MBV4160 – Advanced Cancer Biology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course will provide the student with a comprehensive insight into the molecular biology of cancer and awareness of the complexity in cancer - biology and –medicine. The students will acquire an overview and in depth understanding of certain aspects the underlying biology and clinical challenges of the four most common cancer cases: breast-, colorectal-, prostate-, and lung- cancer. Several experts in the field from the the Institute of Cancer Research/Oslo University Hospital will contribute with lectures in the course.
Learning outcome
After completing the course the student should:
- Have an in depth understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to cancer.
- Be able to describe the fundamental mechanistic principles behind cancer diagnosis and prevention
- Know the basic principles behind personalized medicine and therapeutic cancer management
- Have an overview of advanced methodologies used in cancer research
- Know the positive and challenging sides of using model organisms in cancer research
- Have an understanding of the importance of bioinformatic tools in cancer research
- Be able to read and understand articles within the field of cancer research
- Have improved their ability to obtain, process and present essential scientific literature through a short written essay.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
PhD students must apply for the course MBV9160 Advanced cancer biology.
The courses MBV4160 and MBV9160 have common admission. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
1. PhD students and master students at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum.
2. Other PhD students and visiting PhD students.
3. Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students
4. Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Recommended prior knowledge MBV3020 – Molecular genetics and developmental biology (discontinued)
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with MBV9160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued)
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS5710 – Advanced Cancer Biology
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS9710 – Advanced Cancer 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).
Examination
The exam will consist of two parts:
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. The written essay must be completed and awarded a passing grade before the date of the written exam.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: MBV9160 – Advanced Cancer Biology (continued), BIOS5710 – Advanced Cancer Biology, BIOS9710 – Advanced Cancer Biology.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.