Course Descriptions
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Advanced Topics in Immunology
Course Detail
GS06 1611 (1 credits)
SpringThis course is an analysis of current topics in immunology. Weekly oral presentations of an assigned topic will be made by participating students. Course emphasis is on the development of communication skills and analysis of current research areas.
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Application of Tumor Immunology in the Clinical Setting
Course Detail
GS06 1132 (2 credits)
FallThis course builds upon basic immunology to provide a foundation for tumor immunology as it is applied in the clinical setting. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents/fellows who participate in this course will gain an understanding of immune surveillance, tumor markers, human tumor immune responses, novel cancer immunotherapeutics, and regulatory process and clinical trial design for cancer immunotherapeutics.
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Basic and Translational Cancer Biology
Course Detail
GS04 1235 (5 credits)
SpringThe Cancer Biology Core course will synthesize knowledge of critical aspects
in human cancer biology for understanding disease development, multidimensional molecular signatures, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Auditing this is permitted with Course Directors' approval.>> Curriculum Committee commended course for Academic Year 2020-2021 <<
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Emerging Concepts in Immunology
Course Detail
GS06 1103 (3 credits)
FallThe chief objective of this course is to teach students about recent discoveries and techniques used in the field of immunology. Students will critically evaluate and present publications from top-tier journals under the guidance of leading experts in the selected fields. Topic areas include basic, translational, and clinical studies in antigen processing, lymphokines, complement, tumor microenvironment, T and B lymphocytes, vaccines and adjuvants, immunotherapy, CAR T cells, and monoclonal antibodies. The course generally runs for 10 weeks with two meetings per week for 2 hours each session. Auditing this course is permitted with Instructor's consent.
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Fundamental Immunology
Course Detail
GS06 1013 (3 credits)
SpringTopics covered in this lecture series include anatomy and development of the immune system; structure, function and genetics of antibodies; T-cell antigen receptors; functions and cooperative interactions of lymphoid cells; structure and function of molecules encoded by the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC); lymphokines and their receptors; cellular interaction molecules; and specific immunological tolerance. Medically-related subjects that will be covered from a basic science perspective include immunopathology, immunodeficiency, allergy and other hypersensitivities, autoimmunity, organ transplantation, tumor immunology, and AIDS.
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Introduction to Bioinformatics
Course Detail
GS01 1143 (3 credits)
SpringThis course is intended to be an introduction to concepts and methods in bioinformatics with a focus on analyzing data merging from high throughput experimental pipelines such as next-gen sequencing. Students will be exposed to algorithms and software tools involved in various aspects of data processing and biological interpretation. Though some prior programming experience is highly recommended, it is not a requirement.
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Molecular Basis of Cell Signaling
Course Detail
GS13 1024 (4 credits)
SpringThis course provides a detailed exploration of the molecular basis of cell signaling with emphasis on recent developments, structure-function, and quantitation. The course will include both the regulation of second messenger systems (GPCRs, G proteins, cAMP, IP3 and lipid), ion channels, growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinases, small G proteins (ras, GEFs, Gaps), kinase/phosphatase pathways, steroid hormones/transcription, and the modeling of these systems.
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Principles in Genetics and Epigenetics
Course Detail
GS04 1253 (3 credits)
SpringThe Principles in Genetics and Epigenetics (PIGE) class is designed for students who have a major interest in the aspects of experimental and human genetics and epigenetics as they relate to human disease, including Mendelian disorders, complex diseases and cancer. Students are required to have completed the core course (or equivalent). This class will provide in-depth instruction in four areas: 1) Experimental genetics, 2) Human genetics, 3) Epigenetics, 4) Applied bioinformatics. The class will be held two times a week for one and a half hours. Students are expected to actively participate in the course by initiating discussions, asking questions, and providing constructive comments, as well as completing weekly homework assignments based on the material covered in the lectures of the preceding week. Students will be evaluated by attendance, participation, bioinformatics workshop participation and completion of assigned exercises, and overall performance on the assigned homework. As a foundational course, this course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles in genetics and epigenetics and prepare the student to generate novel hypothesis-driven projects as part of their own research in the areas of genetics and epigenetics inside and outside of G&E laboratories. The course emphasizes active learning through a combination of didactic lectures, selected application lectures and a bioinformatics workshop. Auditing this course is permitted with Course Directors' approval.
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Principles of Therapeutics
Course Detail
GS04 1103 (3 credits)
SpringThis course will establish a foundation in the principles of therapeutics, lectured by >35 experts including 1/3 basic research faculty, 1/3 clinical faculty, and 1/3 pharma/biotech industry veterans. It starts with discussions on disease processes, through therapy development, then to clinical translation. The course is grouped into a series of general topics. The first topic includes disease mechanisms in microbial, viral, fungal, neurodegenerative, and malignant settings in order to better understand the nature of the problems. The second topic focuses on the development of lead molecules and drug design, including x-ray crystallography, molecular modeling, hit identification, lead optimization, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies. The third topic puts emphasis on drug screening methodologies, including high-throughput/content technologies and molecular imaging as well as in vitro and in vivo preclinical model systems. The fourth topic covers different therapeutic modalities and improved drug delivery systems. It also describes the latest development of immunotherapy, cell therapy, gene therapy, and stem cell transplantation. The fifth topic focuses on the identification of novel molecular targeting strategies and efforts toward individualization of therapy with state-of-the-art –omics technologies and biomarker development. The final topic group focuses on translating therapeutic strategies to the clinic, including the phases of preclinical studies, clinical trial design and execution, and regulatory considerations. There will be three exams; each constitutes 33.33% of the final grade. The exam structure is essay based.
>> Curriculum Committee Commended Course for Academic Year 2020-2021 <<
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The Biology of Cancer Metastasis
Course Detail
GS04 1093 (3 credits)
FallA didactic introductory level course entirely dedicated to the study of the cellular biological processes that underpin cancer metastasis. This course will cover basic, translational, and clinical knowledge, with specific emphases on the metastatic cascade: seed and soil hypothesis, organ-specific metastasis, cell cycle and metastasis, multiple therapies for various metastatic cancers, and will address the process of taking basic research to the clinic (‘bench-to-bedside') for major metastatic human cancers.
This is a prerequisite course for cancer biology students in the cancer discovery track.