Background

The Research School for Cancer Studies (RSCS), under CCBIO’s aegis, has been approved by the UiB. It will focus on translational cancer research and innovation including international exchange and mobility.

RSCS goals and main activities

The main goal of the RSCS is to be a scientifically stimulating and inclusive meeting place for junior researchers within various areas of cancer research, ranging from basic medical to paraclinical and clinical research environments with a common focus on translational studies of cancer biomarkers. PhD candidates and postdoctors will get the opportunity to meet renowned international researchers, and the candidates can meet each other and deliberate upon their research projects across the established research groups.

In order to attain this goal, CCBIO will integrate the RSCS into CCBIO’s strategic activities like the annual CCBIO Symposium as well as the monthly CCBIO Seminars where world leading scientists and opinion leaders will give key-note lecturers and interact with students and PIs. Other RSCS key activities will be a journal club and an array of specially designed courses. Apart from the main focus on translationally relevant biomarker studies, PhD candidates will  be trained in inter-disciplinary collaboration, project management, communication skills and ethical, economic and societal aspects pertaining to CCBIOs research.

CCBIO aims to actively use its international networks to provide the ground for exchange of PhD candidates and postdoctors both to and from CCBIO. The RSCS will collaborate with  local and national research schools.

Organization

The RSCS is directed by Professor Johannessen, and all PIs in CCBIO will contribute towards the activities. Administrative support for coordination is provided by the Department of  Clinical Medicine (DCM), whereas local administrative support for each course is provided by the relevant departments. Apart from its allocated own annual budget of 150 000 NOK, the RSCS will be able to draw upon the resources allocated to other parts of CCBIO, boosting its total resources.

Courses currently being established

According to CCBIO’s scientific and organizational philosophy, courses will be controlled and flagged by CCBIO, but also be formally located at and credited to the relevant department. All courses will be open according to available capacity after CCBIO´s PhD candidates have  enrolled. The below list illustrates CCBIO’s current ambition for courses to be established during the next year. Courses with a given registration number are already approved by CCBIO. For the remainder, course descriptions are currently being elaborated.

• CCBIO 901 Junior Scientist Mini Symposium Series. PhDs and PDs will present their results four times a year. If the PhD-candidates have the need to meet more often, one will consider organizing a retreat or other meeting points.
  
  
• CCBIO 902 CCBIO Seminar and Symposium Series. This course combines the CCBIO part of the BMED 380 (the monthly CCBIO Seminar series) with the CCBIO Annual Symposium to make a 3 point 900-level course.
  
  
• BMED 904 Biomedical Research Course: Matrix Biology. This is an established course where CCBIO members will now have first right of entry.
  
  
• Methods in Biomarker Research. This course will focus on the full panel of advanced and standard methods with relevance for cancer biomarkers. The intention is a methodological course that also includes components of ethics and economy. This is a strongly needed course with potential national interest.
  
  
• Tumour Biology in the Clinic. The course leaders have experience from equivalent courses arranged by the Norwegian MDs association. CCBIO aims to extend the existing course with a focus also on bio-banking in practice.
  
  
• Cancer Research: Ethical, economical and societal aspects. The course will focus on ethical, economical and societal aspects of cancer and cancer research and aims to equip PhD candidates with tools for systematic reflection on their own and related research as well as methods for assessing the cost benefit of health measures and methods of treatment.