All Division of Basic Science students, including those who will be in the Cancer Biology Training Track, take the Core Course beginning in the Fall of the first year of graduate study.
First or Second Year Training Track-Required Course
Cancer Biology I BSCI 5152-01: Molecular Mechanisms in Cancer Biology (1.5 units in Spring) -This course is designed as groups of individual lectures by multiple cancer center training faculty. The discussions provide an overview of most areas of cancer biology including: cell and molecular basis of cancer; diagnostic cancer imaging and pre-clinical models for human cancer; systems biology; drug discovery, and treatment of human cancer. The course is designed for first year or more advanced graduate students as well as clinical and research postdoctoral trainees. Sessions will be conducted as class formal lectures and discussions. Reading assignments will be made and materials will be discussed in class. Attendance and participation are essential components of this course. Therefore, attendance in class is mandatory.The course is pass/fail. This will be determined by attendance, participation in the reading assignments, and an individual oral presentation or course term paper that will occur at the end of the course
Second Year in Training Track
Cancer Biology II: Stem Cells, Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells” BSCI 5096-02 (1.5 units in Fall or Spring) –This course meets weekly and each session will start with lectures (1 hour) from experts on normal and cancer stem cells for a specific tumor type followed by journal club discussions on the same topic led by student participants. Course lecture and discussion involve recent evidence on a subset of cancer cells within tumors, the so-called cancer stem cells that may drive the growth and metastasis of these tumors. Understanding the pathways that regulate proliferation, self-renewal, survival, and differentiation of malignant and normal stem cells may shed light on mechanisms that lead to cancer and may also suggest better modes of treatment. The course is designed for first year or more advanced graduate students as well as clinical and research postdoctoral trainees. Sessions will be conducted as formal class lectures and journal article discussions. Reading assignments will be made and materials will be discussed in class. Attendance and participation are essential components of this course. Therefore, attendance in class is mandatory. The course is pass/fail. This will be determined by attendance, participation in the reading assignments, and an individual oral presentation on specific journal articles.
Cancer Biology III: Hypothesis Driven Research in Cancer Biology BSCI 5096-02
This required course teaches students about developing testable hypotheses, writing a grant proposal (NIH style), participating in a NIH style mock study section, and defending the proposal in an oral exam. At the end of this course students will be evaluated and after passing all aspects will be admitted for Candidacy for the Ph.D degree. The course is designed for second year students in preparation for their written and oral qualifying exam for Ph.D. candidacy. To pass this course, student are required to have a base of scientific knowledge and an ability to apply this knowledge to the formulation of viable hypotheses and the development of plans to answer the questions posed by these hypotheses.
Cancer Track Graduate Program Works-In-Progress and Journal Club (5097-01)
Works-in-Progress meets weekly except once a month when Cancer Center Grand Rounds is scheduled. Works-in-Progress is designed to provide a format in which students are encouraged to think critically about their own research and how it relates to a broader area of biology. Faculty within the track are strongly encouraged to attend. Journal Club is student run with the objective to familiarize students with the lecture subject of the upcoming visiting Cancer Center Grand Rounds outside speaker. All students within the Cancer Biology Training Track are expected to participate in a weekly WIPs/Journal Club, and will present their on-going research once a year. Students are required to attend WIPs, Journal Club, and Cancer Center Grand Rounds each year.
Qualifying Examination:
Students in the Cancer Biology Training Track will follow the same qualifying examination guidelines as the rest of the Genetics and Development Program students. Students are required to enroll in Cancer Biology III. Students submit their Qualifying Exam abstract on or around mid February of their second year. Oral defense of the proposal will be scheduled for that May. The Genetics and Development Student Handbook outlines the process, key milestones, and expected timeline.
Dissertation Research and Committees:
The Cancer Biology Training Track follows the Genetics and Development process and time frame for the dissertation process. Complete information is available in the Genetics and Development Student Handbook.
| Home > Education > Graduate School >
