MBV9160 – Advanced Cancer Biology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course will provide the student with a comprehensive insight into the molecular biology of cancer and awareness of the complexity in cancer - biology and –medicine. The students will acquire an overview and in depth understanding of certain aspects the underlying biology and clinical challenges of the four most common cancer cases: breast-, colorectal-, prostate-, and lung- cancer. Several experts in the field from the the Institute of Cancer Research/Oslo University Hospital will contribute with lectures in the course.
Learning outcome
After completing the course the student should:
- Have an in depth understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to cancer.
- Be able to describe the fundamental mechanistic principles behind cancer diagnosis and prevention
- Know the basic principles behind personalized medicine and therapeutic cancer management
- Have an overview of advanced methodologies used in cancer research
- Know the positive and challenging sides of using model organisms in cancer research
- Have an understanding of the importance of bioinformatic tools in cancer research
- Be able to read and understand articles within the field of cancer research
- Have improved their ability to obtain, process and present essential scientific literature through a short written essay and an oral presentation of a relevant article
Admission
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
The courses MBV4160 and MBV9160 have common admission. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
1. PhD candidates and master students at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum.
2. Other PhD candidates and visiting PhD candidates.
3. Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students
4. Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Recommended prior knowledge MBV3020 – Molecular genetics and developmental biology (discontinued)
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with MBV4160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued)
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS5710 – Advanced Cancer Biology
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS9710 – Advanced Cancer Biology
Teaching
The first three weeks of the course will consist of lectures (approximately 30 hours). The last two weeks of the course will be used for individual essay preparation (to be chosen from a short list of assigned topics).
Examination
The exam will consist of three parts:
An oral presentation given by each student during the first three weeks of the course. The topic will be a relevant article within the field (that will be provided).
Preparation of a written essay (to be chosen from a short list of assigned topics).
A final 3 hour written exam in the end of the course. Both the oral presentation and the written essay must be completed and awarded a passing grade before the date of the written exam.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: MBV4160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued), BIOS5710 – Advanced Cancer Biology, BIOS9710 – Advanced Cancer Biology.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.