Cancer and Embryonic Development is a three hour, dual Cancer Biology and Cell and Developmental Biology accredited course that is open to first and second year graduate students at Vanderbilt, Meharry, and Fisk Universities.  There are no specific pre-requisites for Cancer and Embryonic Development, although some knowledge of biological systems and pathways would be useful.   The course was conceived as an opportunity to expose students to the different conceptual frameworks and approaches used by developmental and cancer biologists to study common biological responses and pathways used during normal embryonic development and malignancy.  

Cancer and Embryonic Development meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2:30 to 3:30 pm in 3131 MRBIII.   We will have three graduate trainees and one postdoctoral fellow serving as teaching assistants and with their help we will provide students with highly interactive, student-teacher environment.  This year, the course will be divided into 4 modules:

•	Structure, Movement and Specification
•	Embryonal tumors and organogenesis
•	Cell interactions
•	Regulatory Pathways

Each module will last 2 to 4 weeks and will be broken down into weekly topics.   Monday and Wednesday classes will focus on didactic lectures and discussions led by card-carrying developmental and/or cancer biologists.  Classes on both days will be split into three parts: 1) a 30-minute didactic lecture; 2) a 10 minute mini-group breakout session, led by teaching assistants and instructors, where each group raises at least two questions for discussion; and 3) a 20-minute round table student-led discussion on the topic.  Attendance is expected and will contribute to 33 % of your grade.

Friday classes are dedicated to the student-led journal club, where enrollees have an opportunity to present relevant topical publications.   Two papers (one developmental and one cancer biology) will be presented by students, who will each have 20 minutes for their presentation followed by a 10 minute discussion period.   The instructors for the week will also be present to address any questions raised during these conversations.

Additionally, one half of the class will be chosen to read each of the papers and write a brief report on both ( approximately 1 page per paper).  The speakers for the week will of course be excused from this.  Each paper summary should contain: a) a brief summary; b) comments about the single most important piece of data (figure or table); c) major criticisms; and d) ideas generated by reading the paper.  These reports represent another 33% of your grade; each paper can score up to 50% for turning the assignment in on time and up to 50% for content.  Feedback will be given on these reports each week.

We have also invited outside speakers to participate in the Cancer and Embryonic Development class.  These invited speakers are internationally recognized developmental and cancer biologists who will share their research insights with the Vanderbilt community.  Students will be given an opportunity to spend quality time with these guests via 'Meet & Eat' lunch sessions. 

In the week preceding a guest speaker visit the paper process will work differently.  We will select a number of seminal papers from the visitor and all students will be expected to write reports on each (following the format outline above) as well as participate in round-table discussions.

At the end of Cancer and Embryonic Development students will write a 3-5 page research proposal based on a topic that has piqued his or her interest.   This exercise is designed to give students experience in writing a concise, focused research proposal in advance of qualifying exams and represents the final 33% of the course grade.  Format instructions will be distributed at the beginning of the course.  Specific aims for the proposal will be due a month in advance.  This will constitute 25% of the grade, with another 25% awarded when final proposal is handed in on time (respective of content). The final 50% of the grade will be determined by the proposal itself.  The course teaching assistants and director will be available throughout this process to advise students. 

A complete list of topics, speakers, and invited guests can be accessed via the class schedule.  Class presentation downloads, links to pertinent lecture and journal club readings, and info about each instructor can be accessed by visiting the relevant topic pages (which can be accessed via the topic links above and to the left).    More details about grading can be accessed by linking to the grading class page (at left).