Course catalogue doctoral education - VT24

    Startpage
  • Ansökan kan ske mellan 2023-10-16 och 2023-11-15
Application closed
Print
Title Biology of Brain Tumors
Course number 5517
Programme Tumörbiologi och onkologi (FoTO)
Language English
Credits 1.5
Date 2022-04-04 -- 2022-04-08
Responsible KI department Institutet för miljömedicin
Specific entry requirements Basic course in tumor biology or similar course
Purpose of the course The purpose of this course is to bring PhD students and young researchers to an advanced level in the scientific field of brain tumors, and to provide knowledge that can be applied both for basic, pre-clinical and clinical research.
The overall purpose is to form a bridge between pre-clinical and clinical aspects of brain cancer biology and oncology and to enable the PhD students to obtain a deeper understanding of all aspects of the brain cancer problem.
Intended learning outcomes After successfully completing this course, the students are expected to be able to: Describe and recognize the main features of brain tumors, recognize that the spectrum of brain tumors is different in adult and children. Explain the role of non-tumoral cells in the development/progression of the tumors. Explain what are the challenges and new approaches for brain tumor treatment. Critically discuss and evaluate literature related to brain tumors.
Contents of the course The course will be composed of seminars/lectures from researchers working in the field of brain tumors, their pathology, biology, and genetics.
A brief review of basic anatomy and the main cell types of the CNS will be given. Mechanisms of brain tumor development and progression is the main part of the course. Classification of brain tumors, risk factors and molecular genetics (including epigenetics) will also be covered.
Invited speakers will introduce the research front with special focus on brain tumor environment, differences between children and adult brain tumors, current therapies and novel technologies. One full day will be dedicated to a “bench to bedside” approach where different professionals involved in the diagnosis/treatment/follow-up of patients (oncologist, pathologist, neurosurgeon, foundations…) will present their work aiming at approaching the brain tumor field from the researchers and other professional perspectives.
Teaching and learning activities The course will be given in the form of lectures, group seminars, demonstrations, and site visits. The aim of the lectures is to support students in gathering the basic as well as more in-depth knowledge about brain tumors. The students will actively talk to the scientists in the "Meet the Scientists" format and discuss the topics during beehive discussions to support the capacity of the students to critically discuss and evaluate literature relevant to the course. Demonstrations and site visits will help to visualize the current situation in brain tumor research.
Compulsory elements All course activities are compulsory. Absence is compensated for according to instructions from the course leader.
Examination To pass the course the student must reach the learning outcomes of the course by showing active participation in the seminars (“meet the scientist” and others) and by presenting and reviewing an assignment on the last day of the course.
Literature and other teaching material The students will be provided in advance with relevant literature (review articles, original publications, references to book chapters) on the topics covered during the course,
Including the following recommended literature:
Microglia/Brain Macrophages as Central Drivers of Brain Tumor Pathobiology. Gutmann DH and Kettenmann H. Neuron (2019) Nov 6;104(3):442-449.
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma: From Diagnosis to Next-Generation Clinical Trials. Vitanza NA and Monje M. Neuro-Oncology (2019) 21:37.
Dissecting the genomic complexity underlying medulloblastoma. Jones DT. Nature (2012) Aug 2;488(7409):100-5.
The immune landscape of common CNS malignancies: implications for immunotherapy. Ott M et al. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology (2021) Jun 11.
The 2021 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System: a summary. Louis DN et al. Neuro-Oncology (2021) 23(8), 1231-1251.
Number of students 8 - 25
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (according to written motivation), 2) start date of doctoral studies (priority given to earlier start date)
More information
Additional course leader
Latest course evaluation Not available
Course responsible Bertrand Joseph
Institutet för miljömedicin

bertrand.joseph@ki.se
Contact person Mathilde Cheray
Institutet för miljömedicin

mathilde.cheray@ki.se