Translational Cancer Medicine enables you to gain detailed knowledge and understanding of research methods applied to rational drug design, clinical study design, molecular and cell biology, tumour immunology, genetics and cancer imaging. Practical experience gained through two six-month laboratory rotations.
KEY BENEFITS
- The range of topics including advanced imaging methods is unique for this translational cancer programme.
- The sponsoring laboratories and departments all have international standing and have agreed to closely supervise the trainees.
- Figures released in October 2007 by The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) show that King's College London is the most successful university in the country in terms of PhD completion rates and this programme will potentially select candidates for the PhD programme within the Division of Cancer Studies.
KEY FACTS
Student destinations
Future PhD studies. Clinical and non-clinical academic careers in cancer medicine.
Programme leader/s
Prof Tony Ng, Programme Director
Awarding Institution
King's College London
Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent)
UK 180/ECTS 90
Duration
One year FT, September to September; two year PT option available to Medics working in the UK.
Location
Guy's Campus and/or St Thomas' Campus and/or Denmark Hill Campus.
Year of entry 2013
Offered by
School of Medicine
Closing date
30 April for start in September or 31 August (P/T Medics option) for start in January.
Intake
7-9 FT.
Fees
PT Home: £4500 (2013)
PT Overseas: £10300 (2013)
FT Home: £9000 (2013)
FT Overseas: £20600 (2013)
CONTACTS
Contact information
Programme queries:
Dora Jonsdottir, Prog Coordinator
dora.jonsdottir@kcl.ac.uk
Tel 0207-848-6835
Admissions queries:
Adesuwa Idahosa, Admissions Officer
adesuwa.idahosa@kcl.ac.uk
Tel 0207-848-8391
PURPOSE
The programme will provide students with a detailed knowledge and understanding of research methods applied to rational drug design, clinical study design, molecular and cell biology, tumour immunology, genetics and cancer imaging, all of which are relevant to Translational Cancer Research. In addition practical experience will be gained through two laboratory rotations of six months duration.
DESCRIPTION
Overview of subjects covered:
- Biomarkers, Biostatistics and Modelling
- Breast Cancer
- Cancer Bioinformatics
- Cancer Imaging (Optical)
- Cancer Imaging (PET)
- Clinical Trials and translational research
- Gene discovery through to therapeutic applications
- Haemato-oncology and associated genetics/genomics
- Immunology of Cancers
- Molecular Pathology
- Signal Transduction in cancers.
Project titles 2013-14:
- Clinical Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer in the UK
- Roles of Rho GTPases in cancer cell interaction with endothelial cells
- Applications of novel coincidence detection technology to the analysis of signalling networks in tumours
- Role of Notch2 in breast cancer recurrence and resistance to antiestrogen therapy
- Tumour associated macrophages
- Understanding the role of c-Met targeting in improving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-focused therapy in triple negative breast cancer patients
- Increasing throughput and resolution of BRAC1/Sumo colocalisation imaging using deconvolution techniques and ligase proximity assays
- Patterns of metastatic spread and outcomes in breast cancer
- Peptide based vaccination against tumour associated antigens
- SNP and MicroRNA profiling pre and post DNMT inhibitor and immunomodulatory therapy in Low Risk MDS
- Proteomic analyses of leukaemia
- Analysis of the interaction between neoplastic B cells and the microvascular endothelium in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- Multiparametric imaging in cancer (radiomics)
- Molecular and/or clinical precursors of prostate cancer progression
- Molecular pathology of breast cancer precursors
- Biobanking for translational research
- Investigating DNA damage response phenotypes in triple negative breast cancers as potential biomarkers of therapy response
- Drug discovery and preclinical development
- Circulating cell free DNA and molecular biomarkers in solid tumours
- Genetic targeting of T-cells against cancer
- Identification of genes that predispose to lobular breast cancer
- Epigenetics and breast cancer: The role of JARID1B, a histone demethylase
- Changes in post-translational modifications (O-linked glycosylation) of breast cancer: The effect on tumour behaviour and immune recognition
- Exploring synthetic mimics of viral nucleic acids for tumour immunotherapy
EXTRA PROGRAMME INFORMATION
Occupational health clearance will be required for some of the projects.
STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Core programme content
Please see the modules list.
Indicative non-core content
Please see the modules list.
FORMAT AND ASSESSMENT
30 credit taught module, and two 75 credit laboratory based research projects. The taught component will consist of lectures, literature review/journal clubs and workshops and will be assessed by a written assignment on the overall concept of Translational Cancer Research. There will be two laboratory rotations. The first will be assessed by a written dissertation, a seminar presentation and an oral examination. The second will require the writing of a paper of the standard and format required by a scientific journal.
MODULES
More information on typical programme modules.
NB it cannot be guaranteed that all modules are offered in any particular academic year.
Module code: 7MMOC003
Credit level: 7
As an MRes the major focus of the programme is giving students the opportunity to learn how to do research. The proposed course is structured to be a 30 credits taught module, and two 75 credit laboratory based research project modules (the practice of research), giving an integrated background experience of research strategy, context and practical experience.
The taught component will consist of lectures in the 1st semester; (see the attached Timetable Translational Cancer Medicine.xls), literature review/journal clubs (once a month, at the individual laboratory or department that the student is attached to) and workshops on relevant topics such as biostatistics, drug design, etc. From the outset, students will be expected to start working four days a week on their Research Project.
For the taught module, there will be a written assignment on the overall concept of Translational Cancer Research e.g. “The essential building blocks for good translational cancer research” – this can be centred on examples in the two main disciplines which the two lab rotations represent, with ‘links’ to other relevant disciplines that are taught within the module.
Module code: 7MMOC001
Credit level: 7
The Research project (Laboratory Rotation 1) will be assessed by a written dissertation, a seminar presentation and an oral examination. The written report will cover a detailed background introduction to the subject together with a presentation of results and discussion of the research undertaken.
Module code: 7MMOC002
Credit level: 7
The Research project (Laboratory Rotation 2) will be assessed by a written paper of the standard and format required by a scientific journal [the two supervisors for the two lab rotations may agree to put in data from parts of the two rotations together for this paper].
ACADEMIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
General entry advice
First class or high 2:1 BSc (honours) degree or overseas equivalent in biomolecular or physical sciences. MBBS students can be admitted at any time following the third year of their programme. Post-year three: entry is based on year three performance plus evidence of knowledge of the basic elements of translational research topics. Advanced years (four to five): students must complete their current year of study. External students need to obtain permission from their own medical school and provide evidence of their exam performance in the pre-clinical examinations.
APPLYING TO KING'S
To apply for graduate study at King's you will need to complete our graduate online application form. Applying online makes applying easier and quicker for you, and means we can receive your application faster and more securely.
King's does not normally accept paper copies of the graduate application form as applications must be made online. However, if you are unable to access the online graduate application form, please contact the relevant admissions/School Office at King's for advice.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please contact for details.
PERSONAL STATEMENT & SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Please detail your research experience and any previous laboratory experience. Include your reason for applying and career aims. Please specify two areas of interest from the list of projects in the description. MBBS students should provide a statement demonstrating knowledge of basic elements of translational research topics such as epidemiology, clinical biostatistics and clinical pharmacology (relating to drug discovery).
FUNDING
1-2 bursaries are offered annually to the most appropriate applicant(s). Each bursary will cover the student's tuition fee (home/EU fee or equivelant amount for overseas fee). All applications are automatically considered for the bursaries.
Staff profiles
Translational Cancer Medicine MRes
I obtained my medical degree from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) in 1989. I am a member of both the Royal College of Physicians (London) and Royal College of Pathologists (UK). During a short period of attachment to the Oncology and Infectious Disease Unit at San Francisco General Hospital (1999), I developed a strong interest in basic research that can be translated into patient benefit. By 1993, having spent a number of years caring for patients with HIV and opportunistic infections/tumours, I decided to pursue a full-time research career to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying various immune function abnormalities that were reported among patients with HIV/AIDS. My transition from being a medical practitioner to a full time clinical academic was made possible by a number of prestigious research fellowships, from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the former Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK). Through these fellowships, I acquired a unique mix of training/expertise in Immunology, Cancer cell biology (particular focus on the mechanisms of cancer cell migration), Biochemistry (study of signal transduction in cancer cells) and Cell Biophysics (employment of advanced optical cell imaging techniques to study biochemistry in live cancer cells and patient-derived tissue samples). My professional training and belief in translating basic research to clinical assays have led me to my current vision for a multidisciplinary approach to cancer.
Having gone through Clinician Scientist training myself in the UK and then subsequently made the decision to stay in full-time translational cancer research, I fully understand the importance of providing proper scientific training for the future Translational Cancer Practitioners, which will include both basic scientists and clinician scientists who can work alongside each other to make the greatest impact of cancer research.