Calendar

LEC # TOPICS KEY DATES
1 Introduction: Dimensions of information available to define the unknown causes of common diseases  
2 Public health records and estimation of age-specific risk  
3 Effects of changes in diagnosis, prevention and therapy on historical mortality rates

Sources of differences in reported incidence and mortality
PS 1 due
4 Mathematical models derived from histopathological observations and age-specific mortality/incidence data

Examples: lung and colorectal cancers
 
5 Initiation  
6 Promotion and Progression Term paper chapter 1 due
7 Multiparametric Analysis of Colon Cancer  
8 Multiparametric Analysis of Lung Cancer PS 3 due
9 Role of Gender  
10 Sub-populations at Risk  
11 National Risk and Community Risk  
12 Familial Risk Expectations  
13 Familial Risk Observations Term paper chapter 2 due
14 Population Genetics  
15 Population Genetics (cont.)  
16 The search for genes carrying mutations conferring risk for common diseases  
17 The search for genes carrying mutations conferring risk for common diseases (cont.)  
18 The search for genes carrying mutations conferring risk for common diseases (cont.) Term paper chapter 3 due
19 The search for genes carrying mutations conferring risk for common diseases (cont.)  
20 The search for genes in which mutations of initiation (and promotion, if any) occur in common human cancers  
21 The origins of somatic and inherited mutations in humans  
22 The origins of somatic and inherited mutations in humans (cont.)  
23 Hypotheses that need testing Term paper chapter 4 due
24 Evolution, embryogenesis and carcinogenesis (Guest lecturer: Dr. Elena V. Gostjeva)

Putting it together: Gostjeva-Thilly cascade model for risk and genesis of common clonal diseases
 
25-27 General discussion and student presentations Final term paper due