Physics
828
Cancer
Bio-Physics
Spring
2011
Rm
3359
AV
Williams,
301-405-0629
wlosert@umd.edu
Syllabus
This
3
credit
course
aims
to
cover
key
biophysics,
nonlinear
dynamics,
and
complex
systems
concepts relevant to Cancer Research.
Materials
will
be
covered
at
a
level
accessible
to
graduate
students
in
the
physical
sciences,
mathematical sciences, or engineering.
The focus of the course will be
the introduction of quantitative models and experiments that elucidate
key physical principles in the context of current cancer
research. Current cancer research is introduced through
guest lectures.
HOURS: Monday
12.30-1.45pm Lecture
Monday
2pm-3.15pm
Guest
Lecture
or
Discussion
Location: Rm 1109 in the
JMP building (may be changed after the start of the semester -
stay tuned)
WEBSITE: http://www.ireap.umd.edu/~wlosert/phys828/
Description: The
bio-physics of cancer will be introduced in two parts. Both parts
are
held on the same day to simplify participation by students who carry
out research off-campus.
Part 1: 12.30pm-1.45pm:
Lecture: covers
relevant concepts in depth
through lecture, example problems, and homework.
Part 2: 2pm-3.15pm:
Guest lecture and discussion:
Guest lectures by biophysicists, cancer biologists, and doctors.
The guest lectures
will introduce new physics tools or important cancer biology
questions.
Books:
1) Physical
Principles and Homework Problems:
Physical Biology of the Cell
by Phillips, Kondev, and Theriot, Garland
Science
ISBN-10: 0815341636
2)
Introduction
to Cell Biology:
Lewin's
Cells
, 2nd edition by Cassimeris et al, Jones and Bartlett,
ISBN 978-0763766641
Tentative Schedule
|
Lecture Number
|
TOPIC |
12.30pm-1.45pm - Quantitatve Cell Biology
|
Book |
2pm-3.15pm Applications to Cancer Research
|
Book/paper |
Speaker |
24-Jan |
1 |
INTRO |
Physics
Perspective
of
the
Cell
|
Cells,
Ch
1,2 |
Physics
Perspective
on
Cancer
|
"Hallmarks
of
cancer" |
|
31-Jan |
2 |
INTRO |
Basics
of
Quantitative
Biology
|
Physical
Biology
Ch.1
|
Cancer
Cell
Biology |
Cell,
Ch
17 |
|
7-Feb |
3 |
CELL
MECHANICS |
Cytoskeleton |
Cells
Ch
11,12
Physical Biol, Ch10
|
Circulating
Tumor
Cells |
|
Stuart
Martin,
UM
Medical
School
Cancer
Center
|
14-Feb |
4 |
CELL
MECHANICS |
the
extracellular
matrix |
Cell
Ch
19 |
Transmigration
|
|
Helim
Aranda
Espinoza,
BioE,
UMD
|
21-Feb |
|
MECHANICS/
SIGNALING |
--class
starts 2pm --
|
class starts 2pm
|
Apoptosis and the Role of the Mitochondrial Outer Membrane
|
|
Marco
Colombini,
Biology,
UMD
|
28-Feb |
5 |
MECHANICS/
SIGNALING |
Cell-Cell
adhesion
and
activation |
Cells,
Ch
18 |
T-cell
activation |
|
Eilon
Sherman,
NCI
|
7-Mar |
6 |
MECHANICS/
SIGNALING |
Cell
Migration
and
Signaling |
Physical
Biology
Ch13
|
Signal
Relay |
|
Carole
Parent,
NCI
|
14-Mar |
7 |
MECHANICS/
SIGNALING |
Metastasis |
|
Epithelial-
to
Mesenchymal
Transition |
|
Denise
Montell,
Johns
Hopkins
|
21-Mar |
|
Spring |
Break |
--- |
--- |
|
--- |
28-Mar |
8 |
CONTROL
MACHINERY |
Cell
Cycle
|
Physical
Biology,
Ch4.5
and
19.2 |
Cytokinesis
through
biochemical-mechanical
feedback
loops
|
|
Doug
Robinson,
Biology,
Johns
Hopkins
|
4-Apr |
9 |
CONTROL
MACHINERY
|
Nucleus
and
Choromosomes
|
Cells,
Ch
9,10
|
Nuclear
structure
and
Cancer
|
|
Jim
McNally, NCI
|
11-Apr |
10 |
CONTROL
MACHINERY
|
Gene
Expression
and Epigenetics
|
|
Controlling
Gene
Expression
|
|
|
18-Apr |
11 |
COMPLEX SYSTEM |
Gene
Networks |
Physical
Biology,
Ch19
|
Gene
Networks
in
Cancer |
|
Michelle
Girvan,
Physics,
UMD
|
25-Apr |
12 |
COMPLEX
SYSTEM |
Population
Dynamics
|
|
Student
Presentations
|
|
|
2-May |
13 |
COMPLEX
SYSTEM
|
Student
Presentations
|
|
Genomic
Instability
|
|
Thomas
Ried
(MD, NCI)
|
9-May |
14 |
|
Student
presentations |
|
Immune
System
|
|
R.
Nussenblatt
(MD, NIH) and W.Lai (NIH)
|
Grading
will be based in equal parts on the following three
elements:
1) Two homeworks will include analytical calculations as well as
numerical questions.
2) In class
presentation: Each Student will give one 15 min presentation on
their end of semester project. Since the presentations are due
before the project reports, the presentation can focus on the
background literature related to the semester project, or describe the
work completed for the semester project.
3) End of semester written project
report. Students should
introduce a research problem in cancer research, describe the relevance
of the problem, and the physical science approach. Proejcts
should
include numerical or analytical parts and analysis of available data.
Suggested Student Topics:
Dormancy of Cancer
|
Seed and Soil
hypothesis of cancer |
Spatial Dynamics
of the nucleus
|
Limits on gradient
sensing |
Individuality and
heterogeneity |
Crowding |
Ultrasensitivity -
e.g. limits on gradient sensing |
Robustness in
Biological Networks |
Cll Lineage Dynamics in
Space and time
|
|
Last updated 4/8/2011 by wlosert