Admission requirements
No previous participation in the (strongly overlapping) course “From Signal Transduction to Targeted Therapy”
Basic understanding of signal transduction mechanisms at a level equivalent to the Leiden biomedical sciences bachelor courses ‘Cellular Communication’, and ‘Molecular Biology and Oncology’. Successful completion of How To Write A Research Proposal is strongly recommended.
During this intense course the students will be challenged.
Description
Period: October 24 – November 18, 2016
This four week course will take you through the successive steps on how basic discoveries are translated into clinical applications. The molecular basis of human diseases, in particular cancer and some other disorders associated with misregulated TGF-beta family signaling will be studied (fibrosis, osteoporosis, and pulmonary hypertention). In addition, identification and functional characterization of novel emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches will be discussed, as well as the do’s and don’ts in experimental research and cancer exploitation in academia and industry.
Preliminary programme
week 1:
An introduction into the basic concepts of signal transduction and pathophysiological consequences of deregulated signalling, including lectures on different aspects of translational research (drug discovery and development, molecular imaging, pre-clinical animal models, clinical trials), an interactive tutorial, and literature presentations and discussions by students.
week 2:
State of the art lectures on signaling, molecular pathogenesis and targeted therapy (focus on cancer)
by experts in the field (in combination with a PhD course).
Preliminary program:
day 1 Signaling pathways
day 2 Diabetes, ageing and bone-related diseases
day 3 Growth control, stem cells and cancer
day 4 Personalized medicine, targeted therapy and imaging
day 5 Presentations by PhD students
week 3 and 4:
Writing of a ‘news and views type’ paper on a relevant course-related topic. Writing of a report in the form of a grant proposal in which a specific signalling molecule or pathway is proposed for (personalized) drug/clinical development. This will be done under guidance of a mentor. At the end of the course each group will give a presentation on their proposal in a mini-symposium.
In addition, visits are planned to a laboratory that participates in a clinical trial and to a biotechnology company.
Competences
This course will in particular train the students in:
Research competences:
Integrate different biomedical disciplines, organizing and analyzing data, choosing appropriate techniques.
Professional competences:
Commitment, motivation and drive, interacting with mentors and peers. Ability to multi-task (work at several assignments, different topics during the course).
Objectives
To learn how cells communicate with each other, how (molecular) signals are transduced between cells and into cells, how these processes regulate cellular functions, how misregulated signal transduction events lead to diseases, and how insights in these processes can be translated into targeted therapies providing personalized and more effective treatments for patients with less side effects.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, self-study, work groups.
Pro-active behaviour is expected from the student.
Assessment method
Written reports, oral presentations, student behaviour.
Further information about the assessment can be found on the Blackboardsite of this course.
Recommended prior knowledge
Alberts B. et al, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th ed. 2002 New York: Garland. Chapter 15.
Weinberg RA, The Biology of Cancer, Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Chapters 5 and 6.