This course is a graduate-level course designed to introduce Ph.D. students to the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. Topics include oncogenes, tumor suppressors, cell cycle control, genomic instability, tumor microenvironment, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and mechanisms of metastasis. Students will also be introduced to cancer genomics and therapeutic strategies. Students will critically analyze primary research papers and develop skills in experimental design. At the end of the course, students will be able to integrate knowledge across molecular, cellular, and organismal levels to understand how cancer arises and spreads. By the end of the course, students will be able to: Describe and integrate the core hallmarks of cancer and their molecular underpinnings; critically analyze primary literature in cancer biology; and describe the mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment, immune system, and genomic variations drive cancer progression.

Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) is a problem-based learning (PBL) course designed to meet the NIH requirements for in-person RCR training. Various topics related to research integrity and ethics will be covered, including research misconduct, rigor and reproducibility, conflict of interest, data management, and other areas relevant to scientific ethics. The course also explores the broader responsibilities of scientists and scholars to society, including issues of equity and the public communication of science. Students will develop critical thinking skills to identify ethical challenges in research and gain the tools necessary to navigate complex professional situations with integrity and accountability. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify key ethical principles and regulations guiding responsible research. In addition, they will be able to develop strategies for ethical decision-making in a range of research contexts.

This course is a graduate-level course designed to introduce Ph.D. students to the molecular and mechanistic principles that underlie genetic inheritance, gene regulation, and epigenetic control of cellular identity and function. The course emphasizes the integration of classical genetics with modern genomics, chromatin biology, and epigenetic regulation to understand how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms shape development, disease, and evolution. Students will examine experimental approaches and seminal discoveries that have defined the field while critically analyzing recent primary literature. Analysis, presentation, and discussion of the primary literature will reinforce conceptual understanding through problem-solving, data interpretation, and experimental design relevant to current research in genetics and epigenetics. By the end of the course, students will be able to: Explain fundamental principles of classical and molecular genetics; describe and evaluate epigenetic mechanisms; analyze and interpret primary literature in genetics and epigenetics; integrate genetic and epigenetic concepts to explain mechanisms of development, cell differentiation, and disease pathogenesis; design experimental approaches to investigate genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms.

This advanced Ph.D.-level graduate course explores the genetic and genomic basis of cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic response. Building upon foundational principles from Principles of Genetics and Epigenetics, students will examine how genetic mutations, chromosomal instability, and epigenetic variations disrupt normal cellular regulation to drive oncogenesis. The course integrates classical cancer genetics with cutting-edge cancer genomics, including tumor evolution, clonal selection, and precision oncology. Students will examine experimental approaches and seminal discoveries that have defined the field while critically analyzing recent primary literature. Analysis, presentation, and discussion of the primary literature will reinforce conceptual understanding through problem-solving, data interpretation, and experimental design relevant to current research in cancer genetics, genomics, and epigenetics. Existing and emerging technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, CRISPR functional genomics, and single-cell multi-omics, will be introduced. By the end of the course, students will be able to: Explain the genetic and genomic mechanisms underlying cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance; Describe key oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and DNA repair pathways and their roles in maintaining genomic integrity; Interpret and critically evaluate primary literature in cancer genetics and genomics; Analyze cancer genomic datasets to identify mutational signatures and pathways altered in tumorigenesis; Integrate multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics) to understand tumor heterogeneity and evolution; and Design experiments employing next-generation sequencing, CRISPR screening, or other functional genomic tools to investigate cancer mechanisms.

This advanced graduate-level course for Ph.D. students builds on the foundational principles introduced in Cancer Cell Biology I, focusing on advanced mechanisms of cancer progression, therapeutic resistance, and clinical translation. This course emphasizes systems-level thinking, experimental modeling, and integration of genomics, immunology, and mechanobiology into cancer research. Topics include intratumoral heterogeneity and clonal evolution, the systems biology of cancer, the role of the microbiome in cancer, next-generation cancer models, tumor evolution and drug resistance, advanced immunotherapies, nanomedicine, synthetic biology, and the future of precision oncology. Students will engage in case studies, translational discussions, and research proposal development. By the end of the course, students will be able to: Integrate cutting-edge advances in cancer biology into a systems-level framework; apply computational, genomic, and experimental modeling approaches to modern cancer research questions; critically evaluate translational strategies and therapeutic innovations; and develop a reasonable NIH-style Specific Aims page.

This advanced graduate course equips Ph.D. students with an in-depth comprehension of the translation of cancer biology discoveries into viable therapeutics. The course integrates fundamental mechanisms with clinical applications, addressing subjects such as targeted therapies, apoptosis-based strategies, tumor microenvironment modulation, immuno-oncology, biomarker development, therapeutic resistance, and emerging modalities including antibody–drug conjugates, CAR-T therapies, and small-molecule inhibitors. Students will examine case studies of successful and unsuccessful drug development initiatives, assess translational research articles, and investigate regulatory and ethical factors in therapeutic development. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to integrate cancer biology with therapeutic development, to evaluate translational approaches critically, and to apply emerging modalities to drug resistance.

This course is a graduate-level course designed to provide first-year Ph.D. students with a rigorous introduction to statistical principles, methods, and applications essential for the design, analysis, and interpretation of biomedical research. Students will develop a deep understanding of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, probability theory, hypothesis testing, linear models, and modern approaches to data analysis. Emphasis is placed on the application of statistical reasoning to real-world biomedical datasets, interpretation of published research, and the critical evaluation of experimental results. Through lectures, problem sets, and hands-on computational exercises (using R or Python), students will gain the quantitative skills necessary to analyze data, design robust experiments, and communicate statistical findings effectively in the context of biomedical science. By the end of the course, students will be able to: Apply fundamental statistical principles to biomedical data; design experiments with appropriate statistical power and rigor; perform and interpret a wide range of statistical analyses, including regression, ANOVA, survival analysis, and nonparametric tests; critically evaluate statistical methods in published biomedical research; and communicate statistical findings effectively in written and oral formats.

This course is a graduate-level course designed to provide second-year Ph.D. students with advanced training in statistical modeling, Bayesian methods, machine learning, and high-dimensional data analysis as applied to contemporary biomedical research. Building on foundational statistical and analytical skills, students will explore modern methods for modeling complex biological data, including hierarchical modeling, Bayesian approaches, multivariate statistical analysis, classification and prediction algorithms, and strategies for analyzing large-scale heterogeneous omics datasets. Through a combination of lectures, problem sets, and hands-on computational exercises, students will gain hands-on experience implementing advanced statistical tools in R or Python, interpreting results within biological contexts, and communicating findings effectively. Upon completion of the course the students will possess the analytical expertise necessary to tackle cutting-edge problems in genomics, systems biology, precision medicine, and translational research. By the end of the course, students will be able to: apply Bayesian inference methods to model and infer biological phenomena; construct hierarchical and mixed-effects models to analyze complex experimental designs and longitudinal data; perform multivariate analyses and dimensionality reduction on high-dimensional  biomedical datasets to uncover patterns; implement and evaluate machine learning algorithms for classification, regression, and clustering in biological contexts; analyze and integrate multi-omic datasets to extract biological insights; critically evaluate advanced statistical models in the biomedical literature and assess their assumptions, limitations, and interpretability; and build reproducible computational workflows for data analysis to ensure transparency and robustness in research.

The Current Topics In Biomedical Sciences is a journal club-style course hosted by graduate students engaged in research at CMSRU. Students review recent literature related to ongoing research at CMSRU and publications of speakers invited to the CMSRU seminar series. The course is designed as a bi-weekly meeting among the undergraduate and graduate students at the Camden campuses. Graduate students at the Glassboro and Stratford campuses are welcome to enroll, and we can run the course in a hybrid fashion. This course aims to engage students in collaborative discussions and practice presentation skills. Students will be required to present to their peers at least once per semester and actively contribute to the discussion. The main goals of this Journal Club are to (a) improve graduate students’ understanding of the knowledge regarding biomedical research and (b) give opportunities to experience reviewing and critiquing biomedical research writing, primarily published literature. A different student will lead the discussion each week by presenting a critical evaluation of the peer-reviewed research article for subsequent group discussion. Participation from the students is expected in terms of preparing for the discussion, which involves thoroughly reading the article and paying close attention to the methodology, approach, and evaluation of the results. This design will reinforce the principles of research approaches and analytical methods put forth in the research article. This course will also help students to develop their scientific inquiry and written skill sets.

The Laboratory Rotation series is designed to immerse first-year Ph.D. students in diverse research environments within the Cancer Cell Biology and Genomics program. Through three consecutive eight- to twelve-week rotations in different faculty laboratories, students will gain hands-on research experience, develop technical skills, and learn how to formulate and test scientific hypotheses. Each rotation provides opportunities to engage with cutting-edge experimental approaches, critically evaluate primary literature, and participate in ongoing research projects that span molecular, cellular, genomic, and translational aspects of cancer biology. These rotations also allow students to explore potential thesis mentors and lab environments. By the completion of the third rotation, students will be expected to select a dissertation advisor and laboratory in which to conduct their thesis research.

This course is a graduate-level course that introduces doctoral students to the essential skills of scientific writing and grantsmanship. Through interactive lectures, writing workshops, and peer review exercises, students will learn how to effectively communicate scientific ideas, design compelling grant proposals, and present their research within the context of the broader scientific and societal impact. The course emphasizes strategies for constructing an effective persuasive argument with clarity and precision. By the end of the course, students will have developed a polished Specific Aims page suitable for fellowship submission (e.g., NIH F31). This course provides foundational skills that support future research independence and career development. By the end of the course, students will be able to: Write clear, concise, and persuasive scientific prose; formulate a strong, hypothesis-driven research question and articulate its significance and innovation; design a compelling Specific Aims page and supporting sections for a fellowship or grant application; critically evaluate scientific writing and proposals, providing constructive peer feedback; and understand the grant review process and strategically plan for successful submissions.

This is the course number for enrolling in research credits once a laboratory is chosen.