Clinical Cell Biology

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

Diseases start at the level of cells. Finding both the cause, and a cure, requires inventing and mastering techniques to investigate, understand and manipulate the biological processes that drive normal and dysfunctional cells.

You are about to enter the research laboratory as an academic Master student who can master her/his own project. This module will equip you with general biological insights into various common disease-related cellular mechanisms, with a major focus on cancer, but also with an overview of modern experimental methods and technologies including flow cytometry microscopy, as well as data analysis, analysis scripts and management. Both aspects will be very important for choosing your first internship project. The module Clinical Cell Biology will familiarize you with multiple disease-driven research groups and potential projects for your internship. The module consists of four themes, each discussing various aspects of fundamental or translational research in life sciences, with some emphasizing high-end microscopy techniques.

Whether you’re interested in cancer, leukemia, neurodegeneration or other conditions, enjoy this module to understand the bench-to-bedside approach that is crucial in modern medicine!

The module is built up by 4 sub-modules. Each sub-module shows aspects of translational research or fundamental research in life sciences.

We wish you a lot of fun and enthusiastic discussions during the course

Study materials

Literature

Syllabus

• Will be provided at the start of the course

Practical training material

Software

Other

Objectives

• compare and select scientific technologies for specific applications, ranging from molecular biology to advanced microscopy and proteomics.
• critically analyze the pros and cons of scientific technologies.
• compile and clearly present a research proposal.
• perform and present a critical appraisal of scientific literature.
• put forward and defend scientific arguments in an oral debate.
• interpret and clearly present scientific data.
• discuss experimental approaches with participating PhD students and senior scientists
• explain the relevance of reliable science for society.
• collaborate with peers.
• better view on career perspectives: discussions with biomedical scientists in their PhD study and beyond, inside and outside of academic sciences

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Self-study
• Presentation/symposium
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

At the start of the course, students are assigned to groups of 3 or 4 students. All assignments are executed in these groups.

Learning activities

Attendance

Additional requirements for this course:

All activities are mandatory.
Notice of absence is required from the coordinators.

Assessment

No resit is possible for the Examinations of sub-modules.

Inspection of assessed work

After the examinations, students receive written evaluation by the examinator.

Assignments

Week 1: Presentation – Hackathon ‘Novel Lymphoma Treatment Modalities’  - pitch presentations in pairs, oral feedback                

Week 2: R2 assignment: Exploring a vitiligo SNP in the context of vitiligo and melanoma  - in pairs, oral feedback                                   

Week 3: Presentation – Intracellular Signaling  - small groups, oral feedback                                                                                         

Week 4: Assignment data analysis - individual, written feedback 

All assignemnts have rubrics for scoring                                                                                                            

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

Additional information

The course will take place in different locations at the AMC and FNWI.

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. Eric Reits