BMB208: Cancer immunology
Study Board of Science
Teaching language: Danish, but English if international students are enrolled
EKA: N220003102
Assessment: Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn, Spring
Level: PhD
STADS ID (UVA): N220003101
ECTS value: 5
Date of Approval: 25-04-2019
Duration: 1 semester
Version: Archive
Comment
The course has limited entry. The following criterias are taken into consideration when seats are assigned.
- PhD students after time of enrollment
- Students with the most ECTS from their master
- Students who follows master courses concurrent with their bachelor programme (dispensation to 30 ECTS Master courses)
If students are equal – seats are allocated based on random draw.
The academic envirometns at The faculty of science manages the prioritisation and at waiting list is established and will then be made aware from the faculty. The waiting list will not be transferred to the following year.
Entry requirements
Immunology (Bx10, BMB512, BMB514 or similar)
Bachelor degree (biomedicine, molecular biology or similar)
It is an advantage if courses on autoimmunology (BMB201) and infection immunology (BMB806) have been completed.
Academic preconditions
Students taking the course are expected to:
- Have
knowledge of basic immunology - Be
able to use retrieve and use new literature on (auto)immunology - It is an advantage if courses on autoimmunology
(BMB201) and infection immunology (BMB806) have been completed.
Participant limit
Course introduction
The aim of the course is that the student achieves state-of-the-art knowledge and understanding of mechanisms in immunological discrimination between normal and malignant cells (immune surveillance) and knowledge of mechanisms of cell transformation, including oncogenic viruses and concepts like tumor-associated antigens, oncofetal antigens, cancer testis antigens, immune check points, immunogenic cell death, paraneoplastic syndromes, etc.
New methods of cancer immunotherapy are described in relation to cancer immunology, including preventive and therapeutic cancer vaccines.
Furthermore, the student will achieve knowledge and understanding of current research in the field.
This is important with regard to reading and understanding new literature on molecular cancer immunology and with regard to presentation of current results and problems in molecular cancer immunology.
The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses BMB512 (immunology) or similar, and gives an academic basis for studying autoimmunology in a master or PhD project.
It is an advantage if courses on autoimmunology (BMB201) and infection immunology (BMB806) have been completed.
In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:
- Give the competence to understand and present problems and new results in molecular cancer immunology
- Give skills to read and present articles and to define and carry out projects in molecular cancer immunology
- Give knowledge and understanding of molecular cancer immunology.
- Give competence to relate basic knowledge and current research results to future research.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course is that
the student demonstrates the ability to:
- describe
basic mechanisms in immunological self/non-self discrimination (immune
surveillance), including immune check points, immunogenic versus
non-immunogenic cell death - describe
the role of innate and adaptive immunity in cancer immunology - describe
cancer in molecular terms (hallmarks of cancer) - describe
tumor-associated antigens, tumor rejection antigens, oncofetal antigens, cancer
testis antigens, etc. - describe
basic principles of diagnosis and immunotherapy of cancer - read
and understand new scientific literature on molecular cancer immunology - present current issues and problems in molecular
cancer immunology research
Content
The following main topics are contained in the course:
- Immunological recognition of cancer cells (immune surveillance) compared with immunological self/non-self discrimination
- Innate and adaptive immunity in cancer immunology
- Oncogenic viruses and immunity to these
- Immunogenic versus non-immunogenic cell death
- Hallmarks in development of cancer
- Diagnostics of cancer and paraneoplastic diseases
- Immunotherapy of cancer
- Cancer vaccines
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
Autumn
Tests
Project
EKA
N220003102
Assessment
Second examiner: Internal
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Full name and SDU username
Language
Normally, the same as teaching language
Examination aids
To be announced during the course
ECTS value
5
Additional information
The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
At the faculty of science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.
The course combines lectures, reading of original articles, examinatories with article presentations, laboratory exercises and individual projects.
Activities during the studyphase: Reading of articles, literature searching, article presentations, individual project.