Experimental Oncology

6 EC

Semester 1, period 1

5234EXPO6Y

Owner Master Biomedical Sciences
Coordinator prof. dr. R.L. Beijersbergen PhD
Part of Master Biomedical Sciences, track Oncology,

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

The master course experimental oncology deals with the main themes of basic cancer research and treatment, the implications of groundbreaking new research for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and the clinical implementation. Teachers are fundamental researchers and clinicians involved in the development and implementation of state-of-the-art cancer therapies. Topics include e.g. molecular cancer diagnostics, the hallmarks of cancer, mechanisms of drug resistance, immunotherapy of cancer. The course evolves around four major themes; hormone regulated cancers, DNA damage and genomic instability, targeted therapy and resistance and immunology and immunotherapy. Lectures covering different fields of research and treatment provide background and reference.  The different topics will be dealt with in lectures, workshops and assignments (essay with pitch presentation,  a group assignment with presentation and a research proposal with pitch).

Recommended  prior knowledge
Solid, advanced knowledge in the areas of cell biology and genetics (eg. courses Celbiologie (6 EC), Moleculaire Biologie/Biochemie (T) (6 EC), Anatomie en Ontwikkelingsbiologie (12 EC), Medische Biochemie en Pathofysiologie (12 EC)).

Study materials

Literature

  • The biology of cancer by R.A. Weinberg (2nd edition). 

Syllabus

  • electronic copies of Handouts

Objectives

  • Aim of the course Experimental Oncology is to provide insight into the molecular basis of normal and tumor cell behaviour 
  • to provide insight into the development of new methods for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
  • To review and discuss the historical context and evidence for novel targeted cancer therapies
  • To review, analyse and discuss the up-to-date status of the field in relation to an outstanding research question in oncology
  • The ability to create and present a research proposal related to subject in the filed of oncology

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Presentation/symposium
  • Self-study
  • wiring a research proposal
  • Supervision/feedback meeting
  • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Lectures provide the general background and the current standing of the respective clinical or research field. They also introduce the latest developments and insights in the respective research area. lectures given by experts in the respective research field.

There will be 3 workshops each around a specific theme. Students will get assignments schie will be discussed within the group.

There are 2 "interview the teacher" sessions in which the students prepare questions based on information provided by the teacher to get familiar with the research field, the current concepts and discuss open questions. 

The students have to write an essay on the historical development of a targeted drug in clinical use and present their findings in a pitch presentation.

The students have to address an outstanding question in oncology in a small group. They have to investigate recent findings, implications, shortcomings and future research for this question in relation to technological developments. The group presents the findings  in a presentation.

Each student has to independently write a research proposal on a research topic  captured during the course. They will have to define the research question and discuss its relevance, generate a hypothesis, discuss the experimental approach to test the hypothesis and discuss the potential outcomes. Each student will present the research proposal in a pitch presentation followed by a short discussion. 

During the course introductions and workshops are provided for the different assignments in the course. The students will provide feedback to their peers and will receive feedback on the different steps in the assignments. 

 

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours
lectures 36
workshops 12
preparation 47
presentations 18
feedback 10
Self Study 45
 Totaal 6 EC a 28 h 168

 

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

  1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

presence at lectures and  workshops  is mandatory

Completion of assignments, written and presentations is mandatory

Absence needs to be communicated with the course coordinator

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

Final grade

The final grade is the average of  assignment 2 (25%), pitch assignment 2 (12.5%),  assignment 3 (25%), assignment 4 (25%), pitch assignment 4 (12.5%). The scores for assignment 1 are bonus points adding 0.25 point (0 to 4 bonus points possible) to assignment  2.

The final grade has to be higher than a 5.5 to pass the course. 

If a deadline for an assignment is not met, that part will  be graded zero ( 0)

 

 

Inspection of assessed work

Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.

The students can only request an appointment for inspection after all the grades are in and the final score has been calculated and communicated with the students.

Assignments

assignment 1 individual

  • exercise in writing a short essay about the history and development of a target therapeutic

    Peer review of short essay

    both assignments are graded 0-1-2

assignment 2 individual

  • written essay about the history and development of a target therapeutic graded 0-10

assignment 2 individual

  • Short presentations  about the history and development of a target therapeutic graded 0-10

assignment 3 group

  • presentation about an outstanding question in oncology related to new technologies graded 0-10

research proposal individual

  • written research proposal on oncology related subject/problem graded 0-10

research proposal individual

  • presentation research proposal on oncology related subject/problem graded 0-10

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

COURSE ON EXPERIMENTAL ONCOLOGY  
Date   Sept 29 to October 24 2025  
Location   room Z4 in NKI   
WEEK 1      
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
MONDAY  29/Sep    
9.30 - 10.00   START COURSE-pick up acces pass and coffee/tea in room Z4
10.00 - 10.50   Introduction assignment 1 Roderick Beijersbergen
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Advanced early cancer diagnostics Beatriz Carvalho
12.10 - 13.00   Advanced early cancer diagnostics Beatriz Carvalho
       
    Self-study preparation lecture Clinical trials 30/9 paper @ Surfdrive
TUESDAY 30/Sep    
9.00 - 9.50   Clinical trials  - Masterclass - read paper first Marcel Soesan
10.00 - 10.50   Clinical trials  - Masterclass Marcel Soesan
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Epidemiology of cancer  Marjanka Schmidt
12.10 - 13.00   Epidemiology of cancer Marjanka Schmidt
       
    preparation assigment 1  
WEDNESDAY 1/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Workshop  Hormone Regulated Cancers Willbert Zwart
10.00 - 10.50     Hugo Horlings
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Tour @ Pathology department - 2 groups Maarten Breet
12.10 - 13.00     Andre Bergman
lunch break      
13.30 - 16.00 Z1? feedback and discussion assigment 1 Roderick Beijersbergen
THURSDAY 2/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   assignment 2 Roderick Beijersbergen
10.00 - 10.50      
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   assignment 2  
12.10 - 13.00      
lunch break      
13.30 - 14.20   assignment 2  
14.30 - 15.20      
FRIDAY 3/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   assignment 2 Roderick Beijersbergen
10.00 - 10.50      
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   assignment 2  
12.10 - 13.00      
lunch break      
13.30 - 14.20   assignment 2  
14.30 - 15.20      
       
WEEK 2      
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
MONDAY  6/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Next generation sequencing Arno Velds
10.00 - 10.50   Next generation sequencing Roderick Beijersbergen
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Introduction assignment 3 Roderick Beijersbergen
12.10 - 13.00   Introduction research proposal Roderick Beijersbergen
lunch break      
13.30 - 15.00   preparation assigment 3 in groups
    Preparation interview the teacher: Benjamin Rowland  
       
TUESDAY 7/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   DNA damage tolerance Heinz Jacobs
10.00 - 10.50   DNA damage tolerance Heinz Jacobs
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Interview the teacher:  Benjamin Rowland
12.10 - 13.00   Shaping the genome in interphase and mitosis  
       
WEDNESDAY 8/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Workshop  Epigenetics and Cancer  
10.00 - 10.50     Elzo de Wit
coffee break     Fred van Leeuwen
11.10 - 12.00      
12.10 - 13.00      
lunch break      
13.30 - 14.20   How to write a research proposal Roderick Beijersbergen
14.30 - 15.20   How to write a research proposal Roderick Beijersbergen
       
THURSDAY 9/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   mRNA translation and Reuven Agami
10.00 - 10.50   cancer immunotherapy Reuven Agami 
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00 kan Telomeres, DNA damage and cancer Jacqueline Jacobs
12.10 - 13.00 kan Telomeres DNA damage and Cancer Jacqueline Jacobs
lunch break      
13.30 - 15.00   feedback and discussion assigment 3 Roderick Beijersbergen
       
FRIDAY 10/Oct    
    preparation assignment 3 and research proposal @ home  
       
WEEK 3      
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
MONDAY  13/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Cancer genomics Lodewyk Wessels
10.00 - 10.50   Cancer genomics Lodewyk Wessels
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   AI for Oncology Jonas Teuwen
12.10 - 13.00   AI for Oncology Joren Brunekreef-Postdoc T.group
lunch break      
13.30 - 15.00   preparation assignment 3 and res. proposal in groups
    preparation Interview Rene Bernards  
TUESDAY 14/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Targeted Therapy Roderick Beijersbergen
10.00 - 10.50   Targeted Therapy Roderick Beijersbergen
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Interview the teacher: Rene Bernards
12.10 - 13.00   Novel strategies for targeted therapy  Rene Bernards
lunch break      
13.30 - 15.00   preparation assignment 3 in groups
    and research proposal  
       
WEDNESDAY 15/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Workshop: Functional genomic screening  
10.00 - 10.50     Abdel Mazouzi
coffee break     Roderick Beijersbergen
11.10 - 12.00     Johan Kuiken
12.10 - 13.00      
    preparation Interview Jacco van Rheenen/Mark de Gooijer 16/10  
    preparation assignment 3 and research proposal  
       
THURSDAY 16/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Protein structure and drug design Titia Sixma
10.00 - 10.50   Protein structure and drug design Titia Sixma
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   title TBA Hendrik Messal
12.10 - 13.00   Interview the teacher Cancer Stem cells Jacco van Rheenen
lunch break      
13.30 - 15.00   preparation assignment 3 in groups
    and research proposal  
       
FRIDAY 17/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   presentations assignment 3 Roderick Beijersbergen
10.00 - 10.50      
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   presentations assignment 3  
12.10 - 13.00      
lunch break      
13.30 - 14.20   presentations assignment 3  
14.30 - 15.20      
       
Week 4      
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
MONDAY  20/Oct    
9.00-9.50   assignment 4 Roderick Beijersbergen
10.00-10.50      
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   assignment 4  
12.10 - 13.00      
lunch break      
13.30 - 14.20   assignment 4  
14.30 - 15.20      
    preparation Interview Daniel Peeper  
       
TUESDAY 21/Oct    
9.00-9.50   The study of mouse models for cancer Jos Jonkers/Stefan Hutten
10.00-10.50   The study of mouse models for cancer Jos Jonkers
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Interview the teacher:  Daniel Peeper
12.10 - 13.00   Cancer immune surveillance: concepts,  Daniel Peeper
    challenges & opportunities  
       
    preparation research proposal  
       
WEDNESDAY 22/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Workshop: Immunotherapy  
10.00 - 10.50     Leila Akari group
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00      
12.10 - 13.00      
       
    preparation research proposal  
THURSDAY 23/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   T-cell therapy Wouter Scheper
10.00 - 10.50   TCR and Neoantigens Marius Messemaker
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   TBA Roderick Beijersbergen
12.10 - 13.00   TBA Roderick Beijersbergen
       
    preparation research proposal and pitch presentation  
FRIDAY 24/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   proposal pitches Roderick Beijersbergen
10.00 - 10.50      
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   proposal pitches  
12.10 - 13.00      
lunch break      
13.30 - 14.20   proposal pitches  
14.30 - 15.20      
15.30 - 16.30   Evaluation and Borrel  
       
Sunday  24.00 26-Oct deadline research proposal  
       
       
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
TUESDAY 24/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50    Immunology and Immunotherapy Leila Akari
10.00 - 10.50    Immunology and Immunotherapy Leila akari
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Interview the teacher: Rene Bernards Rene Bernards
12.10 - 13.00   Novel strategies for targeted therapy  Rene Bernards
       
Z4   preparation research proposal  
       
       
       
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
WEDNESDAY 25/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   Telomeres, DNA damage and cancer Jacqueline Jacobs
10.00 - 10.50   Telomeres DNA damage and Cancer Jacqueline Jacobs
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   TCR and Neoantigens Wouter Scheper
12.10 - 13.00   TCR and Neoantigens Wouter Scheper
       
Z4   preparation research proposal  
       
       
       
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
THURSDAY 26/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   CART-T therapy Maria Themeli AUMC
10.00 - 10.50   CART-T therapy Maria Themeli AUMC
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   Immuno-therapy resistance Daniel Peeper
12.10 - 13.00   Immuno-therapy resistance Daniel Peeper
       
Z4   preparation research proposal and pitch presentation  
       
       
 24.00    deadline hand-in slides for proposal pitch  
DATE / TIME   SUBJECT TEACHER
FRIDAY 27/Oct    
9.00 - 9.50   proposal pitches Roderick Beijersbergen
10.00 - 10.50      
coffee break      
11.10 - 12.00   proposal pitches  
12.10 - 13.00      
lunch break      
13.30 - 14.20   proposal pitches  
14.30 - 15.20      
15.30 - 16.20   Evaluation and Borrel  
       
Sunday 29/oct    
24.00   deadline hand-in research proposal  

 

Additional information

Course will be held at the NKI-AVL, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam
For information, contact mw. Patty Lagerweij (p.lagerweij@nki.nl)

Homepage NKI-AVL: http://www.nki.nl

Contact information

Coordinator

  • prof. dr. R.L. Beijersbergen PhD