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MBV9160 - Advanced Cancer Biology

Course content

This course will provide students with an in depth understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to cancer. The fundamental mechanistic principles behind cancer diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutic management will also be discussed using selected cancer types as examples, provided by experts in the field. The course will also cover central topics such as advanced methodologies and relevant model organisms used in cancer research, relevant bioinformatics tools, cancer prevention, early diagnostics, and personalized medicine. The topics will be presented as lectures. Students are required to read specific chapters from a textbook (“The Biology of Cancer” by Robert A. Weinberg).

Learning outcomes

The aim is to provide a comprehensive insight into the molecular biology of cancer and awareness of the complexity in cancer - biology and -medicine which include 200 known cancer diseases. The students will acquire an in depth understanding of the underlying biology and clinical challenges of selected diseases studied at the Centre of Excellence in Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo. The students will improve their ability to obtain, process and present essential scientific literature through a short written essay.

Admission

To participate in this course you must have an admission to a Ph.D.-programme at a Norvegian University or University College.

If you do not have an admission to the Ph.D.-Programme in Science at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at UiO, you have to apply as a visiting phd student

For more information, please contact the Department.

The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.

Prerequisites

Recommended prior knowledge

Recommended prior knowledge MBV3020 - Molecular genetics and developmental 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).

Exam information

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.

Exam resources

No special exam resources are allowed.

Assessment and grading

Students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade. Read more about the grading system .

Explanations and appeals

Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals

Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes

New exam will be offered for students who fails or withdraw from the ordinary exam. Date for new exam will be in agreement with students.

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam .

Withdrawing from exams and limits on re-takes

A student can sit for this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do this in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit for the exam.

Exam options for students with special needs

Students may apply for access to alternative exam resources or exam forms on the basis of chronic illness and/or special needs that create a marked disadvantage to other students in the exam situation. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

Evaluation of this course

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. As a student at the University of Oslo you will therefore be asked to participate in various types of evaluation of our courses, facilities and services. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of this course, a so called "periodic evaluation".

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