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CANCER BIOLOGY STUDENT HANDBOOK
1. Description of the Cancer Biology Program
Alakananda Basu, Ph.D., Graduate Advisor
Research and Education Building 437
817-735-2487
E-mail: abasu@hsc.unt.edu
Graduate Faculty: S. Awasthi, Y. Awasthi, Basu, Cammarata, Das, Dimitrijevich, Eisenberg, I. Gryczynski, Z. Gryczynski, Jiang, Jones, Lacko, P. Mathew, L. Prokai, A. Sharma, R. Sharma, Siede, Singh, Singhal, Vishwanatha, Wordinger, Yang
1.1 General Description and Goals:
The Cancer Biology program is an interdisciplinary program that offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The goal of this program is to provide students with rigorous education and training in biomedical sciences with a specialty in Cancer Biology. The students will receive training through original research, formal classroom education, problem-based learn, seminars and journal clubs. The program includes faculty members from several departments. Our faculty members are engaged in various aspects of cancer research, including signal transduction, apoptosis, cell poliferation and differentiation, cancer immunology, drug resistance, tumor invasion and metastasis, DNA damage and repair, gene delivery, cancer therapeutics, molecular carcinogenesis, and nanotechnology/imaging. The research projects employ state-of-the-art molecular, cellular and biochemical techniques that include genomics, proteomics, mass spectrometry, molecular cloning, gene targeting, FACS analysis, advanced fluoescence spectroscopy, and optical imaging.
A major advantage of this program is that the students will have the freedom to choose faculty advisors from any department according to their research interests. In addition, students will be able to utilize the resources and expertise of faculty members with diverse background from several departments. During the first year, the students will acquire sufficient backgroun in biological sciences, including biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, cell biology, pharmacology, microbiology and immunology. The students will have the opportunity to rotate in research laboratores in any department prior to selecting their thesis advisors. In the second year, the students will take advanced courses, such as Molecular Aspects of Cell Signaling and Molecular and Cell Biochemistry of Cancer. The students will be able to select additional elective courses from any department based on their needs and interests. Ph.D candidates are admitted to candidacy after successful completion of their preliminary oral qualifying examinations and defense of an NIH-style research grant proposal. M.S. candidates are expected to graduate in 1.5 to 2 years whereas Ph.D. candidates may require 4 to 5 years to complete their degree.
1.2 Graduate Faculty and Specific Research Programs
Faculty/Position (Research Interest)
Sanjay Awasthi, M.D./Professor (The mercapturic acid pathway has been of central importance in cancer, implicated in carcinogenesis, and chemotherapy drug-resistance through its rate-limiting enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST). The thioether glutathione-electrophile conjugates (GS-E) that originate from GST-catalyzed reactions of glutathione (GSH) with foreign toxic electrophilic compounds (xenobiotics), cytochrome-P-450 mediated electrophilic derivatives of xenobiotics, as well as lipid-peroxidation derived endogenous electrophiles. The GS-E efflux pump, the necessary next step after GST-mediated conjugation has been conclusively identified as the multi-specific and multifunctional protein, RLIP76 (encoded by the human gene RALBP1). Because of the known inhibition of GST by GS-E, and the toxic/pro-apoptotic nature of many endogenously derived GS-#, we predicted that inhibiting RLIP76 would have a uniformly toxic effect in cancers. We have recently confirmed this postulate in studies showing striking, consistent and very broad-spectrum antineoplastic activity of this approach in cell and animal models. The present focus of our basic research is on chemical and biochemical studies of mercapturic acid pathway in the pathobiology of diseases including cancer, radiation poisoning, diabetes, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders. Our clinical focus is the development of mercapturic acid pathway modulators to be used in translational clinical studies for therapy for these diseases.
Degree Plans
The following are typical degree plans for students in the cancer biology discipline. It is advantageous to the student to begin graduate study in the fall semester. These degree plans may vary depending upon availability of course offerings in a given semester and each student's progress toward thesis and dissertation research.
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MS Degree Plan for Cancer Biology |
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Year 1: Fall |
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BMSC 5600 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences I: Principles of Biochemistry |
4 SCH |
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BMSC 5610 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences II: Molecular Cell Biology |
4 SCH |
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BMSC 5935 |
Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
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BMSC 5650 |
Lab Rotations |
2 SCH |
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BMSC 5960 |
Biomedical Ethics |
1 SCH |
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12 SCH |
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Year 1: Spring |
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At least two of the following: |
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BMSC 5700 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences III: Physiology |
3 SCH |
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BMSC 5705 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences IV: Pharmacology |
2 SCH |
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BMSC 5710 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences V: Immunology and Microbiology |
3 SCH |
| AND | ||
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BMSC 5935 |
Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
| BIOC 6050 | Molecular and Cell Biology of Cancer | 2 SCH |
| BMSC 5930 | Individual Research for MS Students | 1-4 SCH |
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12 SCH |
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Year 1: Summer |
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BMSC 5200 |
Biostatistics |
4 SCH |
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BMSC 5930 |
Individual Research for MS Students |
2 SCH |
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|
6 SCH |
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Year 2: Fall |
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BMSC 5930 |
Individual Research for MS Students |
5-6 SCH |
| Electives* | 3-4 SCH | |
| Journal Club/Current Topics** | 1-2 SCH | |
|
9 SCH |
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| Year 2: | Spring | |
| BMSC 5930 |
Individual Research for MS Students |
3 SCH |
| BMSC 5950 | Thesis | 3 SCH |
| 6 SCH | ||
| TOTAL |
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45 SCH |
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PhD Degree Plan for Cancer Biology |
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Year 1: Fall |
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BMSC 5600 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences I: Principles of Biochemistry |
4 SCH |
|
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BMSC 5610 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences II: Molecular Cell Biology |
4 SCH |
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BMSC 5935 |
Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
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BMSC 5650 |
Lab Rotations |
2 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 5960 |
Biomedical Ethics |
1 SCH |
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|
|
|
12 SCH |
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|
Year 1: Spring |
|||
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At least two of the following: |
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BMSC 5700 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences III: Physiology |
3 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 5705 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences IV: Pharmacology |
2 SCH |
|
| BMSC 5710 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences V: Immunology and Microbiology |
3 SCH | |
| AND | |||
|
BMSC 5935 |
Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
|
| BMSC 6940 | Individual Research | 1-3 SCH | |
| Electives* | 2 SCH | ||
| 12 SCH | |||
|
Year 1: Summer |
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BMSC 5200 |
Biostatistics for BMSC |
4 SCH |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
2 SCH |
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Qualifying Exam |
0 SCH |
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|
6 SCH |
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Year 2: Fall |
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BMSC 5010 |
Scientific Communications |
3 SCH |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
3-5 SCH |
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| BIOC 5435 | Molecular Aspects of Cell Signaling | 2 SCH | |
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Electives* |
2-4 SCH | ||
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Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1-2 SCH |
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|
|
|
12 SCH |
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|
Year 2: Spring |
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BMSC 6010 |
Grant Writing |
3 SCH |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
4-6 SCH |
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Electives* |
2-4 SCH |
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Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1 SCH |
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|
|
|
12 SCH |
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|
Year 2: Summer |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
6 SCH
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Year 3: Fall |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
3-5 SCH |
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Electives* |
0-3 SCH |
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Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1 SCH | ||
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|
6 SCH |
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Year 3: Spring |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
5 SCH |
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|
Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1 SCH | ||
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|
|
6 SCH |
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Year 3: Summer |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
6 SCH |
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Year 4: Fall |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
3 SCH | |
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BMSC 6950 |
Doctoral Dissertation |
3 SCH |
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|
6 SCH |
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| Year 4: | Spring | ||
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BMSC 6950 |
Doctoral Dissertation |
6 SCH |
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| TOTAL | 90 SCH | ||
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*Elective Courses (must include 6-8 SCH from the following): |
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BIOC 5435 |
Molecular Aspects of Cell Signaling |
4 SCH |
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BIOC 5510 |
Signal Transduction |
2 SCH |
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| BIOC 5560 | Current Topics in Cancer Biology | 2 SCH | |
| BIOC 6020 | Cellular and Molecular Fluorescence | 2 SCH | |
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BIOC 6050 |
Molecular and Cell Biology of Cancer |
2 SCH |
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| BMSC 5400 | Introduction to Human Subject Research | 2 SCH | |
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CGEN 6020 |
Genomics and Proteomics |
3 SCH |
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| CGEN 6030 | Methods in Molecular Biology | 4 SCH | |
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MICR 6300 |
Advanced Molecular Biology |
3 SCH |
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| **Journal Club/ | Current Topics | ||
| BMSC 5720 | Novel Macromolecules that Regulate the Cell Cycle | 2 SCH | |
| BIOC 5510 | Signal Transduction | 2 SCH | |
| BIOC 5560 | Current Topics in Cancer Biology | 1 SCH | |
Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy
Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination is to ensure a doctoral student has sufficient mastery of fundamental principles of cancer biology and biomedical sciences, including biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology to be successful as a Ph.D. candidate and independent researcher. A list of major topics to be examined will be distributed to the student after the completion of the first year. The student is expected to become knowledgeable in each of these topics through coursework, individual reading, or discussions with faculty members. The qualifying examination will be administered by faculty members of the cancer biology program, and will consist of an oral examination. A student will answer a given set of questions within a given time. The student must demonstrate an ability to discuss and apply concepts of cancer biology. Two attempts to successfully pass the qualifying examination are allowed. Failure of the student to pass the qualifying examination results in dismissal of the student from the doctoral program. In this case, a student may be allowed to complete the requirements for a Master of Science degree.
Grant Writing (6010)
This stage of the advancement to doctoral candidacy will evaluate a student's aptitude for independent thought and scientific writing. The student is required to (a) prepare an NIH-style research proposal without the assistance of his/her major professor, (b) present the proposal in a public seminar, and (c) address specific questions of an examination committee. The proposal should be based on an original hypothesis that could be related but should be distinct from the major professor's funded research, and should describe specific experimental approaches to address the hypothesis. The student will present this proposal in the form of a public seminar and then privately address specific questions of an examination committee. The examination committee will consist of cancer biology faculty (4 members) appointed by the graduate advisor. The chairperson of the committee (appointed by the graduate advisor) will serve as coordinator and will meet with the student at the beginning of the semester to review guidelines and answer relevant procedural questions. The grant proposal and the student's oral presentation and defense will be evaluated on the basis of originality and ability to communicate the proposal content. Upon successful completion of this course, the student is advanced to doctoral candidacy. Two attempts to successfully pass Grant Writing (BMSC 6010) are allowed. Failure of the student to pass Grant Writing (BMSC 6010) results in dismissal of the student from the doctoral program. In this case, a student may be allowed to complete the requirements for a Master of Science degree.
This page last updated Jun 11, 2009
