rama Ranganathan /
Ryan Potts
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This is a hot topics journal club where students will present papers relevant to the broad area of pharmacology that may come from many different disciplines. Each week a student will have the opportunity to pick a relevant high impact paper from the laboratory of one of the many seminar speakers that will be visiting our campus and presenting a seminar that same week (this includes speakers for ULS and all basic science departments). One to two weeks before class, each presenting student will submit a paper to the organizers for approval. The class is lively and spirited and all students are called upon to speak in class and give their opinion of the paper presented.
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Molecular Targeting of Cancer
Mondays; 9 a.m.; NB8.202 |
John Minna / Mike White
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Cancer develops because of alterations in the genome and epigenome leading to the malignant phenotype. These same alterations also can give rise to cancer specific vulnerabilities which are sometimes referred to as "oncogene addictions." New therapeutic approaches try to take advantage of these vulnerabilities and include such things as drugs targeting oncoproteins such as imatinib and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies targeting key proteins or
microenvironmental changes such as cetuximab, rituxan and bevacizamab. In addition, there are new genome wide and chemical library wide approaches to identifying new cancer specific therapeutics - such has screening siRNA and miRNA libraries for targets that show"synthetic lethality" with commonly used drugs, or that are specifically toxic for cancer compared to normal tissue or that hit cells with certain oncogenic changes. Finally, research into "personalized medicine" is
developing that will allow profiling tumors for molecular biomarkers (e.g. mRNA or protein expression profiles or DNA changse) that indicate that the individual tumor will respond to one treatment regimen but not the other. All of these provide outstanding new opportunities to develop therapy molelcularly targeting human cancer in a specific way that are in the process of revolutionizing cancer treatment. |
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Environmental and Metabolic Sensors
Thursdays; 2 p.m.
First 6 sessions – NB10.606
Second 6 sessions - L4.146 |
Richard Bruick / Kevin Gardner
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We will discuss biochemical and biophysical studies of proteins responsible for sensing and responding to environmental and metabolic cues including oxygen, light, metals, etc
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Hallmarks of Cancer
Mondays; 10:30 a.m.; ND2.202 |
Kathlynn Brown / Jerry Shay
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| Tumorigenesis is a multi-step process driven by genetic and epigenetic changes that occur over time. Although cancer is a heterogeneous disease, many human tumors exhibit similar physiological features. In 2000, Hananhan and Weinberg published a review in which they defined six acquired characteristics of most human cancers. Using this review as our framework, these physiologic traits will be explored. The original findings as well as recent advances in the field will be discussed in a student led format. Additional traits that may be considered as essential for tumor formation and maintenance will be discussed. The implications of the biological findings on cancer prevent, diagnosis, and treatment will be covered. |
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Cilia, Cilium-based Signaling and Ciliopathies
Wednesdays; 9 a.m.; K2.610 |
Bill Snell / Lawrence Lum
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The course will focus on the emerging role of cilia in multiple regulatory pathways during development and disease. We will begin with the basic biology of cilia and flagella, including cellular mechanisms of assembly, disassemby, length regulation, and the link between cilia and the cell cycle. After that we will have several sessions each on the role of primary cilia in the Sonic Hedgehog pathway in vertebrates, the role of cilia in kidney development and polycystic kidney disease, and the function of cilia in obesity as illuminated by studies on Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, a rare human genetic obesity disorder. I will lead the sessions on the basic biology of cilia and flagella and on Bardet Biedl Syndrome, Lawrence Lum will lead those on Sonic Hedgehog, and Massimo Attanasio will lead the sessions on Polycystic Kidney disease.
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Nuclear Signaling Pathways and Disease
Mondays; 10 a.m.; K2.500 |
Beatriz Fontoura / Lily Huang
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We will discuss intranuclear pathways, from transcription to nuclear export, with respect to regulation and disease. The first sections will be on the topics of RNA regulons. The second section will address transcription factors as regulators of development and cancer. The third section will address nuclear transport regulation of key constituents of signaling pathways.
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Regulation of Vascular Biology and Function
Fridays; 4 p.m.; ND7.218 |
Philip Thorpe / Lance Terada |
| The vasculature is one of the master systems of the body. It plays key roles in blood-tissue exchanges, in providing a container for blood cells, and in active monitoring of hemostasis. In pathological circumstances, such as cancer, ocular diseases, inflammation, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, vascular endothelial cells undergo functional and structural changes that contribute to the disease state. In the last decade, a new generation of approved drugs has arrived that controls cancer and ocular diseases by inhibiting angiogenesis. This journal club will focus on vascular development, angiogenesis, and physiological and pathological vascular signaling and development. Our goal is for students to gain an understanding and appreciation of where the field currently stands in relation to physiology and medicine. |
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