Courses

Administered by Cancer Biology

Fall Semester

CANB 340, Introduction to Cancer Biology

Course Director- Fiona Yull
Credit hours- 2
Day(s) & Time: Mon. 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location- PRB 749
Prerequisite- IGP core course or consent of instructor.

This is a didactic lecture series in which general concepts in Cancer Biology will be reviewed. Topics range from molecular biology of cancer (oncogene and tumor suppressors) to novel concepts such as cancer stem cells and therapeutic approaches.

CANB 342, Advanced Concepts in Cancer Biology

Course Director- Barbara Fingleton
Credit hours- 4
Day(s) & Time: Wed. & Fri., 10:00 am – 11:55am
Location- PRB 749
Prerequisite- Must be a Cancer Biology graduate student or have consent of instructor.

Advanced concepts in Cancer Biology will be reviewed in depth using a combination of lectures and student-led discussion sessions based on current literature. This course is offered only in tandem with the Introduction to Cancer Biology course to be taken concurrently.

Spring Semester

CANB 347, Cancer Systems Biology

Course Director- Lourdes Estrada
Credit hours- 3
Day(s) & Time: Mon. & Wed., 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location- PRB 749

This course is designed to familiarize student with the emerging field of Cancer Systems Biology. The focus is on research and education programs that link biology, engineering, and computer science in a multidisciplinary approach to the systematic analysis and modeling of complex biological phenomena, such as cancer. It is designed for students with an interest in interdisciplinary training and research in the area of computational and systems biology.

This course will provide an overview of systems biology approaches and tools; it will familiarize the students with simple mathematical models for cell proliferation, motility and metabolism. It will also provide an introduction to computational biology with a special emphasis on biological networks, including: construction of gene or signaling networks using literature-based knowledge and existing databases, basics of graph theory, visualization and analysis of networks from high-throughput data. There will be a strong focus on hands-on training of system biology tools and their application to designing experiments and interpreting results in a modern cancer research laboratory.

CANB 384, Clinical and Molecular Based Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

Course Director- Kimberly B. Dahlman
Credit hours- 2
Day(s) & Time: TBD Location-TBD
Prerequisite- CANB 340

This course will provide a unique experience in Oncology where students will learn the risk factors for and signaling pathways that are often deregulated in melanoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer. Furthermore, student will be expose dto cancer screening and diagnostic methodologies. Students will also discover how molecular changes are detected in the lab and leveraged in the clinic for optimal patient care. In addition, the advantages and barriers of clinical trials, socioeconomic disparities, and ethical dilemmas will be presented. Although this course will focus on melanoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer, students will demonstrate an ability to apply their knowledge of tumor diagnosis and targeted inhibition to other tumor types through a group project.

Not Administered by Cancer Biology

Fall Semester

CANB 341, Cell Migration in Normal & Diseased States

Cross listed- BSCI 341, Cell Migration in Normal & Diseased States
Course Directors- Chris Janetopoulos and Alissa Weaver
Credit hours- 3
Day(s) & Time: Tue. & Thu., 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Location- Learned Lab U5202
Prerequisite- IGP 300a or permission of instructor

This course is focused on molecular and cell biological underpinnings of cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. It is an in-depth analysis of three to four research areas in molecular and cell biology. It is intended for graduate students with a strong foundation in experimental biology. Students in interdisciplinary fields such as engineering and mathematics are welcome (and encouraged) to take the course if they already have some background biological knowledge, however it might be wise to talk with the instructor first. This course will add options for graduate students interested in cancer metastasis and related biological processes (leukocyte motility, bone and tissue remodeling, embryonic development, etc.) taught by experts in each sub-discipline through lectures and discussions of papers from the current literature.

CANB 352A, Biophysical Models of Cancer

Cross listed- PHYS 352A,Biophysical Models of Cancer
Course Director- Thomas Yankeelov
Credit hours- 3
Day(s) & Time: Tue. & Thu., 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location- Medical Ctr 1119
Prerequisite- MATH 196 or MATH 198/208, one year of calculus based physics, or consent of instructor.

The study of biophysical modeling in cancer biology, including models of DNA damage, avascular tumor growth, tumor cell motion and invasion, angiogenesis, transport within tumors, and therapy response.

Spring Semester

CANB 346, Cancer Imaging

Cross listed- BME 395E, Cancer Imaging
Course Director- Thomas Yankeelov
Credit hours- 3
Day(s) & Time: [Spring of Even Years] TBD
Location- TBD
Prerequisite- BME258 or BME 302b/302c, 304c, or PHYs 228, or consent of instructor.

The course begins with a brief unit on the basic biological charactoristics of cancer and then proceeds to study how each imaging modality can offer particular information on the tumor micro- and maco-environment. The imaging techniques covered include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical imaging, computed tomography (CT), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and ultrasound imaging. A theme throughout the course is how imaging can go beyond mere anatomic and morphologic characterization to provide non-invasive, quantitative, longitudinal assessment of tumor growth and treatment response. Emphasis is on assessing the response of tumors to treatment using emerging and quantitative imaging techniques.