Oncology and Immunology

Course advanced immunology

Aim and content: This postgraduate course is inspired by the interest in immunology research at the AMC, VU Universiteit Amsterdam, and the Central Laboratory of Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. The aim is to further extend your knowledge of recent developments in immunology and to help you better understand scientific questions and approaches in immunological research.    The aim is to further extend your knowledge of recent developments in immunology and to help you better understand scientific questions and approaches in immunological research. 
Topics include: molecules (MHC, antigen receptors, co-stimulatory molecules adhesion molecules), mediators (cytokines, chemokines, hormones), and cells (T and B lymphocytes, antigen-presenting cells, natural immune cells) involved in immune responses; antigen processing; regulation of immune responses; effector mechanisms; infectious diseases, cancer, autoimmunity and allergy.

Basic course Oncology (Dutch)

Aim and contents: during this 5 day course, a number of speakers (all specialized in oncology) will introduce different topics related to research and patientcare.  The course provides you with an overview of basic and clinical-related research, patientcare, psychosocal aspects and ethical aspects.

Basic and Translational Oncology (English)

Aim and contents: during this 5 day course, a number of speakers (all specialized in oncology) will introduce different topics related to research and patientcare.  The course provides you with an overview of basic and clinical-related research, patientcare, psychosocial aspects and ethical aspects. 

Histopathology of Human Tumors

Aim and contents: Aim of this course is to give an introduction in the histology of malignant tumors and their precursor lesions. Microscopical structures, growth patterns, grading and staging systems, and different cell types present in selected tumor types will be explained and discussed by pathologists. 
Many research projects focus on tumor biology in order to predict survival or therapy response, using DNA-, RNA- or protein-based tests. Also, understanding biological mechanisms of a tumor may reveal new targets for future treatment. While many PhD candidates in cancer research nowadays have a background in molecular biology, few are well acquainted with histological characteristics of tumors, and the clinical significance of histopathological findings. In daily clinical practice histopathological examination of tissue is the mainstay and gold standard of a cancer diagnosis. In addition, the choice of treatment largely depends on pathological variables. This OOA course provides introductory hands-on training in histopathology of tumors. The course aims to provide better insight in the histopathology of various tumor types, in relation to diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic significance. As the course includes an introductory session, only basic knowledge on histology is required.
The Histopathology of Human Tumors course comprises hands-on sessions using scanned slides, plenary expert talks and multihead microscopy sessions. Please see below for the preliminary program.

In the footsteps of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek; basic microscopy

Aim: This course teaches you the application of a range of imaging possibilities within the Centre for Microscopy at the AMC, the VUmc and the NKI-AvL. They are presented in lectures, discussions and hands-on demonstrations. The individual research projects of the attending participants will be discussed in relation to the demonstrated techniques, allowing exchange of ideas with fellow participants and microscopy experts and operators. The course is a guide to implement cellular imaging in your own research project. A part of the participants could bring their sample for analysis after consulting with the organization first.

Radiation Oncology

Aim and contents: The course provides an overview of (1) radiobiological and physical principles of radiation oncology (2) technical innovation in precision radiotherapy (3) the route of the radiotherapy patient - via diagnosis, imaging and treatment planning - to therapy. 
Topics that will be addressed: effects of irradiation on the  DNA and cellular level, radiation response of tumours and normal tissues, physics of modern conformal radiotherapy, imaging, treatment planning and treatment of cancer patients with radiation alone or combined with chemotherapy or targeted agents. New and exciting developments in radiotherapy will be addressed.  The course encompasses three practical trainings: (1) the radiobiology laboratory (2) computer-based target volume delineation (3) patient treatment simulation on a linear accelerator. 

Mouse morphology, genetics and function

Aim and contents: This course aims to provide participants with a practical, hands-on approach to the anatomy, histology, and genetics of mice and rats, the currently most frequently used experimental animals. In addition, we aim to introduce the participants to practical approaches to recognize pathological changes, to interpret and quantify histological sections and MRI or PET/SPECT images, to query phenotype databases, and to design an engineered mouse. Finally, participants are familiarized with some well-known pitfalls of extrapolating findings from mice or rats to man.