LQB601 Cancer Biology

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and research into its treatment and prevention has significantly improved cancer mortality rates. This unit will build upon knowledge and skills acquired from Cell and Molecular Biology (LQB182); Human Health and Disease Concepts (LQB281), Cell Biology (LQB485), and other Biomedical Science units to specifically inform the study of cancer biology and the implementation of technologies employed to investigate this complex group of diseases. This unit has a substantial practical focus and will prepare students for further study in medical or biomedical fields, or for biomedical research. Cancer is a major research priority at QUT and this unit will provide a strong foundation for undertaking Higher Degree Research in this field. The unit will also deliver a hands-on experience in cancer research laboratory techniques that will ably equip cell and molecular biology students intending to enter the workforce following graduation.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe the biological capabilities acquired during development of human tumours, how these are being targeted by current and novel anti-cancer therapeutics, and the challenges to this.
2. Develop advanced problem solving, information retrieval and critical analysis skills to identify novel solutions for cancer targeted therapeutics.
3. Understand and explain the significance of cancer research and how this might be applied to new cancer diagnostics and treatments.
4. Collect, critically analyse, interpret and communicate (through a laboratory notebook) experimental data to determine the cellular function of a cancer associated gene in a wet laboratory environment.

Content

Learning Approaches

The unit consists of one 2 hour lecture and 3 hour laboratory session each week. Lectures will be delivered by active cancer research staff from the Cancer Research Program at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute and guest lecturers from other institutions. Each lecture will contain one hour of a traditional lecture and one hour of a research talk. In the laboratory you will use a variety of molecular and cellular techniques to explore the cancer-associated role of a gene you select, providing flexible learning opportunities to discover what cancer research at the laboratory bench is really like.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Guidance and weekly feedback will be given during practical classes. Laboratory notebooks will be discussed at the end of each prac class to ensure progress is being made and to allow contingency planning.

Assessment

Overview

The ability to obtain rigorous experimental data defining biological functions of genes and their protein products is paramount for a successful research career. For this reason the focus of the assessment in this unit will be on the laboratory work, with 50% weighting to planning and performing experiments and generation of a well-annotated laboratory book. Communication of research data is also important in science and to reflect this, you will present your research data in the form of a poster presentation at the LQB601 Conference, held in the last week of the semester. This will include a short explanatory talk of 3-5 minutes. The final assessment item will be a written assignment explaining the potential significance of a filed patent, selected by you from a public patent database, from the perspective of you pitching the idea to a biotechnology company.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: LQB601 Conference

You will make a poster describing your research work and present this with a short explanatory talk at the LQB601 Conference at the end of the semester. Presentations will be assessed for comprehension, content, engagement and communication.

Assessment: Biotechnology patent pitch

You will perform a keyword search of published patents in the public databases and choose a patent describing either a new diagnostic test for cancer or a new target/agent for development of an anti-cancer therapeutic. Specifically, you will perform a literature review that identifies both the novel and inventive aspects of the work. You will then produce a brochure explaining the basis of the science and its potential applicability to cancer diagnosis/treatment. Finally you will write an 'elevator pitch' - a catchy one sentence summary of the science.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Laboratory Research Project

The laboratory research project has been designed to provide a flexible learning opportunity to more accurately reflect what cancer research at the laboratory bench is really like. Each student will keep a laboratory book correctly annotated to describe the hypothesis of the experiment performed, the aims chosen to explore this hypothesis, an appropriately detailed method, the results and a discussion of these. As in a working research laboratory, this book will be assessed weekly and signed off by both the student and the demonstrator/lecturer. It is likely that projects will progress at different rates, and some projects may require more troubleshooting than others, but this is often the nature of basic research and will not negatively impact on the marks received.

Weekly assessment of practical work.
Completed laboratory book submitted in Week 13

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

Cost of lab gowns and safety protection glasses are the student's responsibility.

Resources

Resource Materials

Safety and protective equipment

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

LS40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science

1. Critically review, analyse and synthesise foundational knowledge in a broad range of biomedical discipline areas and in depth theoretical, technical and practical knowledge in specialised discipline areas.
   Relates to: LQB601 Conference, Biotechnology patent pitch, Laboratory Research Project
2. Demonstrate the technical skills required to solve multi-disciplinary problems in biomedical research, industry and clinical settings and do so in an ethical, safe and responsible manner.
   Relates to: Laboratory Research Project
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: LQB601 Conference, Biotechnology patent pitch, Laboratory Research Project
4. Contribute effectively to biomedical projects, either as an individual or as a member of a team, by demonstrating professional behaviour and participating in continuous learning.
   Relates to: LQB601 Conference
5. Apply knowledge and skills to rapidly source, critically analyse and communicate biomedical science information using appropriate technologies.
   Relates to: LQB601 Conference, Biotechnology patent pitch, Laboratory Research Project