LMP1200H: Neoplasia

Who can attend

MSc or PhD students with background in molecular biology, cell biology and/or biochemistry.

Course description

This is an advanced, seminar-based course designed to provide an in-depth examination of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to malignant transformation.

The objective of the course is to improve your analytical and critical thinking skills and to establish an understanding of the interplay of metabolism, epigenetics and tumorigenesis.

Topics will include:

• the role of glycolysis in the regulation of growth factor signaling
• the control novel metabolome/epigenome axis that impact tumor cancer stemness
• characterization of molecular links between obesity/diabetes/lipid metabolism
• epigenetic mechanisms that influence cancer pathogenesis.  

These mechanisms will be used as the basis to discuss neoplasia in specific model tissues. 

Structure

This class is structured as a journal club.

Each week a paper will be presented by one student:

• 60-minute presentation, and
• approximately 60-minute discussion.

If you are not presenting, you are expected to contribute to the discussions of each paper.

Course coordinator

Dr. Maria Rozakis Adcock

adcock.maria@gmail.com

lmp.grad@utoronto.ca for administrative queries.

Timings and location

This course is offered in the Fall term.

Thursdays, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm.

Location: HS705, Health Science Building

Evaluation methods

Oral presentations of assigned papers (50%)

Original papers from selected areas will be used for student presentations and discussions. During the course, each student will present two original papers with each presentation being assessed by coordinator.

Participation in discussions (20%)

Active participation by all students during discussion period is a requirement. For each weekly student presentation, selected student discussants will be assigned to review each research paper and come to class with prepared questions.   

Research Proposals (30%)

Proposals will be in typical grant  style (max 5 pages). Topics will be in areas unrelated to students current area of investigation or area of investigation in the supervisors lab.

Schedule

All seminars are run by Dr. Rozakis Adcock.