Application deadline

Registration deadline for PhD students and students at the Medical Student Research Program at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway: August 1st

Application deadline for external applicants: June 1st

Application code 9303

Type of course

Admission requirements

PhD students or holders of a Norwegian master´s degree of five years or 3+ 2 years (or equivalent) or master students at a Medical Student Research Program may be admitted. Valid documentation is a statement from your institution that you are a registered PhD student og master student at a Medical Research Program, or a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. PhD students are exempt from semester fee.

To take PhD courses you need at a minimum a master's degree or equivalent, or admission to a Medical Student Research Program.

For more information regarding PhD courses at the Faculty of Health Sciences go to: http://uit.no/helsefak/forskning/phd/emner

Course content

The course is divided into three modules:

Module I cover the topics molecular genetics of cancer, and discuss the basic molecular mechanisms leading to development of cancer. The main issues are mechanisms for cell-cycle regulation, proliferation, transformation and cell survival. How dysregulation of any of these processes may contribute to cancer development is discussed.                                                                                  

The topic of Module II is signal transduction and cancer. Here the various intracellular signaling pathways that are found to be dysregulated in cancer are discussed. Among these are the pathways that regulate cell proliferation, cell survival, transformation and differentiation.

Module III is covering tumor biology. Here the main mechanisms that regulate metastasis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis are described. These processes are fundamental for embryogenesis, but are also central in the establishment and maintenance of cancer cells.

More information about the course, visit the course web site.

Objectives of the course

Knowledge:

• Know the main knowledge within the topic genetics of cancer and understand the basic molecular mechanisms leading to development of cancer. This includes mechanisms for cell-cycle regulation, proliferation, transformation and cell survival.
• Know how dysregulation of any of these processes may contribute to cancer development.
• Know the various intracellular signalling pathways that are found to be dysregulated in cancer, especially pathways that regulate cell proliferation, cell survival, transformation and differentiation.
• Know the main mechanisms that regulate metastasis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in tumor biology.

Skills:

• Be able to describe the various processes that are central in the establishment and maintenance of cancer cells.
• Be able to review and present high impact research papers within the field of basic and translational cancer research.

Competence:

• Interpret results from own research and link it scientifically into the context of international basic and translational cancer research.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Assessment

Work requirements:

• Lectures and seminars are obligatory

The exam is divided into three parts, 2 student presentations on given topics (Research papers) and an Essay (10-15 pages). All three exams are evaluated separately as passed/not passed, and each exam must be passed to pass the course.

A re-sit exam is given early in the spring semester. Registration deadline for the re-sit exam is January 15th.

Recommended reading/syllabus