Shibani Mukherjee, Ph.D.
Basic Sciences, FHCRC
Hutch Teaching Fellows Program
E-mail: smukherj@fhcrc.org
Phone: 206-667-5052
This course provides an overview of several model systems used in basic cancer research. For each organism, a critical lesson in cancer biology that was learned using that model will be emphasized. In addition, the history of each model system, its pros and cons, techniques used, and future resources highlighting FHCRC scientists working on that organism will be integrated into the course.
Prerequisites: B.S. in biology or specialized biological topic. Contact the course coordinator if you want to take the course but lack the prerequisite.
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Class: Thursdays: 2-3 p.m., Room C1M-015
Office hours: Alternate Thursdays, 3-4 p.m.
Lecture 1
Brief overview of class organization
Model system: Saccharomyces cerevisae (yeast)
Cancer context: Cell cycle (Cell proliferation)
Lecturer: Shibani Mukherjee, Postdoc, Basic Sciences
Lecture 2
Model system: Caenorhabditis elegans (worm)
Cancer context: Apoptosis (Cell death)
Guest lecturer: Giana Angelo, Postdoc, Basic Sciences
Lecture 3
Model system: Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly)
Cancer context: Cell growth and differentiation
Guest lecturer: Laura Buttita, Postdoc, Basic Sciences
Lecture 4
Model system: Mus musculus and Rattus rattus (mouse and rat)
Part I: History, Model system development, techniques
Guest lecturer: Erik Eide, Postdoc, Basic Sciences
Lecture 5
Model system: Mus musculus (mouse)
Part II: Application, analysis of models
Cancer Context: Angiogenesis
Guest lecturer: Michael Davis, Postdoc, Clinical Research
Lecture 6
Model system: Danio rerio (zebrafish)
Cancer context: Metastasis, high-throughput screening
Lecturer: Shibani Mukherjee
Lecture 7
Model system: Homo sapiens: 2D and 3D cell culture
Cancer context: Tumor microenvironment
Lecturer: Shibani Mukherjee
Lecture 8
Model system: Schmidtea mediterranea (Planaria/flatworm)
Cancer context: Stem cells
Other topics: summary of course, discussion of take-home exam answers, future directions in cancer model systems (implications in the 'omics era)
Lecturer: Shibani Mukherjee