Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS)

(See Oncology course outlines at the bottom of this page.)

Increasingly, an interdisciplinary approach is required for the effective practice of science. To better prepare our students and to train the next generation of cancer research leaders, the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS) was established at SFU in partnership with the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA). This program, IOGS, is a graduate level multi-departmental program that integrates with existing SFU departmental graduate programs (MSc and PhD) and is available to graduate students interested in gaining exposure to diverse facets of cancer-related research. The key impacts on science teaching and learning include broad exposure to multiple aspects of oncology such as the biology and epidemiology of cancer and theories behind prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Opportunities to develop presentation skills, critique current cancer research, and shadow cancer clinicians will be provided. Students and faculty will benefit from networking and collaborative opportunities at both SFU and BCCA sites, including participation in a yearly scientific retreat currently held by the BCCA/UBC Interdisciplinary Oncology program. One goal of this yearly event is to enhance networking between students and faculty with cancer-related interests, with the local and provincial community of cancer researchers, trainees and clinicians.

Application (Application Form) to the program is through the Interdisciplinary Oncology Steering Committee (email to sga49@sfu.ca).
Note that to enroll in the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization, a student must be a thesis-based MSc or PhD student at SFU and must first be accepted into a home department (usually based on their senior supervisor's affiliation). IOGS core courses are ONC 502 and ONC 510 (see below) but overall program requirements may vary depending on the home department.

MSc course requirements:

Students complete the following graduate courses, including:

• MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3)
• ONC 502 - Concepts in Oncology (3)
• ONC 510 - Seminars in Oncology (3)

and one unit of MBB colloquia by completing one of:

• MBB 821 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 822 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 823 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 861 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 862 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 863 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 862 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)

And at least one of the following elective courses*:

• ONC 548 - Rotation in Oncology (3)
• BPK 851 - Recent Advances in Experimental Carcinogenesis (3)
• MBB 746 - Cell Death and Cell Survival (3)
• MBB 762 - Human Genomics (3)
• BISC 834 - Essential Cell Biology (3)
• HSCI 775 - Seminar in Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetics (3)
• HSCI 776 - Seminar in Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Environmental Exposure (3)
• HSCI 778 - Seminar in Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)

*Note: Any relevant Special Topics course from any department may be included upon permission of the IOGS Steering Committee. Oncology related courses at other institutions may also be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Please consult with the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization Steering Committee for queries regarding course eligibility.

PhD course requirements:

Entry with a BSc or equivalent:

Students who enter the program with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, or equivalent, will complete all of:

• MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3)
• MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Seminar (3) +
• ONC 502 - Concepts in Oncology (3)
• ONC 510 - Seminars in Oncology (3)

+ at the earliest opportunity following four terms of program enrolment

and one unit of MBB colloquia by completing one of:

• MBB 821 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 822 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 823 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 861 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 862 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 863 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)

and at least two of the following elective courses*:

• ONC 548 - Rotation in Oncology (3)
• BPK 851 - Recent Advances in Experimental Carcinogenesis (3)
• MBB 746 - Cell Death and Cell Survival (3)
• MBB 762 - Human Genomics (3)
• BISC 834 - Essential Cell Biology (3)
• HSCI 775 - Seminar in Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetics (3)
• HSCI 776 - Seminar in Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Environmental Exposure (3)
• HSCI 778 - Seminar in Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)

*Note: Any relevant Special Topics course from any department may be included upon permission of the IOGS Steering Committee. Oncology related courses at other institutions may also be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Please consult with the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization Steering Committee for queries regarding course eligibility.

Entry with an MSc Degree:

Students who enter the IOGS program with a Master of Science (MSc) degree will complete the following courses:

• MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3) *
• MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Seminar (3) **
• ONC 502 - Concepts in Oncology (3)
• ONC 510 - Seminars in Oncology (3)

If a student has already completed the specialization as an MSc student, they may still enroll in the IOGS as a PhD student upon approval by the IOGS steering committee. Note that in this circumstance, ONC 510-3 must be taken for credit again in the PhD program, but ONC 502-3 cannot be taken again for credit.

* If MBB 801 has already been completed, then a minimum three courses are required, i.e. MBB 806, ONC 502 and ONC 510.
** at the earliest opportunity following two terms of program enrolment

Oncology courses

ONC 502-3 Concepts in Oncology offered in Fall 2015
This course covers the biology and epidemiology of cancer and theories behind prevention, diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer. A major goal of the course is to integrate knowledge and research on the biology of cancer with all disciplines in oncology. This course can only be taken once, either during an MSc or during a PhD. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites.

ONC 510-3 Seminars in Oncology offered in Spring 2016
This course features cancer-related research by trainees and faculty at the BC Cancer Research Centre. Topics include recent developments in the molecular basis of oncogenesis, cancer bioinformatics, cancer epidemiology, cancer treatment and other clinical studies, and ethical issues. Students are required to present seminars on their research. Students undertaking the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization must enroll in this course throughout their entire time as a graduate student. This course can be taken twice, if a student does the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS) as an MSc student, and also does it as a PhD student. Students who transfer from MSc to PhD would only take it once. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites.

ONC 548-3 Rotation in Oncology offered in Spring 2016
This course allows students to gain hands-on experience by rotations through specialty laboratories and/or by shadowing clinicians. Students can use the rotation opportunity to learn new techniques and or gain an understanding of the clinical aspects of their research project. The supervisor and supervisory committee create a custom rotation plan for the student. A grade is assigned based on a written report by the student, which is evaluated by the student's supervisory committee. This course can only be taken once, either during an MSc or during a PhD. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites. Permission from instructor required.