University of Calgary : Medical Graduate Education MDGE

Medical Graduate Education MDGE

MDGE 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 612 614 615 620 622 623 624 625 626 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 651 652 654 655 721 722 724 725 726 755 799

For more information about these courses, see Graduate Science Education cumming.ucalgary.ca/gse.

Graduate Courses

Medical Graduate Education 601

Business Fundamentals

An overview of the primary business aspects involved in the health care product development industry, including company creation, intellectual property, financing, regulatory and clinical affairs, valuations and exit strategies. The principal objective is to develop a general understanding of how these different aspects integrate to form a functioning business.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 602

Intellectual Property and Agreements

Examines what it means to develop an Intellectual Property strategy for creating value in a business, as well as for reducing business risk. Provides foundational knowledge on the various forms of IP, including patents, trade secrets, industrial designs, trademarks and copyright, with a focus on critical analysis of patents, along with types of agreements used for transacting IP.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 603

Project Management and Corporate Leadership

A workshop-based approach to build knowledge and skills across project management tools and techniques, to enable project planning and delivery. Explanation of corporate, personal and team leadership as well as principles applicable to larger organizations will be discussed.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 604

Finances in Biomedical Technology

Explores how the financial community views and values biotechnology business opportunities, and the concepts and skills required to do the financial analysis. Covers some of the issues surrounding the investment process and expectations when interacting with potential investors, reading and analyzing financial statements, estimating and forecasting cash flows, and value investment and financing proposals.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 605

Regulatory Affairs

Examines key regulatory requirements of the leading regulatory bodies globally for biologic, small molecule, and medical device manufacturing, including consequences of non-compliance in regulatory affairs.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 606

Clinical Trials

Provides a general understanding and overview of clinical trials, their conduct and how they are regulated. An emphasis will be placed on regulatory obligations and current trends.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 607

Communication, Marketing and Sales

Introduces communication planning, marketing segmentation and sales strategies for the health product sector of biotechnology targeting the investment segment, health professionals and end-users.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 608

Business Case Studies

Examines strategic planning, business model and priorities of biotechnology companies. Critical evaluation of publicly traded biotechnology companies.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 609

Business Integration

Integrating lessons learned in prior business modules and extrapolating to the corporate environment, plus business pitches.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Biomedical Technology program.

Medical Graduate Education 610

Foundations of Bioinformatics

An exploration of the algorithmic foundations of established and emerging bioinformatics techniques, spanning dynamic programming, stochastic processes, probabilistic modelling, Bayesian inference, machine learning, and other topics from computational statistics. Big versus small data, divergent philosophical perspectives, and recent controversies in genomics are addressed through in-class discussions, current literature, and self-directed workshops.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (1-0)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Bioinformatics specialization of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program; or some computational background including programming or scripting ability and consent of the faculty.
Also known as: (formerly Medical Science 679)

Medical Graduate Education 612

Foundations of Machine Learning

Basic statistical/computational theories and current libraries for machine learning will be introduced. Content may evolve according to the progress of the field but includes: 1. History and current status of machine learning. 2. Linear models and regularization. 3. Support vector machine and kernel methods. 4. Neural networks (including deep learning). The module introduces both theories and implementations, with a focus on applying the techniques to biological and medical big-data. The level of difficulties may be adjusted according to the diverse backgrounds of the attendees.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (1-0)
Prerequisite(s): Medical Graduate Education 610.

Medical Graduate Education 614

Biology for Bioinformatics

An introduction to how biologists approach the study of the problems of life, with an emphasis on sub-organismal scales (molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, and genetics), model organisms, and evolutionary processes.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (1-0)
Notes: This course is intended for students in the Bioinformatics specialization of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program who lack prior significant course work in the life sciences.

Medical Graduate Education 615

Communicating Science and Innovation

Covers basic principles of communicating complex science topics in a clear, vivid and engaging way to distinct audiences including the general public. Includes exploration of the deep and fundamental challenge facing scientists communicating their work and the importance of resetting the dial from “content first” to “audience first”
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Biomedical Technology Graduate Program.

Medical Graduate Education 620

The Essentials of Cancer Science

A comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of cancer, encompassing the hallmarks of cancer, cancer epidemiology and prevention, the basics of early cancer detection, historical-to-modern standards of cancer patient care and anti-cancer therapy, and the essentials of data science in the cancer paradigm.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.
Also known as: (formerly Medical Graduate Education 621)

Medical Graduate Education 622

Principles and Applications of Proteomics

An overview of proteomics, focussing on the objectives of these disciplines, the technologies, methods and informatics used in biological mass spectrometry as applied to the ‘omics. This involves the practical analysis of a protein sample provided to (or by) the student in a laboratory environment, and the generation of an informatics report.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 623

Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy

Introductory topics in tumour immunobiology and immunotherapy will be covered. Fundamental and translational topics including, tumour immunogenicity, tumour immune surveillance and editing, immune escape, active immunotherapy, passive immunotherapy, virotherapy and viral vaccines, therapies targeting immunosuppressive mechanisms, and personalized immunotherapy.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 624

Cell Cycle Regulation in Cancer and Aging

The links between cancer and aging, the experimental definition of the cell cycle, major events in G0, G1, S, G2, M, drivers and regulators of the cell cycle including oncogenes and tumour suppressors, cyclins, CDKs, CDIs and links to the cell cycle through tumour suppressors will be covered. An overview of biological and replicative aging including recent developments regarding the role of epigenetic modifications in cancer and aging.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 625

Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics

Fundamentals of eukaryotic chromatin assembly, dynamic chromatin regulation and post-translational modifications that comprise epigenetics. DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, histone variants, regulatory siRNA, nucleosome remodelling and higher-order chromatin organization. Cancer and disease-associated epigenetic alterations will be discussed in detail.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 626

DNA Damage Signalling and Repair

DNA repair pathways, highlighting the cellular responses to ionizing radiation will be covered, including: base excision repair, mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, and DNA single strand and double strand break repair. The relationship of replication stress and telomere maintenance to genomic instability in a cancer context will be covered.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 628

Tumour Microenvironment Dynamics

An overview of how tissue microenvironments influence tumour formation, evolution, progression and metastasis, and how to study this in the laboratory. May include tumour-stroma interplay, epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, angiogenesis, tumour metastasis and the effects of the tumour microenvironment on cancer therapy and diagnosis.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 629

Molecular Cancer Signalling Networks

A systematic review of the molecular events underlying cancer formation and evolution, including cancer-driving changes to inter- and intra-cellular growth signalling networks, key growth receptor molecular mechanisms and cancer-specific alterations to cell nutrient response pathways.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 630

Anti-Cancer Therapeutics and Clinical Trials

An overview of current anti-cancer therapeutics, including radiation, immuno- and chemo-therapeutic options, as well as the use of personalized medicine approaches to improving patient outcomes. Learning objectives include how to design preclinical studies to support human clinical trials, with a major focus on ethics considerations.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 631

Fundamentals of Brain Development, Physiology and Disease

A systemic overview of how the brain develops and functions at the cellular, biochemical and molecular level, but in the context of the etiology of prevalent and rare diseases, including neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative syndromes, as well as paediatric and adult brain tumours.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Medical Graduate Education 631 and Medical Science 619.01 (Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience) will not be allowed.

Medical Graduate Education 632

Principles of Light Microscopy

Fundamentals of standard wide-field fluorescence microscopy as well as confocal and multiphoton techniques. Key concepts such as the optical light path, spatial resolution, and sampling will be emphasized. In addition, students will have the opportunity to assemble basic bright-field and fluorescence microscopes using optical “lego”.

Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the program.

Medical Graduate Education 633

Advanced Techniques in Optical Microscopy

Advanced techniques in optical microscopy covered though a combination of lectures and activities. Topics include total internal reflection (TIRF) microscopy, superresolution, light sheet techniques and other rapidly developing technologies. Also includes one or more selected topics in targeted illumination including fluorescence recovery after photo activation (FRAP).
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Medical Graduate Education 632.

Medical Graduate Education 634

Digital Imaging for Optical Microscopy

The concept of the digital image and its relevance to optical microscopy will be introduced. The workflow from image acquisition to image analysis and presentation of data for publication will be covered. Good practices and pitfalls will be emphasized at every step. Students will gain experience in image processing and analysis using the standard open source package FIJI.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Medical Graduate Education 632.

Medical Graduate Education 635

Hereditary and Environmental Causes of Cancer

A summary of major sources and drivers of cancer, including the interplay between hereditary cancer predisposition and genetics, the relationship between metabolism and environmental carcinogens, viral and microbial sources of cancer, major chemical and radiation carcinogens, and modifiers of cancer risk, including behaviours, policies and interventions.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Cancer Biology Specialization of the Medical Science graduate program.
Also known as: (formerly Medical Graduate Education 627)

Medical Graduate Education 651

Microbial Virulence Factors

Virulence factors used by microbial pathogens to cause disease. Topics include microbial adherence mechanisms, toxigenic infections, virulence factor secretion systems, microbial gene expression.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Medical Science 611 or Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 431.

Medical Graduate Education 652

Microbial Interactions at Epithelial Surfaces

Strategies used by microbial pathogens to target mucosal surfaces, and their contribution to disease. Topics include microbial disruption of epithelial barrier function, interactions with the host microbiome, microbial adaptation to host defenses, and invasion and intracellular survival strategies.

Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Medical Science 611 or Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 431.

Medical Graduate Education 653

Antimicrobials and Resistance

Mechanism of action of antimicrobials, and resistance genes. Topics will also include transmission of resistance and discovery of new antimicrobials.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Medical Science 611 or Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 431.

Medical Graduate Education 654

Infection and Immunity

Interactions with microbial pathogens with the innate and adaptive immune systems. Topics include immune evasion, pathogen clearance, and vaccine development.

Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Program Director.

Medical Graduate Education 655

Autoimmunity and Immunodeficiency

Advanced course focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of systemic and organ-specific autoimmunity, acquired immunodeficiencies including those in the context of organ transplantation, and immunomodulatory therapies.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Program Director.

Medical Graduate Education 721

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Scientific Method, Data Analysis and Communication

Covers landmark discoveries in biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB), new and evolving BMB technologies, and how these can be implemented into modern research programs. Application of the scientific method, technical and ethical considerations surrounding data analysis, and essential skills for communicating scientific discoveries in the realm of peer-reviewed publication, presentation and grant application contexts.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 722

Nucleic Acids, DNA Replication, Transcription and RNA Signalling

Covers the detailed structure and basic biochemical features of DNA, as it is folded and as it functions inside the eukaryotic nucleus. Topics will include how the 2-metre-long human genome is packaged by “chromatin”, how transcription factors are able to choose particular DNA sequences and how this choice leads to active transcription of specific genes, how various classes of transcribed RNA are synthesized and processed, how RNAs function as regulatory molecules, and how the entire genome is replicated in eukaryotic cells.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 723

Translation, Protein Folding and Post-Translational Modification

Covers cellular protein synthesis, modification and degradation. Topics include the molecular basis of mRNA translation, how ribosomes are synthesized and regulated, how proteins are folded and may be modified post-translationally by enzymatic and non-enzymatic means, regulation of proteostasis and protein degradation. Emerging technologies in the study of protein synthesis and post-translational modifications at a molecular level are reviewed.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 724

Introduction to Bioinformatics Resources

Covers key bioinformatics concepts, practices, and analytical resources for graduate-level biologists who are not bioinformatics specialists. Introduces essential bioinformatics terminologies and discusses the use of bioinformatics to infer information about organisms and populations from their genomes and transcriptomes. Provides practical experience with bioinformatics tools and develop basic skills in the collection and presentation of bioinformatics data.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 725

Applied Genomics

Covers high throughput DNA sequencing technologies and genome-wide association genetics. Provides an overview of the available genomics technologies and their applications for high throughput discovery in biology (model organisms) and medicine (cancer and Mendelian disease genomics). Discussions will also encompass research ethics considerations for collecting, storing and using human genomic data.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 726

Applied Structural Biology

Students will learn how to describe structures of biological macromolecules and explain the most commonly occurring methods for determination and analysis of the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules. Provides an overview of biophysical and structural methods used to study the regulation and function of biomolecules, tutorials on commonly available structural visualization software and resources and how structure-guided drug design is being used for pre-clinical drug discovery.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the course co-ordinator. Preference will be given to those in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program.

Medical Graduate Education 755

Directed Studies

Lectures, seminars, term papers or training in theoretical and/or laboratory methods at the advanced level in the medical sciences.
Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Program Director.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT

Medical Graduate Education 799

Topics in Medical Sciences

Course Hours: 1 unit; (12 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Program Director.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT

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