Scientific project design in translational oncology

The theme of this course is the role of inflammation in cancer. It focuses on the regulation and multifaceted functions of tumour-associated inflammatory cells, and how they promote or oppose cancer. The course starts with a short introduction by the teachers, who illustrate the focus of the course and the learning objectives. In the following classes the students analyse, present and discuss research papers that have been agreed with the teachers. The final 3-4 classes are dedicated to the design of a project in translational oncology.

• Part I -- Journal clubs. The students develop an encyclopedia of the various inflammatory cell types and subtypes that have hallmark-promoting or antagonizing capabilities. Macrophages, neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, natural killer and T cells ¿ or subsets thereof ¿ are defined and discussed. For each cell type/subtype, the students describe and discuss known strategies, genetic or pharmacological, to either impair the cell of interest or reprogram its functions in tumours.
• Part II -- Project design. The students design a pre-clinical study that can guide or incentivize clinical trials aimed to ablating or reprogramming a cell of interest in a suitable cancer type.